Want to Work in the U.S.? You Need to Know These Two Work Visas: H-1B vs. O-1B
- Mike Lin
- Apr 8
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
If you're currently studying in the U.S. or planning to stay and work after graduation, you must know about these two U.S. work visas: H-1B and O-1B.
Both visas allow you to legally work in the United States, but their requirements and review processes are completely different. Understanding the differences between the two can save you a lot of time and effort — and could even determine whether you can successfully stay in the country.
This article breaks down the H-1B and O-1B in the simplest way possible, with the latest data included. It also covers one of the most overlooked — but super important — questions: What should you do if you want to change jobs?
H-1B Visa: The Standard Route
The concept of the H-1B is straightforward: a company applies for the work visa on your behalf. They prepare your documents, pay the legal and filing fees, and enter you into a lottery system. If you're selected, you can work legally in the U.S. The initial visa is valid for three years and can be renewed once — for a total of six years.
Some key rules and conditions for the H-1B:
Must be sponsored by a company. You can’t apply for it yourself, nor can you handle the visa on your own after getting a job offer. The petition must be submitted by your employer.
Companies usually pay for it. H-1B attorney and filing fees are not cheap, but by law, employers are supposed to cover them. Most companies willing to hire you will take care of the cost — though in some cases, they may say they’re paying when in reality, you could end up covering part or all of it.
There’s a cap, and it’s lottery-based. For FY 2025, the U.S. government received over 440,000 valid registrations but selected only around 110,000. That’s about a 26% chance — only one in four applicants are selected.
The lottery happens every March. Registration usually takes place in mid-March, with results announced by late March or early April. Only after you're selected can the company officially submit your full petition.
There may be a second lottery. If selected applicants don’t file or get disqualified, USCIS may hold an additional round. There's a small chance of being selected this way, but it’s not guaranteed.
Minimum salary requirement. Employers must pay at least the prevailing wage for your position based on location, job type, and qualifications.
Minimum education requirement: Bachelor’s degree. You must have a degree related to the job, and your major must match your job duties — for example, if you work in animation, your degree should ideally be in animation, visual arts, or a related field.
If your company is willing to pay and apply for you, there’s nothing to lose. If you’re selected — great. If not, you can still stay and explore other options as a student (like CPT, OPT, or the O-1B we'll discuss next).
O-1B Visa: The Best Visa for Artists
The O-1B is a work visa for people with extraordinary ability in the arts or creative fields. There’s no lottery, no quota, no education requirement, and no fixed salary minimum. You can apply any time of the year, and it can be renewed indefinitely. As long as you have solid achievements, a portfolio, exposure, and recommendation letters, you can apply.
Instead of relying on luck, you’ll need actual accomplishments such as:
Winning industry-recognized awards (student awards don’t count)
Being featured in media articles, interviews, or exhibitions
Strong recommendation letters from professors or industry professionals
Publicly exhibiting your work at festivals, fairs, or platforms
Demonstrating that you were a key contributor or were hired with a high salary
You don’t have to be a celebrity to apply. In fact, many O-1B applicants build their case step by step, starting from student work and internships. You don’t have to be famous — you just need to prove, with evidence, that you’re skilled and have made contributions in your field.
Changing employers? H-1B is rigid. O-1B is flexible.
Changing jobs under H-1B is difficult.
You can only work for the employer who filed your petition. If you want to switch jobs, the new company has to file an H-1B transfer and pay the legal and USCIS fees again.
Not all companies are willing to do this. For small companies especially, the process is too complicated and risky. Some companies won’t even consider candidates who are trying to transfer their H-1B.
This means your job options become very limited unless you find another sponsor willing to go through the whole process again.
Changing jobs under O-1B? As long as you stay in your field, you’re good!
If you apply for an O-1B through an agent or under a "multi-employer model", you can freely change jobs, take on freelance projects, or work multiple jobs — all as long as they fall within your professional field.
For example, if you're an animator or director, you can work on a short film for a company today, attend a film festival tomorrow, and take on a freelance motion graphics job the next day — all legally.
You can even plan ahead to include multiple creative projects, teaching gigs, or collaborations in your initial petition — just include them in your support letters or contracts when you apply. You won’t need to reapply every time you start a new project. It’s extremely flexible!
Summary: Which one should you choose?
Comparison Item | H-1B | O-1B |
Lottery Required? | Yes (about 25.6% selection rate) | No |
Who Can Apply? | Employer must file the petition | Employer or agent can file |
Annual Cap? | ~85,000 slots per year | No cap |
Job Transfer Freedom? | Low — new employer must reapply and pay fees | High — free to change jobs as long as it's the same field |
Minimum Salary? | Yes (based on job and location) | No fixed requirement |
Education Required? | At least a bachelor’s degree | No degree required — based on experience and merit |
Who is it for? | Graduates in all fields with employer support | Talents in creative fields like art, design, film, animation |
Final Thoughts: What are your strengths? That determines which path is right for you.
If you just graduated, and a company wants to hire you and pay your fees, then go ahead and try for the H-1B. If you're selected, you can stay — no loss either way.
If you come from a creative background and have work, exhibitions, exposure, or collaborations — even without a high degree — as long as your accomplishments are clear, the O-1B might be the better option. No lottery, and more freedom to shape your career.
H-1B emphasizes education + salary + employer sponsorship,
O-1B emphasizes portfolio + experience + achievements.
Your qualifications will determine which path makes the most sense for you.
Are you a film or animation student wondering if you're eligible for O-1B?
We offer 1-on-1 background assessments and visa planning services. We’ll review your resume, portfolio, awards, and exposure to tell you clearly if you're eligible — and what you may still need to work on. No more guessing — we’ll help you map out a clear, actionable plan.
If you're not quite ready, we also offer personalized coaching to help you build qualifications step by step, strengthen your resume, and collect everything needed to successfully apply for the O-1B visa.
Limited slots available — book your consultation today or check out our service plans!
