- Who it's for
- Founders, researchers, engineers and executives with sustained acclaim
- Initial validity
- Up to 3 years; 1-year extensions with no maximum
- Annual cap
- None. File any time of year
- Government Processing Time
- 2–4 months regular; 15 business days premium
- Dependents
- Spouse and children under 21 on O-3 (no work authorization)
- Gale fee
- $8,500
Who qualifies for the O-1A
- Evidence meeting at least 3 of the 8 regulatory criteria: awards, selective memberships, published material about you, judging others' work, original contributions of major significance, scholarly articles, a critical role at distinguished organizations, or high pay.
- A U.S. employer or agent petitioner (founders can use their own company or an agent).
- An advisory opinion from a relevant peer group or labor organization.
- A defined itinerary or employment terms for the requested period.
O-1A timeline
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Evidence strategy and gap analysis | 1 week |
| Recommendation letters and advisory opinion | 2 weeks |
| Petition drafting and attorney review | 1 week |
| USCIS decision | 15 business days (premium) or 2–4 months |
O-1A cost: Gale and government fees
Gale charges a flat fee (platform fee plus attorney legal fee) for the initial O-1A filing, and RFE responses are usually included. Government fees are paid directly to the agency at cost. See the full fee schedule or estimate your total with the visa cost calculator.
| Filing | Gale price (platform + legal fee) |
|---|---|
| New petition | $8,500 |
| Extension | $8,000 |
| Change of employer | $8,000 |
| Amendment | $8,000 |
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129 (O) | $1,055 | $530 for employers with 25 or fewer FTEs and nonprofits |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600 | $300 for 25 or fewer FTEs; $0 for nonprofits |
| Premium processing (optional) | $2,965 | 15-business-day decision |
Documents you'll need
- Résumé or CV, passport and immigration history
- Evidence for each criterion: awards, press, publications, citations, judging invitations
- Recommendation letters from independent experts
- Proof of compensation relative to the field
- Employment contract or agent itinerary
- Peer-group advisory opinion
How Gale handles the O-1A
Gale's software handles intake, document collection, drafting and tracking. An experienced network attorney owns strategy, legal judgment and final sign-off on every petition.
- Intake on the Gale platformHR starts the case in minutes; the employee completes a guided questionnaire and uploads documents to a checklist built for the visa type.
- Attorney strategy reviewA network attorney maps your record to the eight criteria, decides which three or more to claim, and identifies gaps to close before filing.
- Petition preparationGale organizes evidence by criterion, drafts expert letters for review and assembles the exhibit index automatically.
- Attorney sign-off and filingThe attorney writes the legal brief, signs off on the full package and files with USCIS, usually with premium processing.
- Tracking and responseGale tracks the USCIS receipt and status in one dashboard. If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence, the attorney prepares the response, usually included in the flat fee.
Related visa information pages
The H-1B lets U.S.
Read more EB-1AExtraordinary Ability Green CardThe EB-1A is a self-petitioned green card for people with extraordinary ability who have risen to the very top of their field.
Read more EB-2 NIWNational Interest WaiverThe EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a self-petitioned green card for professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose work benefits the United States.
Read moreReady to start a O-1A case?
Talk with our team about timing, strategy and cost.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Nobel Prize for an O-1A?
No. A major internationally recognized award alone qualifies, but most O-1A petitions instead show at least three of the eight criteria, such as press coverage, judging, high salary or a critical role at a distinguished company.
Can a startup founder get an O-1A?
Yes. Founders frequently qualify through venture funding press, a critical role, high compensation or equity, and judging (for example accelerator panels). The petitioner can be the founder's own U.S. company or an agent.
Is the O-1A better than the H-1B?
The O-1A has no lottery or degree requirement and no six-year maximum, but a higher evidence bar. Many teams file an O-1A for candidates who are strong but miss or lose the H-1B lottery.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and processing times change frequently. Confirm current details with USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney.