Laying the groundwork for O1 visa

Hey there, extraordinary creative!

First off, a massive thank you to the 120 amazing people who’ve joined us on this wild ride. I’m excited to have you along!

When it comes to navigating the U.S. visa system as a designer, I know firsthand how confusing and overwhelming it can be. My own journey through the process took a lot of trial and error, but that’s why I’m here — to share everything I’ve learned and hopefully make your experience a bit smoother.

Here’s a quick rundown of my visa journey :

• I moved to the U.S. in 2019 for my MFA in design at California College of the Arts.

• Graduated in 2022, interned at Bould Design and Ink Studios in the Bay Area.

• Started freelancing while figuring out my visa situation.

• Applied for the H-1B in 2023—lottery didn’t go through.

• Shifted focus to the O-1 visa after lots of back-and-forth with potential employers. Spoiler: no sponsorship came through.

• Decided to apply on my own through a U.S. agent. Took longer than I expected, and I had to return to India for a bit.

• Eventually got approved and made it back to the U.S. in March 2024.

Now, I’m freelancing again and have started my own one-person studio. With this newsletter, I want to share all the stuff I learned along the way—things that took me way too long to figure out. Whether you're just starting to explore your visa options or already knee-deep in the process, I hope my journey can help guide yours.

In this first edition, we're cutting straight to the chase: how to navigate through different visas and hopefully secure your O-1 visa as a designer, with no fluff, just the need-to-know details—sprinkled with a few insights from my own experience.

Let’s start with a quick rundown of why some of the other visa options might not work for you :

• The infamous H-1B Visa : Popular? Yes. Frustrating? Also yes. The lottery system and the cap of 85,000 visas means it's hit-or-miss. You could be the most qualified designer out there and still not make the cut. It also ties you to one employer, which doesn’t exactly scream "freelance freedom". And, if you get laid off? You’ve got 90 days to find a new sponsor or… it’s back to your home country.

• F-1 Visa (OPT) : If you’re a recent grad, you probably know this one. You get 1 year (or 3 years for STEM folks) to land a job and secure a longer-term visa. Not a lot of time, especially when you’re just finding your footing in the design world.

• J-1 Visa : This one’s handy for short-term gigs or internships, but the two-year home residency requirement? Yeah, that means you’ll have to head back home before applying for another U.S. visa. Not great for building a long-term career in the States.

There are a few other options, but I didn’t dive deep into those—like the E-2, L-1, and Day 1 CPT. Might be worth a quick Google if you're curious, but let's zero in on the O-1 visa—it’s the ideal choice for creatives like us.

Why the O-1 Visa Might Be Your Best Bet

The O1-B visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts and creative fields. Whether you’re an industrial designer, graphic designer, interaction designer, visual designer—or any other type of designer—you fall into that category, which means you’re most likely eligible to apply.

What makes the O-1 visa even more appealing are the benefits that set it apart from other visa options:

1. No lottery, no cap :

   Unlike the H-1B, the O-1 visa doesn’t play hard to get. There’s no limit on how many visas they hand out, and you can apply whenever you’re ready. There’s no waiting around for deadlines or praying to win the lottery. I applied in November when I felt confident about my case.
   

2. Freelance freedom :

   The O-1 visa doesn’t lock you down to one employer. You can have a U.S. agent apply for you, which means you’re free to work with multiple clients or companies. It’s perfect if you’re like me and prefer project-based work. And if you’re still dreaming of full-time work with a company, you can get the visa through an employer too.
   

3. Fast(er) processing :

   The O-1 processing usually takes 2-6 months and if you’re in a rush, you can opt for premium processing to get a decision in 15 days. I went with regular processing, which gave me some time to plan my next steps before heading back to the U.S.
   

4. Second chances :

   If your application doesn’t get approved right away, you won’t have to start over. You’ll likely get a Request for Evidence (RFE), which gives you a chance to strengthen your case. I was lucky enough to get approved on my first try, but having that safety net is a relief.
   

5. Indefinitely renewable :

   Once you have your O-1, you can renew it as long as you keep proving your “extraordinary” status. There’s no countdown clock hanging over your head, so you can keep renewing as long as you’re making moves in your field.
   

6. And the most important one - your portfolio does the talking :

   The O-1 is all about proving your accomplishment. You don’t have to be a design superstar, but if your work is getting noticed, you’re already on the right track. Before I applied, I had a couple of projects that were gaining a lot of attention. I made sure to highlight those and build my application around them.

For now, I have two tips for you -

Prepare to Put in the Work : Your portfolio is the heart of your O-1 application—it’s your chance to tell your story, showcase your work, and provide the evidence to back it up. Many designers get stuck here, figuring out what to include, how to gather stronger evidence, and how to present it effectively. Sometimes, you already have the pieces and just need to pull them together. Other times, you’ll be collecting more evidence as you go.

For me, I started gathering awards and publications in January, even though I wasn’t fully committed yet. After the H-1B lottery in March, I decided to go all in—but it still took time. In my experience, if you’re starting from scratch, it can take around three to six months to gather everything you’ll need.

Be Prepared for Costs: Yes, lawyers and application fees can add up. In the design field, applying for awards can also rack up costs. So be prepared for it. As a ballpark, your expenses could range anywhere from $5k to $15k, depending on the lawyer and the additional press/awards you pursue.

Next, I’ll be sharing a list of items you should start collecting—things that count as evidence for your O-1 application. Since this is the first edition, I’d love to hear from you—just reply with the field of design you're in or any specific questions you have. This will help me draft future versions and gather relevant resources for everyone. If you found this helpful, feel free to share it with your friends!

Stay extraordinary — more insights coming your way soon!