Work visas in the United States are designed for the different skills that individual workers have. When applying for a work visa, it is important to choose the one that works best for your career goals. If you are a software engineer, you should consider applying for an O-1 visa. As a software engineer, there are a few important advantages to having an O-1 visa, including:
O-1 visas are one of the most flexible nonimmigrant visas in the United States. You are allowed to work for an employer or organization or pick up multiple jobs from different employers.
O-1 visas have an initial stay period of three years. This stay can be renewed in one-year increments for as long as you have a contract with an employer. This is different from other nonimmigrant visas that require an individual to leave once the visa has expired. There is also no limit to how many times you can ask for an extension so you can stay in the country indefinitely as long as you continue working in your field.
An O-1 is a dual intent visa, which means that you can come to the United States with the intent to stay and not be ineligible for a visa. While there are other visa types that are also dual intent, an O-1 visa is similar to a first-preference employment-based green card category, and therefore a green card may be more accessible.
Some nonimmigrant visas like the H-1B and H-2B have an annual cap on the number of visas that can be issued. The O-1 visa does not have such an annual cap. As long as you follow the correct application process and remain eligible for the visa, you will be granted an O-1 visa. This means you can request an O-1 visa at any time of the year.
If you include a recommendation letter from a peer group or organization in your O-1 petition, you can effectively eliminate the need to obtain approval from the United States Department of Labor. This can save time on your application process.
If you are interested in applying for an O-1 visa, you may want the help of an experienced immigration attorney. At Serving Immigrants, Inc., we have the experience and the knowledge to guide you through the application process. Contact us online or call us at (305) 907-6151 to schedule a strategy session.
As an immigrant and a refugee herself, attorney Magdalena Cuprys understands how
important, terrifying, and exciting immigrating to America can be. She understands
how important it is to have one’s legal status in order to achieve the American dream.
