Independent Research
The H-1B isn't your only path.
Independent research and analysis on every alternative — for the 585,000+ skilled professionals the lottery rejects each year.
The most-used alternatives
O-1 Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
No lottery, no annual cap, no $100K filing fee — for those with sustained recognition in their field.
Read the breakdown →L-1A Intracompany Transferee, Executive or Manager
Transfer executives or managers from a foreign office to a related US entity.
Read the breakdown →EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card
Permanent residence for those at the very top of their field — self-petitioned, no employer required.
Read the breakdown →The research we're working on
State of H-1B Alternatives 2026
A flagship research brief on every legal alternative to the H-1B visa following the 2026 fee changes and lottery reforms — with our editorial conclusion on which path is most achievable for skilled professionals.
Read the brief →Agent-Petition Pathway
USCIS regulation permits a US-based agent to petition for an O-1 worker who has multiple employers or no single sponsor. We map how the pathway is built and where it breaks.
Read the brief →True Cost of a Visa
Filing fees alone tell only part of the story. We compare H-1B, O-1, L-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW total costs including legal, evidence-gathering, and time-to-status.
Read the brief →What is the agent-petition pathway?
The agent-petition structure for O-1 visas is the most underused mechanism in US work-based immigration. It permits one petitioner — an authorized agent — to file on behalf of a beneficiary who will work for multiple US end-clients during the validity period.
For consultants, founders, freelancers, and athletes — the candidates whose work is fundamentally project-based rather than employee-based — it is the only structure that fits their reality. And it has emerged in 2026 as the most workable practical alternative to the H-1B for professionals who can document recognition in their field.
Read the brief →Editorial summary
For most skilled professionals without country or role advantages, the agent-petitioned O-1 is the most achievable practical alternative.
The Library
We curate the best of external research alongside the four sister properties used to act on the evidence — O1DMatch, Aventus Visa Agents, Innovative Global Talent, and Sherrod Sports Visas.
Visit the LibraryGet our research
Quarterly reports, no spam. Sent when published.