Do I need a US company before starting?

Not to start the readiness review. You will need a US petitioner before filing, and many founders set up a Delaware C-corp during profile building. We can point you to the right partners for incorporation.

Can I keep running my Indian company?

Many founders run an Indian subsidiary or parent alongside the US entity. How your role is described in the petition matters, so this is worth raising on the first call rather than after filing.

I am on F-1 OPT or H-1B in the US. Does this work for me?

Yes. Changing status to O-1A from inside the US is common. If you are outside the US after approval, we handle stamping and early appointments in India.

O-1A for startup founders

You built the company.Now it has to vouch for you.

Founders hold some of the strongest O-1A cases and some of the most poorly documented ones. The work is mostly about turning what you have already done into evidence an officer can verify in minutes.

Send Anay your profile Check my eligibility

Anay TripathiFounder. Your profile goes straight to his desk.

What you probably have already

A funded startup is half a petition, if it is documented properly.

Funding coverage

A round announced in the business press is often your first piece of published material. It counts more when the story is about you, not only the cheque.

Accelerator selection

Programmes with published acceptance rates and expert selection panels can support the membership criterion.

The company itself

A funded startup with real traction can show a critical role at a distinguished organisation, even when it is your own.

Product adoption

Usage numbers, customer letters and integrations become evidence of original contributions of major significance.

Where founders fall short

The gaps we see most, and what we do about them.

When a gap is real, we build the record before anything is filed. Press across Indian and international outlets, pitch competitions worth citing and judging roles all sit inside the engagement.

01Press names the company, not youWe help reshape coverage so your role and decisions are the subject.
02No judging historyJudging panels at pitch events and hackathons are among the quickest criteria to build. We open those doors.
03Letters from the wrong peoplePraise from friends and co-founders carries little weight. We plan letters from independent experts an officer can look up.
04Salary set low to save runwayFounder pay is often modest. We decide early whether this criterion is worth arguing or should be left out.

Founder questions

Your US company can be the petitioner, and USCIS allows founders to be beneficiaries of their own companies. The petition has to show a genuine employer relationship, which usually means a board or structure that can direct your work. Our partner attorneys decide whether your company or a US agent is the better petitioner for your situation.

SaathiVisa is a visa consultancy, not a law firm. O-1 petitions are prepared and filed by our partner licensed US immigration attorneys. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Approval figures cover O-1A petitions filed through SaathiVisa since 2023.

Start with a conversation

Send Anay your LinkedIn. He reads every one.

You will get a straight answer on whether to file now, build first, or look at a different visa. Within one working day.

Send Anay your profile Check my eligibility first

Anay TripathiFounder. Your profile goes straight to his desk.

Prefer to talk now? WhatsApp +91 91488 79226