I.
You are already in the U.S.
On an H-1B and want a more flexible long-term path.
For engineers
U.S. visa strategy for engineers
If you are an engineer who wants to live and work in the U.S., the right visa is what makes that possible on your own terms. A strong technical record, a sponsoring employer, or an intracompany transfer can each open a different door — the O-1, the H-1B, or the L-1. At Manifest, our attorneys help engineers compare their options and pick the path that actually fits where they are today.
- Flat fees with flexible payment plans, quoted up front.
- Ex-USCIS officer review available on every plan as an add on.
- Live case tracking through the Manifest portal.
- We have represented engineers from individual contributors to senior staff at top-tier tech companies, AI labs, and hardware startups.
/Find your path
What visa options does an engineer typically have?
For most engineers, the right visa depends on your role, your employer, country of birth, and what you have already built.
Common starting points for engineers
II.
You are on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT,
And the clock is running out.
III.
You are outside the U.S.
With an offer from a U.S. team, or you are transferring inside the same company.
/Available pathways
Your visa options
O-1A — Extraordinary Ability
For engineers with public proof of their work. The O-1A works best when you can point to outside evidence that your work stands out — cited papers, talks at recognized conferences, hiring committee or peer review work, press coverage, or a salary at the top of your band. There is no lottery and no country cap, and it is renewable indefinitely.
H-1B — Specialty Occupation
For engineers with a U.S. employer ready to sponsor. The H-1B is the default sponsored path for engineers with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Most filings go through the annual March lottery, so timing matters. Cap-exempt employers like universities and some research nonprofits can file year-round.
L-1 — Intracompany Transfer
For engineers moving from a foreign office of the same company. The L-1 works best when you have worked at least one of the past three years at a foreign affiliate, parent, or subsidiary of a U.S. employer. The L-1A is for managers, and the L-1B is for specialized-knowledge engineers. There is no lottery, and dual intent is allowed.
Meet our experienced attorneys
Our immigration lawyers are more than credentialed. They are personally committed to your outcome. Only 1% of attorney applicants are selected to work with Manifest, and they bring the care, insight, and precision needed to craft complex cases at the highest level.
Jeff Joseph
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
30+ Years of Experience
Gregory Boult
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
25+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Rami Lee
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
18+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Evan J. Law
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
17+ Years of Experience1,300+ Cases Filed*
Ana Senior
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
14+ Years of Experience1,200+ Cases Filed*
Lahaina Araneta McBeth
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
12+ Years of Experience4,800+ Cases Filed*
Avalon L. Paul
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Ana Gabriela Urizar
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience15,000+ Cases Filed*
Amanda Mitchell
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
9+ Years of Experience2,500+ Cases Filed*
Nicole Gunara
PRINC. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
7+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Henry Lindpere
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience700+ Cases Filed*
Bruna Maciel Soledade
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience1,150+ Cases Filed*
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Our approach
Why clients trust Manifest’s immigration lawyers
Here is what our clients get on every Manifest case.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour. Payment plans are available.
03
Live case tracking
The Manifest portal shows every status update, every document, and your next step in real time.
04
Built for technical talent
We have worked with individual contributors, staff engineers, machine learning researchers, and senior leads at top-tier tech companies, AI labs, and hardware teams.
05
Money-back guarantee
If conditions are met and your visa isn’t approved, you get a refund of all or part of your legal fees.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour. Payment plans are available.
03
Live case tracking
The Manifest portal shows every status update, every document, and your next step in real time.
04
Built for technical talent
We have worked with individual contributors, staff engineers, machine learning researchers, and senior leads at top-tier tech companies, AI labs, and hardware teams.
05
Money-back guarantee
If conditions are met and your visa isn’t approved, you get a refund of all or part of your legal fees.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour. Payment plans are available.
03
Live case tracking
The Manifest portal shows every status update, every document, and your next step in real time.
04
Built for technical talent
We have worked with individual contributors, staff engineers, machine learning researchers, and senior leads at top-tier tech companies, AI labs, and hardware teams.
05
Money-back guarantee
If conditions are met and your visa isn’t approved, you get a refund of all or part of your legal fees.
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Success stories
Helping engineers build their future in the U.S.
From O-1 petitions and H-1B filings to L-1 transfers, we’ve helped engineers across specialties navigate U.S. visa pathways with confidence.
EB-1A
Open-Source Cloud Contributor Wins an EB-1A as H-1B Time Runs Out
Amanda Mitchell - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawAmanda Mitchell helped a cloud software engineer secure the EB1A extraordinary ability Green Card as her H-1B time was running out. The case was anchored by her prominent contributions to a globally adopted open-source cloud computing project - technology used in government and even space applications - with a leading industry foundation supporting her petition in writing.
L-1
European Team Manager Transfers to the U.S. on an L-1
Rupal Parikh helped a Europe-based manager transfer to the U.S. with the L-1 visa. The case was built on the client's role managing a team of professionals at the foreign affiliate of a U.S. company, and it required careful documentation of job descriptions and the organizational chart to establish the qualifying managerial capacity of the new U.S. role.
EB-1A
Cloud Security Architect Leaves the EB-2 Backlog With an EB-1A
Linda Chan Attreed - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawLinda Chan Attreed helped an Indian cloud security and AI architect win approval of his EB-1A extraordinary ability petition, giving him a faster Green Card path than his backlogged EB-2. Serving as one of only two principal architects at a major U.S. retail corporation, his case drew on twenty published papers with hundreds of citations, a patented AI-powered cybersecurity framework, more than 170 peer reviews, international awards, and selective professional memberships.
O-1
NewA Technology Director from India Beats an RFE to Land His O-1
Meaghan Tuohey - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawMeaghan Tuohey helped an Indian technology director secure O-1 approval after responding to a Request for Evidence, with strong employer backing helping establish his critical role at a specialized technology company. Despite a tight OPT deadline, the case succeeded through updated documentation and expert letters of recommendation.
EB-1A
Open-Source Cloud Contributor Wins an EB-1A as H-1B Time Runs Out
Amanda Mitchell - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawAmanda Mitchell helped a cloud software engineer secure the EB1A extraordinary ability Green Card as her H-1B time was running out. The case was anchored by her prominent contributions to a globally adopted open-source cloud computing project - technology used in government and even space applications - with a leading industry foundation supporting her petition in writing.
L-1
European Team Manager Transfers to the U.S. on an L-1
Rupal Parikh helped a Europe-based manager transfer to the U.S. with the L-1 visa. The case was built on the client's role managing a team of professionals at the foreign affiliate of a U.S. company, and it required careful documentation of job descriptions and the organizational chart to establish the qualifying managerial capacity of the new U.S. role.
EB-1A
Cloud Security Architect Leaves the EB-2 Backlog With an EB-1A
Linda Chan Attreed - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawLinda Chan Attreed helped an Indian cloud security and AI architect win approval of his EB-1A extraordinary ability petition, giving him a faster Green Card path than his backlogged EB-2. Serving as one of only two principal architects at a major U.S. retail corporation, his case drew on twenty published papers with hundreds of citations, a patented AI-powered cybersecurity framework, more than 170 peer reviews, international awards, and selective professional memberships.
O-1
NewA Technology Director from India Beats an RFE to Land His O-1
Meaghan Tuohey - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawMeaghan Tuohey helped an Indian technology director secure O-1 approval after responding to a Request for Evidence, with strong employer backing helping establish his critical role at a specialized technology company. Despite a tight OPT deadline, the case succeeded through updated documentation and expert letters of recommendation.
EB-1A
Open-Source Cloud Contributor Wins an EB-1A as H-1B Time Runs Out
Amanda Mitchell - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawAmanda Mitchell helped a cloud software engineer secure the EB1A extraordinary ability Green Card as her H-1B time was running out. The case was anchored by her prominent contributions to a globally adopted open-source cloud computing project - technology used in government and even space applications - with a leading industry foundation supporting her petition in writing.
L-1
European Team Manager Transfers to the U.S. on an L-1
Rupal Parikh helped a Europe-based manager transfer to the U.S. with the L-1 visa. The case was built on the client's role managing a team of professionals at the foreign affiliate of a U.S. company, and it required careful documentation of job descriptions and the organizational chart to establish the qualifying managerial capacity of the new U.S. role.
EB-1A
Cloud Security Architect Leaves the EB-2 Backlog With an EB-1A
Linda Chan Attreed - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawLinda Chan Attreed helped an Indian cloud security and AI architect win approval of his EB-1A extraordinary ability petition, giving him a faster Green Card path than his backlogged EB-2. Serving as one of only two principal architects at a major U.S. retail corporation, his case drew on twenty published papers with hundreds of citations, a patented AI-powered cybersecurity framework, more than 170 peer reviews, international awards, and selective professional memberships.
O-1
NewA Technology Director from India Beats an RFE to Land His O-1
Meaghan Tuohey - Immigration Lawyer Co-Counsel to Manifest LawMeaghan Tuohey helped an Indian technology director secure O-1 approval after responding to a Request for Evidence, with strong employer backing helping establish his critical role at a specialized technology company. Despite a tight OPT deadline, the case succeeded through updated documentation and expert letters of recommendation.
*Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.
/Testimonials
Client stories
Discover how Manifest has helped clients navigate the visa process and read their success stories.
Very professional, Simon and Dan responded to my clarifications with satisfaction. prepared my case with detailed documentation and got my approval from USCIS. Highly recommended for individuals looking for GC process under employment-based category
Gurinder Singh
I have worked with Dan and Simon directly, and my experience has been like no other. It feels like I'm talking with actual people who care about my case. Any questions I had, they were happy to assist me with in a very short time and make sure everything was clear before moving on to the next thing. I will definitely be working with them again in the future.
Sandra Rocha
I had an amazing experience with Manifest Law from the first intake interview, through a fast and professional process of working on the file, to a straightforward approval of my case. Catlea Bobis is a superstar attorney, and I recommend everyone considering trusting your case to professional support like I had with Catlea and the entire team at Manifest Law.
Irina Batukhtina
*Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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Caryl Espinoza JaenL‑1 vs H‑1B Visa: Which one is right for you?
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Myles Ma/FAQs
Common questions engineers ask about visa options
Can I switch from H-1B to O-1 later?
Yes, and it is a common move for engineers who want out of the lottery and more employer flexibility. The O-1A has no lottery and no country cap and is renewable indefinitely, but it asks for outside evidence that your work stands out — cited papers, conference talks, peer review or hiring committee work, press, or top-of-band salary.
Do I need an employer sponsor for any of these?
The H-1B and the L-1 both require a U.S. employer — the L-1 specifically requires a foreign affiliate, parent, or subsidiary of that employer. The O-1 also needs a U.S. petitioner, but that can be an employer or a U.S. agent, which gives you more flexibility than the H-1B.
What if I do not qualify for the O-1 yet?
The H-1B is the default sponsored path if you have a U.S. employer ready to sponsor and a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and the L-1 works if you are transferring inside the same company. Meanwhile you can build the outside evidence — talks, publications, peer review, press — that an O-1A needs.
Can I pursue more than one of these at the same time?
Yes. Pursuing more than one path is common where the record and the employer support it, and it can protect your timeline if one route moves slowly or a lottery does not go your way. Whether it makes sense for you is something to work through on a strategy call.
How much does the whole process cost end to end?
Manifest quotes a flat fee upfront on your strategy call rather than billing by the hour, and payment plans are available. The exact figure depends on which visa you file and which service plan you choose.
Money-back guarantees and refunds are subject to the terms of the selected service plan and engagement agreement.
