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How hard is it to get approval for an o1 visa with no bachelors degree?


Education is irrelevant. A PhD in and of itself doesn't help but it usually means that the individual has published, engaged in original research/work, etc. but someone can have published, engaged in original research/work, etc. without a PhD or any degree. So it's about what the individual has done, not his or her education. That being said, there's no question that USCIS's view of an O-1 petition is colored by the applicant's education and there's sort of a presumption that someone with a PhD qualifies for an O-1.


It's doable but you need a lot, and I mean a lot of documentation proving that you are indeed an alien with extraordinary ability. Any press mentions of you and your company, articles, proof that you're working with known companies in the US and more evidence like that will increase your chance.

In fact I worked with Peter on obtaining an O1 while not having a degree, I was a CTO of a startup, moving from the UK.


This is exactly how I feel right now and what I have been thinking about


I really like computer science (or programming at least) just don't like how its taught. I just feel like the knowledge you get before tests/exams is not very profound. You just memorize stuff and forget it later on.

I really like learning stuff more deeply, which I do in my own time. It just frustrates me that I could be doing a lot more (or thats how it feels like at least) on my own.


Stick with this and then look for a masters degree in CS after. Or transfer to a more rigorous CS school.


Not in the US sadly. I am already in the best school in my country, which does have a decent standing in the worldwide rankings and thats exactly why I'm doubting this whole thing.

I mispoke because I'm not from the US. It's what you guys consider a University, not a college.

I do really like computer science, just not how it's taught. I've been a self taught programmer for about 3 years now and have had work experience in a company and some freelancing projects.


I believe you should approach this with a long term perspective in mind. Yes, maybe life will lead you to an unexpected destination. I believe though you should position yourself by giving yourself the best chance possible to succeed. You said you are attending the best university in your country. I would ask my professors for advice before changing majors. Maybe there is an alternative path to CS degree more suited to you. If you do decide to change majors, you should pick a major that can get your foot in the door when applying for a job.


What kind of work experience was it? Was it for the entire 3 years you've been a self taught programmer?


I can't say I have been in a similar situation or that I am qualified to be giving specific advice. I'm glad you're seeking help from a trained professional. I will say this though:

Even though it may be hard to do so right now, try to focus on the things that are in your control at the moment. What was your skillset before your disability. Which of these skills do you still hold now?

Are there any disability inclusion legislations in your country you could take advantage of when looking for a job?

I'd even do some research. What is your long term goal? You said you were a founder in the past. Do you still want to do something similar to this? Try to see if there are founders that had similar situations to yours. You can even look into their lives and the road that they took before they got to where they currently are.

As for the short term things like being late on payments and bills, try to ask a friend or family member for help with your finances. They might be able to look at things more objectively and help you make cuts in certain areas until you get back up to where you may want to be.

This is all of course going to take a lot of work, and it's definitely going to have its challenges. This fight is not going to be easy but I assure you that it will be worthwhile. I wish you the very best.


It does later on. A lot of it still touches fb/meta, but I found the chapters about "advice for young people" and "the meaning of life" to be quite interesting. It's a side of him that you don't really see anywhere else or think about. I'd recommend the watch.


Excuse my ignorance. What does self-contained mean? I've seen a lot of people mentioning it but haven't been able to find a good source to read from and learn more about


That it's only the HTML file, no external files (CSS, JS, images, ...) loaded/needed.


Got it. Thanks!


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