Is Your Team O-1 Ready? Understanding the Alternative to H-1B Lottery
For founders, early engineers, and small startups working with international talent, the H-1B lottery can add an extra layer of planning to hiring decisions, especially as rules and processes continue to evolve.
The O-1A visa can be a strong alternative in some cases, but it comes with its own set of considerations. Success depends on understanding how USCIS defines “extraordinary ability,” what credible evidence looks like in practice, and how to present a body of work that shows sustained impact, not just titles or credentials.
This workshop breaks down the O-1A visa in depth: what it requires, where eligibility is most often misunderstood, and how to build cases that actually work. Rather than treating the O-1 as a checklist to complete, we'll work through live cases discussing how USCIS weighs evidence, evaluates narrative, and makes decisions.
What We'll Cover:
What "extraordinary ability" actually means: How USCIS evaluates impact and achievement in practice, not in theory
Meeting criteria vs. presenting a strong case: Why checkboxes aren't enough and what makes a petition compelling
Common red flags and misconceptions: Where O-1 cases typically stumble and how to avoid those pitfalls
Strategic considerations for startups: When the O-1 makes sense for founding teams, early hires, and retention
How Casium approaches O-1 cases: Building strong petitions from the start with clarity and realism
Live case reviews: We'll work through real scenarios and profile assessments together
Who Should Attend: This workshop speaks to multiple audiences:
Founding engineers and technical leaders assessing whether an O-1 is realistic for them now or in the future
Founders and startup leaders evaluating the O-1 as a strategic alternative to H-1B lottery dependency for key team members
Aspiring founders exploring immigration pathways before launching their companies
This is a working session, not a lecture. We'll walk through the framework, work through live examples together, and leave substantial time for Q&A and workshopping specific situations. Bring your questions, edge cases, and actual profiles you're evaluating and navigating.