If you are launching a startup in the United States and qualify for an O-1 visa, one major question comes up quickly: Should your new company petition for you, or should you file with an O-1 agent? Both structures are legally possible, but they are not strategically equal. Understanding the difference between an O-1 agent petitioner and a startup petitioner is helpful when deciding which route to take for your sponsorship. Can Your Own Company Sponsor Your O-1 Visa? Yes. A U.

The 9–5 job was once the center of professional life, especially for visa holders. Today, it’s often just one stream of income. Wage growth for the middle class has not kept pace with inflation. Highly educated, highly accomplished professionals are finding that loyalty to a single employer does not always translate into security or upside. At the same time, the nature of work has expanded. People build careers across projects, equity positions, advisory roles, publications,

One of the biggest myths in the O-1 visa world is that an agent petitioner is only an option for freelancers or people juggling multiple gigs. In reality, an O-1 agent can file a petition even when the work is for a single, full-time employer. This structure is increasingly common and, for many professionals, increasingly necessary. The Big Myth: “Agents Are Only for Freelancers” Many people assume that using a visa agent is only allowed if: You have multiple employers You ar

One of the most common questions we hear at Ambra Talent Group is how to get an employer to acknowledge an O-1 agent filing without triggering concern about job changes or sponsorship obligations. We’ve heard a lot of chatter about employer resistance to O-1 agent visas, or O-1 visas in general. You Redditors in particular are really up in arms about this. USCIS regulations do require the employer or employers to acknowledge the agent filer, and this is where clients often st

We should all work a little less for employers and a little more for ourselves. The Illusion of Job Security The chaos in the job market has been building for years, but Amazon’s recent announcement to cut as many as 30,000 jobs has confirmed what many already feel: traditional job security no longer exists. For professionals working in the U.S. on a visa, this uncertainty is intensified by changing immigration policies and a visible slowdown in H1B hiring among large emplo

Clients who qualify for O-1 visas are increasingly expressing interest in filing through an O-1 visa agent. Working with an agent can offer flexibility for visa holders who want greater work authorization stability and employment opportunities, but it also comes with specific compliance requirements that attorneys should be able to navigate with their clients. USCIS allows agents to act as petitioners in three primary situations: For traditionally self-employed workers  Those

If you’re a foreign professional aiming to build a flexible, independent career in the U.S., the O-1 visa  can be a powerful tool. It not only recognizes your extraordinary ability but also gives you freedom to work across multiple projects. One of the best ways to unlock that flexibility is by partnering with an O-1 visa agent , who can act as your authorized petitioner and help you manage diverse work opportunities. Before you take that step, ask yourself: Are you seeking m

Extraordinary ability deserves extraordinary freedom. As the global workforce evolves, the definition of a successful career is changing too. The rise of flexible work, portfolio careers, and cross-border collaboration is redefining what it means to be a professional in the United States. Yet for many O-1 visa holders, some of the world’s most exceptional minds, immigration policy has often lagged behind. That is where the O-1 agent model comes in: a modern framework built fo