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H-1B vs O-1A Comparison
Category
H-1B
O-1A
Total Cost
$100,000+ (with new $10K+ fee)
$8,000–13,000
Lottery
Subject to annual lottery (~25% odds)
No lottery, no cap
Employer Dependency
Employer-sponsored only
Can use own company or agent
Duration
3 + 3 years (6 max without GC)
3 years, unlimited renewals
Self-Petition
Cannot self-petition
Can self-petition via O-1 agent
Green Card Path
EB-2/EB-3 (10+ year backlog for Indians)
EB-1A (no per-country backlog)
Processing Time
2-8 months (premium: 15 days)
2-8 months (premium: 15 days)
Qualification Bar
Bachelor's + specialty occupation
Extraordinary ability (3 of 8 criteria)
Spouse Work Rights
H-4 EAD (restricted, under threat)
O-3 (no work authorization)
Save $19,630+
Estimated lifetime cost savings when switching from H-1B to O-1A path
Do you qualify for O-1A?
You need to meet at least 3 of these 8 criteria:
•Awards or prizes for excellence
•Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement
•Published material about you in major media
•Judging the work of others in your field
•Original contributions of major significance
•Authorship of scholarly articles
•Employment in a critical or distinguished role
•High salary relative to peers
0
Savings vs H-1B path
0
Lottery requirement
0
O-1A criteria needed
Why use this tool?
Cost Comparison
See the true cost difference between H-1B and O-1A paths, including hidden fees.
No Lottery
O-1A has no annual cap or lottery — apply any time of year with no uncertainty.
Green Card Fast Track
EB-1A path has no per-country backlog, unlike the 10+ year EB-2/EB-3 wait for Indians.
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Free to start. No credit card required.