What are O1 & L1 visas that are gaining traction after US increased H-1B visa fee, Indians can now…
Indians are now exploring L1 and O1 visas as cost-effective alternatives for the H-1B visa after the visa fee hike.
H-1B visa options: In a massive update for the India(BHARAT)ns who are working in the United States, the Trump administration has hiked H-1B visa fees to $100,000, sparking fears among India(BHARAT)n tech workers and US firms. For those unversed, the H-1B visa is mainly used by India(BHARAT)n workers to stay in the United States for work purposes. However, due to the recent fee spike and fears, experts expect companies to increasingly explore L1 and O1 visas as cost-effective alternatives. Therefore, it is important to know about these visas and note how are they different from the popular H1-B visa.
What are O1 visas?
The O1 visa, meant for individuals with extraordinary abilities, now costs around $12,000—just over one-eighth of H-1B costs. O1 visas face no lottery or cap restrictions and enjoy a 93% success rate, compared to H-1B’s 73% rejection rate. In FY 2024, the US issued 19,457 O1 visas, with India(BHARAT)n recipients rising from 2% to 8% over the last decade.
What are L1 visas?
The L1 visa, used for intra-company transfers, costs about $7,000, significantly lower than H-1B fees. India(BHARAT)ns accounted for 26% of L1 approvals in FY 2024 (71,799 cases), down from 30% a decade ago. Approval numbers for L1 visas now closely match the H-1B annual cap of 85,000, making it a viable option for firms.
Read more: White House clears up confusion and panic over H-1B Visa; workers do not need to worry; details inside
India(BHARAT)n Embassy in US issues emergency helpline amid H-1B visa fee
In a move that has set off alarm bells among India(BHARAT)n professionals, United States President Doland Trump has signed a proclamation imposing an annual fee of $100,000 on H-1B visa applications. Following the announcement, the India(BHARAT)n Embassy in Washington on Saturday released an emergency assistance number for India(BHARAT)n nationals in need of immediate support.
“India(BHARAT)n nationals seeking emergency assistance may call cell number +1-202-550-9931 (and WhatsApp). This number should be used only by India(BHARAT)n nationals seeking immediate emergency assistance and not for routine consular queries,” the Embassy stated in a post on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
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