The O1 visa sponsorship allows professionals with strong achievements and recognition to work in the United States. It is designed for people in science, business, arts, education, and athletics who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in their field.

Many people think that only Nobel Prize winners or global celebrities qualify. That is not true. If you have built a solid track record—through awards, media recognition, leadership roles, or other key criteria—you may be eligible.

However, how your O-1 petition is structured matters just as much as your qualifications. Choosing the right sponsorship structure can give you more work flexibility, while the wrong choice can limit your options or even delay your approval.

This guide explains:

✔The key roles in an O-1 petition
✔ The four sponsorship structures for an O-1 visa
✔ Who should use each one
✔ Common mistakes to avoid

By the end, you will understand how to set up your petition correctly so you can work in the U.S. without unnecessary restrictions.

Key Roles in an O-1 Petition

Before choosing the right sponsorship structure, it’s important to understand who is involved in the O-1 petition process.

There are three key roles:

1. Petitioner (The One Filing the Visa Application)

The petitioner is the U.S. entity that requests the O-1 petition to USCIS on behalf of the beneficiary, but the filing attorney is the one who actually submits the petition.

Therefore, the petitioner can be:

• A U.S. employer filing the petition for an employee.
• A U.S. agent filing the petition on behalf of multiple employers.
• A U.S. agent filing for a foreign company, allowing the beneficiary to work in the U.S.
• A U.S. company owned by the beneficiary (though this is difficult to get approved).

The petitioner must be a legal U.S. entity or a U.S. person—the beneficiary cannot self-petition unless another qualified person at their U.S. company is requesting the petition on their behalf.

2. Beneficiary (The O-1 Visa Applicant)

The beneficiary is the person applying for the O-1 visa. This is the individual who must prove that they meet the extraordinary ability criteria set by USCIS.

Additionally, the beneficiary cannot directly request their own petition—they must have a U.S. petitioner to request the application, and the filing attorney will submit it.

3. U.S. Agent (For Those Who Need Flexibility)

A U.S. agent is a type of petitioner that can file an O-1 visa petition on your behalf, even if you don’t have just one employer.

This option is useful for people who don’t work for a single company but instead have multiple jobs, projects, or clients in the U.S.

Think of it this way:

• If you’re a freelancer, consultant, or independent contractor, you probably work with different clients at the same time.
• If you’re a performer, artist, or creative professional, you might be hired for several short-term projects instead of one full-time job.
• If you’re an entrepreneur or an employee of a foreign company, your company may not have a U.S. office to sponsor your visa.

A U.S. agent (like VF USA LLC) solves this problem by acting as your legal petitioner. The agent requests your O-1 visa application and allows you to work with multiple U.S. employers without needing separate visa petitions for each one.

Why Understanding These Roles Matters

Many O-1 applicants assume they must find a single employer to sponsor them, but that is not always the best option. Choosing a U.S. agent instead of an employer can allow for more job opportunities without needing to amend or refile the visa.

The next section will explain the four sponsorship structures in detail so you can determine the best one for your situation.

The Four O1 Visa Sponsorship Structures

The way your O-1 visa petition is structured determines:

• Who can sponsor your visa
• Whether you can work for multiple employers or just one
• If you need a new petition if your job situation changes
• How easy it is for an employer to commit to hiring you

There are four main ways to structure your O-1 petition:

1. U.S. Agent as Petitioner – Best for freelancers, consultants, and professionals working with multiple employers
2. U.S. Employer as Petitioner – Best for those with a long-term, full-time job
3. Foreign Company Sponsored by a U.S. Agent – Best for entrepreneurs or foreign employees needing U.S. work authorization
4. Beneficiary-Owned U.S. Company as Petitioner – Hardest to get approved due to strict USCIS rules

Each option has advantages and disadvantages. The right choice depends on your work situation.

1. Foreign Company Sponsored by a U.S. Agent (For Entrepreneurs & Global Professionals)

This structure is ideal for professionals who work for a foreign company but need to be in the U.S. for business purposes, meetings, collaborations, or market expansion. Instead of requiring a U.S. employer to file the petition, a U.S. agent—such as VF USA LLC—can sponsor the O-1 visa, allowing the professional to remain employed by their foreign company.

As a result, you continue working for your foreign employer, but you are legally authorized to conduct work in the United States under your O-1 visa.

For example, if you are a tech startup founder in London who wants to expand into the U.S. and meet with investors, partners, and clients, a U.S. agent like VF USA LLC can sponsor your O-1 visa, allowing you to legally conduct business in the U.S. while continuing to run your company abroad.

Why This Is a Strong Option for Some People

• You remain employed by your foreign company – No need to switch to a U.S. employer.
• You don’t need a U.S. employer to sponsor you – A U.S. agent handles the petition.
• You can legally conduct business in the U.S. – Whether for meetings, networking, or project-based work, you have the right authorization.

2. U.S. Employer as Petitioner (Limited to One Employer)

If you have one full-time job offer in the U.S., your employer can file your O-1 petition directly. This means that your visa is tied to that specific company—you cannot work for anyone else without filing a new petition.

For example, if you are a lead researcher at a tech company and they want you to join their U.S. team, they can petition for your O-1 visa. But if you later get a better offer from another company, you must file a new visa petition before switching jobs.

Why It Works for Some People, But Not for Others

• Good for stable, long-term job offers
• No flexibility—you can only work for one employer
• If you change jobs, you need a new visa petition

What If Your Employer isn’t Familiar with Immigration Paperwork?

Many U.S. companies want to hire talented individuals but may not be familiar with the complexities of immigration paperwork. That’s where VF USA LLC can help. We can act as your petitioner and present your O-1 visa petition on behalf of the hiring company, removing the administrative burden while ensuring full compliance with immigration regulations.

3. U.S. Agent as Petitioner (Best for Flexibility)

Not everyone works for a single employer—many professionals juggle multiple jobs, contracts, or short-term projects. If that’s you, using a U.S. agent as your petitioner is the best option.

A U.S. agent acts as your legal sponsor, allowing you to work with multiple companies under one visa instead of requiring separate petitions for each. This keeps your visa tied to your field of work rather than a single employer, giving you more flexibility.

For example, a marketing consultant or music producer working with various clients can have a U.S. agent sponsor their O-1 visa, enabling them to collaborate across different businesses legally. This is something we offer at VF USA LLC. We do more than just file your O-1 petition—we structure it in a way that gives you the flexibility to work with multiple companies while staying fully compliant with USCIS requirements. 

Unlike other petitioners who may limit your options, our sponsorship model allows you to take on different projects under a single visa, eliminating the need for repeated amendments or new filings. Our approach removes employer dependency, making it easier for you to secure opportunities without unnecessary restrictions on your O-1 status.

Why This Is the Best Option for Most People

• You are not locked into one employer—you can work with multiple companies
• Employers do not have to handle visa paperwork—they only provide a letter of intent
• You do not need to file a new visa petition if you take on new projects

4. Beneficiary-Owned U.S. Company as Petitioner (Difficult to Get Approved)

This option allows the O-1 visa applicant (the beneficiary) to have their own U.S. company request their visa. However, this is one of the most difficult petition structures to approve because USCIS carefully reviews these cases for potential fraud or misuse.

The beneficiary’s U.S. company requests the O-1 petition. However, the beneficiary cannot sign their own petition—someone else within the company must handle this process and the filing attorney submits it.

For example, if you own a tech startup in the U.S., your company may petition for your O-1 visa, but only if there are other executives or board members who oversee your work and sign immigration documents on behalf of the company.

Why This Is Difficult to Get Approved

• You cannot self-petition—someone else in the company must sign the petition.
• The company must prove it is a legitimate business—it cannot exist solely for visa purposes.
• USCIS will carefully examine whether the company operates as an independent entity or is simply being used as a way to obtain a visa.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Sponsorship Structure

Choosing the wrong O1 visa sponsorship structure can limit your work options or lead to petition denial. One common mistake is relying on an employer who is unwilling to handle the visa process. Many companies hesitate due to immigration complexities, making a U.S. agent a better option since we remove the burden from the employer while still allowing you to work for them.

Another mistake is choosing a single-employer petition without considering its restrictions. This structure locks you into one employer, requiring a new petition if you change jobs. If you plan to work for multiple employers or clients, a U.S. agent petition offers greater flexibility without extra filings. 

However, when using an agent, it’s crucial to provide deal memos or letters of intent from U.S. companies to show planned work—many applicants fail to include this, leading to USCIS challenges.

Some applicants also believe they can use their own U.S. company to petition for them, but USCIS does not allow self-petitioning. The company must show a real employer-employee relationship, making approval difficult. Instead of risking denial, using a U.S. agent ensures compliance and a smoother application process. 

How VF USA LLC Supports Your O-1 Visa Process

At VF USA LLC, we act as your O-1 visa sponsor, removing the burden from employers who may not want to handle immigration paperwork. Instead of requiring a single employer to file your petition, we act as your U.S. agent, giving you more flexibility in how you work in the U.S.

What We Offer:

• We act as the petitioner – Employers do not need to file the visa petition or sign immigration documents. 
• Work flexibility – You can work for multiple employers or clients under a single petition. 
• Stronger petition strategy – We structure your case to meet USCIS criteria, improving approval chances. 
• Document preparation – We assist with business plans, CV updates, and document collection. 
• Professional positioning – We help strengthen your profile through LinkedIn and GitHub optimization. 
• Legal and PR support – We work with attorneys, help draft letters of recommendation, and connect you with PR agencies for media exposure.

By working with VF USA LLC, you get a smoother, stronger O-1 petition while keeping full control over your career in the U.S.

Conclusion

If there’s one thing to take away from this, it’s that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the O-1 visa. The right sponsorship structure depends entirely on your career, your work style, and what makes the most sense for you. Some people thrive with the stability of an employer petition, while others need the flexibility of a U.S. agent to work across multiple projects. Entrepreneurs and foreign professionals may find that a foreign company sponsorship is the best way to legally operate in the U.S. without switching employers.

The key is understanding how each structure affects your ability to work, change jobs, and stay compliant with USCIS rules. If you’re still unsure about which path is right for you, you’re not alone—this process can be complex, and that’s exactly why we’re here.

If you’re interested in applying for the O-1 visa or simply want to clarify your options, reach out to us today. We’ll help you understand the best path forward and set up your petition for success. We hope you found this article useful.