Skip to main content

What are the Overall Approval Rates of the O-1 Visa? If I Don’t Get Selected in the H-1B Visa Lottery, Can I Apply for the O-1 Visa?

Image courtesy of WikiCommons, labeled for reuse, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Southern_Arkansas_University_Biology_student_with_microscope.jpg

The latest statistics released by USCIS shows that while there has been an increase in the issuance of Request for Further Evidence (“RFE”) in recent years across the board for all visa types, the overall approval rates still remains relatively high for the O-1 visa for individuals of extraordinary ability. In 2019, the overall approval rate was 90.8%, and this trend has continued into 2020 so far, with the approval rate since the beginning of 2020 standing at 90.2%. These figures represent a very marginal shift down when compared to the overall approval rate five years ago in 2015, which stood at 92%. Similarly, RFE issuance numbers have gone up very marginally for the O-1, with RFE’s being issued in 26.4% of cases in 2019, compared to 24.9% of cases in 2015.

As the FY2021 H-1B Cap Registration fast approaches, and you will likely find out be the end of March whether you were selected through the lottery system, the O-1 may be an alternative solution for those who end up not getting selected in the lottery. To learn more about some of the key differences between the H-1B visa and O-1 visa, please click here. The O-1 visa petition is a very document intensive petition that requires advanced planning. As such, it is important to plan ahead and start preparing for the O-1 early on. To read further blogs about the O-1 visa, please click here.

You can set up a consultation by clicking the link below.

book-your-consultation-button

To find out more about our services and fees contact Scott Legal, P.C


This website and blog constitutes attorney advertising.  Do not consider anything in this website or blog legal advice and nothing in this website constitutes an attorney-client relationship being formed.  Set up a one-hour consultation with us before acting on anything you read here. Past results are no guarantee of future results and prior results do not imply or predict future results.  Each case is different and must be judged on its own merits.

Leave a Reply

FREE WEBINARS
GET YOUR FREE
We are happy to offer our H-1B / E-3 visa guide that describes the H-1B / E-3 visa requirements, and other advise to assist with your visa application.
H-1B / E-3 VISA GUIDE
For more info visit our H-1B / E-3 visa service page or schedule a consultation so we can handle your H-1B / E-3 visa process.
GET YOUR FREE
We are happy to offer our EB-1 / O-1 guide that describes the EB-1 / O-1 requirements, and other advise to assist with your EB-1 / O-1 application.
EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY EB-1 / O-1 GUIDE
For more info visit our EB-1 / O-1 service Page or schedule a consultation so we can handle your EB-1 / O-1 visa process.