Move over H1-B visas, this niche US visa can get you closer to the American dream

After US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on H1-B visas, many Indians are confused and putting their Great American Dream to an end.

Well, if you want to go to the US, H1-B visa is not the only one which can get you closer to your goal, other niche visas can also do the trick. For instance, the O-1B visa.

The O-1B visa is a non-immigration visa and does not have a cap on the number of visas issued each year. It is also not facing Trump’s heat either.

Other professionals who are not from the IT sector are opting for EB-1A visa.

As per US Department of Homeland Security, allotment of O-1 visas (O-1A and O-1B) has grown significantly and people are slowly becoming aware of the niche visas.

"For O-1A, it is important to demonstrate 'extraordinary ability', it is a high legal standard requiring evidence that the individual has risen to the top in his or her field. Awards (internationally recognised or those on national level), publications, recognition in the media, patents, trademarks, academic contributions all help substantiate it," David H Nachman, managing attorney, NPZ law group, told ET.

"O-IB's requirement is 'distinction'--it is comparatively a less rigorous legal standard. It can be shown by recognition in media or among peers in the field. Both the O category visa applications call for at least 10 peer reference letters. Often, we ensure that half the letters are from India and the rest from other countries--this helps demonstrate international recognition," he says.