May I qualify for O-1? (VP at high class startup, speaker, was on TV, etc.)

[AndreasGalster 0]

Hi guys, I am currently exploring working in the US. I've always wanted to in the past but I've always been afraid of the requirements when I was younger. I've never went to college, started working at the age of 17 in advertising but now I have 10 years experience on my back in advertising and working for and with startups. I'm currently the VP of Product at one of the hottest and best funded startups in the Philippines, I've won a yearly startup competition in the Philippines twice with my teams, I'm a regular speaker at universities or occasional events either organized by student organizations or the Philippine Google Development Group (I'm technically also endorsed as a Google Developer Expert for the Philippines, though officially not pushed through yet). I'm also occasionally organizing my own events/workshops at co-working spaces which are in high demand and I've been on TV before and was interviewed about the local startup scene in the Philippines.

I have a very versatile skill set. I am both a pretty experienced graphic/user experience designer and full stack developer, I have a lot of experience in building digital products and generally know how to hustle as a hard working ex startup founder and I would say I do excel at leading people (at least that's what I hear from the teams I manage). At least here in the Philippines I am considered one of the most high profile, valued people to hire at a startup but this may of course differ in the USA. I know that US startups are different, the work ethics are very different from here. I'm originally from Germany btw, just currently working in the Philippines. I wonder if any of these things listed here could help me acquiring a O-1 visa or any other visa?

I really want to give the USA a shot again after 10 years of giving up being able to make it, so what do you think, what can I do to make this work ?

[Hypnos 6,576]

H-1B is probably more feasible than an O-1.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I don't think you have enough for an O1, but you would probably want to talk to a lawyer about that, these types of visas are usually handled by one.

[mindthegap 2,590]

I know people in my field who have got O1s with far less than that, so you have a good chance.

Having letters of recommendation from high profile people in your field goes a long way with O petitions, as well as a strong body of evidence of all your achievements and abilities.

You do, however still need a sponsor to file an O-1 petition - this is usually an agent.