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United States highly skilled worker visa

2 current source-backed highly skilled worker pathways. Verify the responsible authority before applying.

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This page contains 2 current routes for this destination, with the available eligibility, requirements and duration details.

Source-backed legal route · Checked 2026-10-22

Current route records

RouteConditionsEffective or checkedOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementStructured main conditions are not available in the current source extract.2026-10-22Official source
Highly skilled worker routeThe EB-1 route covers extraordinary ability (a major award or at least three of ten criteria and continued work), outstanding professors or researchers (three years' experience, a qualifying job and two of six criteria), and certain multinational managers or executives with one year abroad and a qualifying U.S. employer.2026-07-16Official source

Fees, processing times and requirements

Each value as the authority publishes it, in the currency it charges.

RouteFactValueOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementApplication fee (premium processing Form I-907)2,965 USDOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementApplication fee (regular employer Form I-129 online)1,005 USDOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementApplication fee (regular employer Form I-129 paper)1,055 USDOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementApplication fee (small employer or nonprofit Form I-129 online)530 USDOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementApplication fee (small employer or nonprofit Form I-129 paper)530 USDOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementFirst permit valid for36 monthsOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementCan be renewedyesOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementJob offer or employer sponsorship requiredyesOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementQualification requirednone statedOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementFamily can come alongyesOfficial source
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or AchievementWhere to applyat a consulate abroadOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeApplication fee (skilled aos online)1,390 USDOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeApplication fee (skilled aos paper)1,440 USDOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeApplication fee (skilled eb1 iv)345 USDOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeApplication fee (skilled eb1a self petition online)665 USDOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeApplication fee (skilled eb1a self petition paper)715 USDOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeApplication fee (issuance, skilled immigrant fee)235 USDOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeApplication fee (skilled immigrant visa)345 USDOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeFirst permit valid for6 monthsOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeCan be renewednoOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeFamily can come alongyesOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routePermanent residence after0 yearsOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeWhere to applyat a consulate or in the countryOfficial source

Can you work on this route?

Route-specific work rights and conditions stay separate from shortage-list status and individual eligibility.

RoutePublished work answerOfficial source
Highly skilled worker routeThe exact EB-1 source requires the applicable category evidence; for extraordinary ability it states sustained acclaim and evidence that the applicant will continue working in the area of expertise, while the other categories have separate research, employer or multinational-manager requirements.Official source
Highly skilled worker routeThe USCIS EB-1 page identifies this as an employment-based first-preference immigrant route for extraordinary-ability workers, outstanding professors or researchers, and certain multinational executives or managers.Official source

Official sources

  1. Official route conditionswww.uscis.gov · Checked 2026-10-22
  2. Immigration and Nationality Act section 101(a)(15)(O), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(O), as implemented in 8 CFR 214.2(o)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · Checked 2026-10-22
  3. Official route conditionswww.uscis.gov · Checked 2026-07-16
  4. Official US highly skilled route conditionswww.uscis.gov · Checked 2026-07-16
  5. USCISUSCIS · Checked 2026-07-15