We’re still at the very beginning and trying to figure out entry options. We partially qualify for some of them, but can’t decide — O-1 visa or F-1 after all. Those who’ve gone through this choice: what did you base your decision on, how did you decide?
F-1 and O-1 are completely different tracks — they’re rarely compared directly. F-1 is for study; O-1 is for working as a specialist with extraordinary achievements. If your goal is to stay and work — O-1; if you want to study first and then look for a sponsor — F-1. The question is more what you plan to do in the US, not just what’s on paper.
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They’re right that these are different tracks, but there’s a nuance — for an O-1 you need a specific U.S. employer who files a petition on your behalf; without that you can’t get started at all. If you don’t have an employer yet and your achievements aren’t super obvious, an F-1 might be a more sensible first step, and then you can decide based on the situation. By the way, there’s a forum thread with 45 cases for EB-1A, NIW and O-1 — read it, it helps to understand who actually succeeds and with what.
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