TylerR

Thanks, that’s good to know! I’ve heard similar things from people in tech, some lawyers wouldn’t take their cases or claimed they needed way more media coverage, which just wasn’t true. So, thanks, @IntegerOverlord. You’ve proven my point that if I keep working hard and reaching my goals, I’ll have a solid shot at getting that visa.

That’s good to know! I always thought it would take recommendations from 15 or so from quality people, so this really puts my mind at ease. Thanks! That’s good to know. I think I also heard somewhere else that it’s kind of common to file for EB-1A directly after the O-1 is approved. That’s the goal I’m aiming for, to have my case so rock-solid that it’s practically a done deal for EB-1A. Thanks for the two recommendations! Thanks, you helped a lot!

Could you be a bit more specific about what you mean? That sounds great. Should the authoring be specifically in the field of my startup, or is it enough if it’s generally in the field of computer science? That’s a really good point, it definitely helps me work toward that goal. Thanks! I also read somewhere that quality is better than quantity, which obviously makes sense. What would you say is the number of letters of recommendation to comfortably have a shot at getting the visa? National. What exactly qualifies as “international”? Does it have to be a major magazine with a global audience like TechCrunch, or does “international” also apply if the magazine is based in another country, even if it most likely doesn’t reach a worldwide audience? Not yet, but I’m optimistic that we’ll get some kind of award in the coming years. I have one final question. While I was researching the O-1 and EB-1A visa requirements, I noticed that some sources say you need stronger, more compelling evidence for the EB-1A. How much harder is it really to secure the EB-1A visa? Is the difference huge, or is it just more a formal extra hurdle?

I came across the O‑1 and EB‑1A visas a few months ago and figured I might have a shot at obtaining them. I also did a ton of research on the topic, especially from people in my industry (software engineers and other tech workers). I'm posting here because I know some of you have already been through this process, and I'd love to hear any tips or opinions you might have. I'm speaking hypothetically, since I haven’t achieved all these accomplishments so far. A little about me: I’m a 22-year-old German citizen majoring in computer science. I co-founded my tech startup with a buddy when I was 20, and we're focused on modernizing the government sector in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We've also partnered with another company that's a major player in our regional market. It's a win-win for both of us, and we expect huge growth this year and next. Here’s a breakdown of my accomplishments (some are still hypothetical): - I co-authored five publications, though my contributions were minor and have nothing to do with my startup. - 15 letters of recommendation from former college professors, one letter of recommendation from my co-founder and our employee, one letter of recommendation from a someone in Portugal with whom I built a software product remotely, one letter of recommendation from someone in the Bay Area, CA, who I met at a conference, and one letter of recommendation from the person who runs our partner company. - I'm CTO of my own company, earning an annual salary of €150,000. - 15 different articles highlight our company's product, and one magazine features it regularly. - I was on the jury on my college's hackathon. I included the hackathon judging experience because I’ve heard that immigration lawyers can interpret the O‑1 and EB‑1A visa requirements in different ways, meaning the criteria are pretty broadly defined. In other words, serving as a hackathon judge might count toward the requirement/criterion of having reviewed the work of your peers in your field. So, I'm just interested in hearing your opinions and any advice you might have. What I really like about the O‑1 and EB‑1A visas is that they're tied to my personal achievements rather than being based solely on my company, for example, holding a managerial role in my company (like the L‑1A visa requires). Just to be super clear, my goal is to achieve a green card and eventually US citizenship. Thanks in advance for any insights you can share!

I agree, that'd probably the most straightforward path of getting U.S. education and a U.S. job after graduation. My only problem with this approach is, that of course I don't want to hold hostage as an employee by my employer since he's the only person who can sponsor me my visa. I totally agree, it's not enough for sure. I'm mostly talking about in the next 2-3 years to take action to maybe open a U.S. branch. We're expecting to see a significant boost in revenue in the next few years, so in about 2-3 years, we could be looking at something like $350k to $500k.

Either way could work, right?

Alright, what happens to the visa if the business or the new U.S. branch doesn’t work out within two years, or if I can’t hire Americans for some reason? Do you have any thoughts on these two options?:

Addition: Of course, I’d need a managerial role within my U.S. branch (which I pretty much already have). If we go this route, we’d most likely set up the U.S. branch as the engineering office. In other words, the U.S. branch would focus solely on engineering, while the German branch would serve as the sales office.

I’m a 22-year-old German citizen majoring in computer science. (Yeah, I know the tech job market in the U.S. is pretty saturated right now.) I also co-run a small B2B tech startup. Our annual recurring revenue is about $120k after two years in operation. For now, the company will likely stay focused on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. From what I understand, my main options for immigrating to the U.S. are through marriage, education, work, or investment. It’s super important to me that whatever visa I pursue eventually leads to a green card and U.S. citizenship. Becoming a U.S. citizen is one of my biggest life goals. Here are the four options I’ve been considering. I’d love your input on each and whether they seem realistic: 1. Enter the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 2. L-1A Visa: I could open a U.S. branch of my German company and transfer to the U.S. on an L-1A visa. Then, I’d aim to file for an EB-1 visa through the U.S. branch. I’m not sure about the regulations tied to keeping the L-1A visa, though. Would I need to hire a certain number of Americans? What other requirements are there? 3. Do a Master’s Degree in the U.S.: I could go for a master’s at a U.S. college. 4. Australia Route + E-3 Visa: I’m also interested in Australia. (Obviously, I love the U.S. a bit more.) Australia’s immigration process is way more straightforward. After living there for a few years, I could become an Australian citizen and qualify for the exclusive E-3 visa. From what I’ve read, it’s like the H-1B but way easier to get. After that, I’d need to find a U.S. company willing to sponsor me. Quick question about option 4: If I became an Australian citizen and entered the DV lottery, I’d still enter using Germany, right? Since I was born there, my chances wouldn’t increase even with Australian citizenship? A couple of notes: Even if my company becomes super successful, I’d be fine working a regular job if it helps me get a visa. My issue with investment visas is that (afaik) there’s no clear path to a green card or citizenship. While I wouldn’t move to Australia just to get into the U.S., I love Australia almost as much as the U.S. That said, I feel the U.S. would offer more opportunities for my future kids compared to Australia.