Introduction to O-1, EB-1A and Entrepreneur H-1B
About Event
The O-1 and EB-1A are often called “talent visas.” They’re built for people with extraordinary ability in their field, and they work very differently from the H-1B. The O-1 has no lottery and no annual cap. The EB-1A is a green card you can file for yourself, without a job offer or an employer sponsor.
And if you’re a founder, there’s the entrepreneur H-1B. Since January 2025, your own company can sponsor you for an H-1B, even if you own the majority of it. The catch: if you do, the first petition and the first extension are each approved for only 18 months.
But most people assume talent visas are only for Nobel winners and Olympians, and that founders can’t get an H-1B through their own company. Neither is true. And those who are curious have no idea where they actually stand.
In this free session, Soundarya Balasubramani, who is on an O-1A herself, will break all three down with immigration attorney Allison Kranz from Lodestone Legal.
🎯 What we’ll cover
What talent visas actually are: O-1A, O-1B, and EB-1A, and how they differ
O-1 vs EB-1A: a temporary work visa vs a green card, and when to pursue each
What “extraordinary ability” really means, and why you don’t need a Nobel Prize to qualify
The criteria USCIS looks at: awards, press, judging, original contributions, high salary, and more
Who files: employers, agents, and your own company for the O-1, and self-petitioning for the EB-1A
The entrepreneur H-1B: how your own startup can sponsor you, and what USCIS expects to see
The 18-month rule for majority owners, and what it means for planning your next step
Lottery or no lottery: where the entrepreneur H-1B fits, and how university entrepreneur-in-residence programs help founders
How to start building your profile today, even if you’re not ready to file
Common mistakes people make when putting their case together
Whether you’re on OPT, H-1B, or another visa, and you’ve ever wondered if your work could qualify you for a talent visa, or whether your own company could sponsor you, this session will give you a clear picture of where you stand.
Bring your questions. This is a live session!
🫂 About Allison Kranz
Allison Kranz is an immigration attorney with 15+ years of experience and the founder of Lodestone Legal, a boutique immigration law firm based in Boston. She specializes in employment-based immigration, including O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and H-1B cases, with a focus on founders, entrepreneurs, and high-skilled professionals navigating complex visa pathways. Allison has represented clients across industries including tech, biotech, academia, and the arts.
✨ About Soundarya Balasubramani
Soundarya Balasubramani is a writer, speaker, and content creator based in San Francisco, with an online community of 450,000+. She is the author of three books, including Unshackled, a guide to the US legal immigration system co-authored with an immigration lawyer, and her debut novel 1000 Days of Love, coming in 2027. She has hosted some of the largest summits for tech immigrants in the US and creates content specifically for high-skilled immigrants navigating life and work in America.