O-1 Visa Agent vs Employer: Which Filing Structure Is Right?
Confused about O-1 visa agent vs employer petition? Take this 2-minute assessment to structure your O-1 correctly.
Before building your O-1 case, confirm your filing architecture.
This takes 2 minutes.
O-1 visa requires a U.S. petitioner. That petitioner can be:
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​1-A U.S. agent representing multiple U.S. employers or engagements
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2-A U.S. agent filing on behalf of a foreign employer
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A direct U.S. employer OR
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3-A U.S. agent providing structural separation in founder-controlled scenarios or difficult professional models
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When talking about O-1s, flexibility is the popular word to refer to, but this flexibility is only possible when you apply through a U.S. agent.
This structure provides applicants with greater structural flexibility, and it can be used in almost every type of occupation, such as founders, artists, athletes, consultants, VCs, and multi-engagement professionals.
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O-1 applicants focus on eligibility. But what often determines the fate of the O-1 application is the petitioner structure, which is commonly overlooked.
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The truth is, if you choose the wrong structure for your petition, you may:
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Limit your future work flexibility
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Trigger RFEs
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Find yourself in a complicated situation if employment changes
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