H-1B
Lottery-gated, $100K fee on covered petitions
Annual cap of 85,000 with selection odds below 25%. Single-employer petitions. Covered petitions face the September 2025 Proclamation $100K fee.
Trying to decide between H-1B and O-1?
The two visas differ on every meaningful dimension: lottery, cap, fee, multi-employer flexibility, processing time, and renewability. Read the side-by-side breakdown.
Your three realistic options
O-1 with agent petitioner
Evidence-gated, no lottery
Available year-round. Multi-employer authorization via agent. Initial validity up to 3 years; renewable indefinitely in 1-year increments.
Both
Lead to permanent residence
Both categories support eventual EB-1A or EB-2 NIW filings. The O-1 is the more flexible non-immigrant bridge.
Get the side-by-side comparison brief
Cost, eligibility, processing, and flexibility — H-1B vs O-1 in a single 6-minute read.
Comparison based on USCIS Policy Manual and DOL program guidance. Not legal advice.