I.
There is no lottery and no cap.
You file when your case is ready.
For founders
O-1 Visa for Founders
If you are building a company in the U.S., or planning to move here to build one, the O-1 is the most realistic visa available to international founders. It does not have a lottery, and it does not tie you to a single employer. At Manifest Law, we help founders use their funding, press, accelerator selection, and advisor work as the core of an O-1 petition.
- Flat fees with payment plans, no hourly surprises
- Ex-USCIS officer review available on every plan as an add on
- Live case tracking through the Manifest portal
- Founder-specific evidence playbook covering funding, press, accelerators, and advisor roles
*Representative image — not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Find your path
What the O-1 is, and why founders use it
The O-1 is a nonimmigrant visa designed for individuals who can demonstrate extraordinary ability at the top of their field. For founders, the field is entrepreneurship. USCIS may look at funding raised, press coverage, accelerator selection, advisor roles, and the product itself.
Why founders choose the O-1
II.
You can be sponsored by your own U.S. company or by a U.S. agent.
Most of our founder clients use an agent structure so the visa is not strictly tied to one entity.
III.
Your family travels with you.
Your spouse and kids can come on O-3 status.
/Do you qualify
Do you qualify for the O-1 as a founder?
USCIS expects you to meet at least three of eight criteria. For founders, the strongest criteria are usually press, original contributions (your company and product), critical role, and judging (advisor and mentor roles).
Awards
TechCrunch Disrupt finalist, Forbes 30 Under 30, named startup awards, government innovation grants, or accelerator demo-day awards.
Membership in selective organizations
Y Combinator, Techstars, an a16z accelerator, On Deck, or other selective programs you were admitted to based on demonstrated achievement.
Published material about you
Funding announcements in TechCrunch, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Information, or industry trade press. Founder profile pieces and podcast interviews on reputable shows can also count.
Judging the work of others
Advisor roles at other startups, accelerator mentor or partner roles, hackathon judging, or pitch competition judging.
Original contributions of major significance
Your company and product, including a novel business model, a new technology, or a patent. The bar is real impact, not just existence.
Authorship of scholarly articles
Technical papers, published research, or substantive industry articles that show your expertise in entrepreneurship, your product domain, or your market.
Critical role at a distinguished organization
Founder, CEO, or CTO of a venture-backed company, especially one with name-brand investors, partnerships, or customers.
High salary
Founder compensation is often low in early stages, but your funded valuation, equity, and offer letters can be used to demonstrate market value.
What strong evidence looks like for founders
Funding announcements with dollar amounts, lead investor names, and press links. Cap table or term sheet excerpts showing investor identities, subject to NDA carve-outs. Press coverage in tier-1 outlets, including author bylines, dates, and publication context. Accelerator acceptance letters and program details. Advisor agreements with other startups that show you in a judging role. Patent filings and product traction data, including users, revenue, and partnerships.
/How we work
How Manifest builds your O-1 case
The details make or break an O-1 petition. Here is how Manifest’s attorneys approach each case.
01
Sponsorship structure first
Founders often cannot be sponsored by their own startup if they are also the controlling owner. We design the right structure — usually a U.S. agent — so the petition holds together and renewals are not blocked.
02
Press and funding, packaged for an officer
We translate fundraising and traction into the language USCIS uses. We do not just dump press links. We pull the substantive paragraphs, name the outlets, and explain why each one matters.
03
Advisor and judging evidence that actually counts
We help you document advisor roles, accelerator mentorships, and pitch competition judging in a way that maps cleanly to the USCIS judging criterion.
04
RFE-aware drafting
We know which O-1 criteria USCIS pushes back on most for founders — usually original contributions and critical role. We address the common objections inside the initial petition.
/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 Founders
We have represented founders, international founders, across the country.
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.
/Success stories
Helping founders build their future in the U.S.
From agent-sponsored founder petitions to O-1 renewals that keep startups moving, we’ve helped international founders turn funding, press, and traction into approvable cases.
/Testimonials
Client stories
Discover how Manifest has helped clients navigate the visa process and read their success stories.
Manifest Law gave me clear, practical advice on my potential O-1 visa. Everything was easy to understand, and I felt confident moving forward. Thank you.
KatyaO-1 Visa
I connected with Manifest Law while preparing my O-1 application (third attempt). From the first call, they delivered a straight, strategic plan with timelines and costs clearly laid out.
IK
Ivan K.O-1 Visa
The team at Manifest Law was responsive and supportive throughout my process. They answered quickly, and the attorney guided me with clear, knowledgeable advice.
V
VidhiO-1 Visa
*Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
Related Articles
L-1 vs. E-2 vs. O-1 for Founders: Which Visa Is Right?
Jason Tanner
O-1 Founder Costs and Legal Fees: How to Budget in 2026
Carolyn Yang
O-1 Visa vs. EB-1A Green Card: How the Two Extraordinary Ability Paths Compare
Nupur Gambhir
Approved O-1 Visa Examples: Real Life Stories of Extraordinary Professionals
Haley DavidsonL-1 vs. E-2 vs. O-1 for Founders: Which Visa Is Right?
Jason TannerO-1 Founder Costs and Legal Fees: How to Budget in 2026
Carolyn YangO-1 Visa vs. EB-1A Green Card: How the Two Extraordinary Ability Paths Compare
Nupur GambhirApproved O-1 Visa Examples: Real Life Stories of Extraordinary Professionals
Haley DavidsonL-1 vs. E-2 vs. O-1 for Founders: Which Visa Is Right?
Jason TannerO-1 Founder Costs and Legal Fees: How to Budget in 2026
Carolyn YangO-1 Visa vs. EB-1A Green Card: How the Two Extraordinary Ability Paths Compare
Nupur GambhirApproved O-1 Visa Examples: Real Life Stories of Extraordinary Professionals
Haley Davidson/FAQs
Still have questions about the O-1 as a founder?
Can my own startup sponsor me on O-1?
Sometimes, but founders who are also the controlling owner often cannot be sponsored by their own company. Most of our founder clients use a U.S. agent structure so the petition holds together and renewals are not blocked by ownership issues.
How does the O-1 compare to the E-2?
O-1 is based on your record — funding, press, accelerators, and achievements. E-2 is based on treaty-country nationality plus a substantial investment in a real U.S. business. Many founders qualify for both; we help you pick based on country, capital, and how built-out your evidence is.
Do I need to have raised money to qualify?
No. Funding announcements are strong evidence when you have them, but they are not required. Press, accelerator selection, advisor or mentor roles, product impact, and a critical founder role can all support an O-1 without a raise.
What if my press is only in my home country?
Home-country press can count when the outlets are reputable and the coverage is about you and your work. We still prefer tier-1 or strong trade press when available, and we package bylines, dates, and context so an officer can evaluate it.
Can my spouse work on O-3?
Your spouse and children can come on O-3 status. O-3 dependents generally cannot work; if work authorization matters for your family, that is something to plan on a strategy call.
What happens if my company runs out of money?
An agent-sponsored structure keeps the visa from being strictly tied to one entity, which gives more flexibility if a company winds down. Exact options depend on your petition structure and what other U.S. work is lined up — we map that on the strategy call.
Money-back guarantees and refunds are subject to the terms of the selected service plan and engagement agreement.
