Working on an O-3 visa

[dgriffiths3 0]

Hello,

 

I am moving to the US on an O-1 visa which has been sponsored by my new company. As it stands, my wife will also be coming with me on an O-3. Our biggest concern is that under the O-3 visa the spouse cannot work. What are the best actions we could take to obtain a work visa for her? I have seen a few potential avenues, although I am not familiar how possible they would be.

 

1. My company also put me in for the HB-1 lottery which would allow my wife to work, despite the criteria for getting a HB-1 being lower. Can I still try for the lottery and switch visa if I get it so that she can work?

2. The EB-1 green card has a similar (albeit slightly higher) criteria to the O-1. Is it likely I may still get this even if I have just been accepted for O-1?

3. Is there any other options I have not seen, for example something she can apply for?

 

I'm really struggling to understand why under other very similar visas like HB-1, L-1 etc. the spouse can work, but under O-1 they cannot. It seems mad that we can be living there and it's illegal for her to work!

 

For some context, we are both British citizens 27 / 29.

 

Thanks!

[Boiler 45,535]

You can have multiple applications 

 

H4 can not work, there is a work option but that comes much later.

 

L1 can so can E2.

 

EB1 is a Green Card and the best option 

[dgriffiths3 0]

Thanks @Boiler. Do you know roughly how long the process would expect to take from arriving in US to getting EB-1? The estimates seem to vary quite wildly from site to site. From what I can tell it will require my employer also filing an i-140 permanent residence form as well?

[Boiler 45,535]

They can file an EB1 now, time wise I would not like to guess sometimes it seems how motivated the Employer/Lawyer is

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

if you are o-1 category, you should file for H1b or L1 visa inorder to file eb1. you cannot file Eb1 with o1 status. you can self file Eb-1 with both i-140 and i-485 once you switch to H1b or L1. Along with i-485 you can apply for EAD and advance parole. EAD will allow your wife to work.