O-1 Visa Cost: Complete Fee Breakdown for 2026
Full O-1 visa cost breakdown: USCIS filing fees, premium processing, attorney fees, and hidden costs. Know exactly what you'll spend before you file.
Blog
All articles about US O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa Guide.
O-1 Visa Duration, Extension, and Renewal Explained
How long the O-1 visa lasts, how to extend or renew it, and what changes when you switch employers. No maximum time limit — but strict portability rules.
O-1 Visa for Artists and Musicians: The O-1B Guide
How artists and musicians qualify for the O-1B visa. The six criteria, what 'distinction' actually means, advisory opinion requirements, and how to document your achievements.
O-1 Visa for Startup Founders: How to Qualify Without a Traditional Employer
How startup founders qualify for the O-1 visa: mapping VC funding, press coverage, and equity compensation to the eight criteria. Common mistakes and how to avoid them.
O-1 Visa Processing Time 2026: Regular vs. Premium Timeline
O-1 visa processing time in 2026: standard 4-6 months vs. premium 15 business days. What the clock actually looks like from prep to visa stamp.
O-1 Visa Recommendation Letter: Structure, Sample, and What USCIS Actually Needs
What an O-1 visa recommendation letter must contain to survive USCIS scrutiny. Structure, sample language, who should write it, and fatal mistakes to avoid.
O-1 Visa RFE: Common Reasons, How to Respond, and Denial Rates
What triggers an O-1 visa RFE, the most common USCIS objections, how to respond, and what the actual denial rate looks like. Real data for 2026.
O-1 Visa Self-Petition: Can You File Without an Employer?
The O-1 visa cannot be self-petitioned like EB-1A. Here is how founders, freelancers, and independent professionals file through the agent petitioner mechanism instead.
O-1A vs O-1B: Which Category Do You Actually Qualify For?
O-1A vs O-1B: the difference in standards, criteria, and who qualifies for each. Includes the Arts vs Motion Picture distinction and what it means for your petition.
Alternatives to Expensive O-1 Visa Attorneys: Every Option Compared
Can't afford a $10,000 O-1 visa lawyer? Here are the realistic alternatives — from LegalTech platforms to DIY guides — with honest costs and tradeoffs.
Best O-1 Visa Guide After H-1B Lottery Rejection: Your Next Move
Rejected in the H-1B lottery? The O-1 visa has a 94.6% approval rate, no cap, and no lottery. Here's the best resource to make the switch.
Best O-1 Visa Guide for Software Engineers and Tech Workers
The best O-1 visa preparation resources for software engineers — how to translate patents, open-source work, and tech achievements into USCIS evidence.
How to Prepare an O-1 Visa Petition Without an Attorney
A step-by-step approach to preparing your O-1 extraordinary ability visa petition without hiring a $10,000 immigration lawyer — what you need, what's hard, and where to get help.
O-1 Visa DIY Guide vs. Immigration Lawyer: Which Approach Gets You Approved?
Comparing the O-1 visa DIY guide approach against hiring an immigration attorney — costs, approval rates, and when each option makes sense for your petition.