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Don't let the H-1B lottery decide your future.

There are paths built for high-skill talent, from O-1 to EB-2 NIW to EB-1, that don't come down to a lottery number. See which ones you qualify for in a free 8-minute check, then get introduced to attorneys who handle them.

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The hardest part isn't your résumé. It's the lottery, the RFEs, and the not knowing.

You've done the hard part: the degree, the work, the proof. Then it comes down to a lottery number, a fee that keeps climbing, and an RFE that lands without warning. You're not sure whether O-1 or EB-2 NIW is realistic for you, or which attorneys handle cases like yours. The system can make world-class talent feel locked out. It shouldn't.

Clarity at every step.

See which paths are realistic.
A free 8-minute check reads your profile and shows whether O-1, EB-2 NIW, EB-1, or H-1B is your strongest route, in plain language.
Get introduced to attorneys who handle these.
Get introduced to attorneys who handle extraordinary-ability and national-interest cases, with their credentials and the cases they handle in front of you.
Build a petition that holds up.
Keep your evidence, recommendation letters, and proof in one place, so your petition is ready for scrutiny instead of being an RFE waiting to happen.
Reuse your profile as you grow.
Move from H-1B to O-1 to a green card without starting over. Your profile carries forward, and so does the work you've put into it.

Which path applies to your situation.

Every route leads to a deeper explainer built for your situation. Not sure? The free check shows which paths may apply.

We know the gauntlet, because we've run it.

Relentless renewals, lottery misses, an RFE that questions whether you belong. You shouldn't have to feel locked out of a career you've already earned. We built Immigration Pathways to give high-skill talent a clearer, fairer path.

Why people trust Immigration Pathways.

Attorneys who handle these cases.
Attorneys you're introduced to handle O-1, EB-2 NIW, and EB-1 petitions every day, and you see their credentials and the cases they handle before you commit.
Guidance built for complexity.
Built specifically for immigration, our technology turns extraordinary-ability and national-interest requirements into clear, accurate steps.
Nothing hidden.
Track your petition, documents, and next steps anytime. No more paying and waiting in silence.
The honest truth.
We'll tell you straight whether a path is realistic, even when it isn't what you hoped to hear.

Three steps to clarity.

A clear path from your first question to an attorney experienced in your situation, with everything in one place.

  1. 01

    Step one.

    Check your eligibility.

    Answer a few questions and get a free read on whether O-1, EB-2 NIW, or H-1B is your strongest path.

    Check my eligibility
  2. 02

    Step two.

    Build your profile.

    Gather your evidence and recommendation letters once, in one place, and reuse them across petitions.

    Get guidance
  3. 03

    Step three.

    Get introduced to a vetted attorney.

    Work with an attorney experienced in extraordinary-ability and national-interest cases, in one shared space.

    Start building my case

Stop gambling on a lottery number.

You'll know your strongest path, you'll have an attorney experienced in cases like yours, and you'll watch your petition come together with no surprises. Your career stops depending on luck and starts depending on what you've actually built.

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FAQ

If I lost the H-1B lottery, what are my options?

Not being selected isn't the end of the road. Cap-exempt employers sit outside the cap entirely and can file at any point in the year, universities, their affiliated non-profits, and non-profit or government research organizations, which between them cover a great deal of technical and research work. O-1A is open if you have a documented record of achievement. EB-2 NIW is a self-petitioned green card that needs no employer at all. Country-specific routes cover a lot of people: E-3 for Australians, TN for Canadians and Mexicans, H-1B1 for nationals of Chile and Singapore. L-1 works if you have a continuous year with a genuinely related company abroad. And if you still have OPT or STEM OPT time, you can be entered again next season.

How do I know if I qualify for an O-1 or EB-2 NIW?

O-1A is assessed against eight criteria, and you generally need to meet at least three: nationally or internationally recognized awards; membership of associations that require outstanding achievement; published material about you in major media or trade press; judging the work of others; original contributions of major significance; authorship of scholarly articles; a critical or essential role for a distinguished organization; and high remuneration. EB-2 NIW applies a three-part test: your endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, you are well positioned to advance it, and it benefits the United States to waive the usual job offer and labor certification. Both turn on documented evidence rather than job title, so what you can prove matters more than where you work.

Can I self-petition without an employer?

Yes, in more ways than people generally think. EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are true self-petitions: you file for yourself, with no employer, no job offer and no labor certification. O-1 works differently, you cannot be your own petitioner, but a separate legal entity that you own can file on your behalf, which USCIS confirmed in a January 2025 policy update, with another officer or authorized signatory signing for the company. A US agent can also petition, which suits consultants and anyone working across several clients or ventures. EB-1B and PERM-based green cards are the categories that genuinely require an employer.

What does an RFE mean, and can you help me avoid one?

A Request for Evidence means the officer needs more before deciding. It isn't a denial, and a great many approved cases have one in their history. You're given a deadline, up to twelve weeks for most RFEs, and the case is then decided on what you send back, so the response carries real weight. Most requests trace back to thin documentation, job duties described too vaguely, or claims that aren't corroborated, which is why a well-evidenced initial filing is the real protection. Having every document organized from the start means a response is assembled rather than reconstructed under time pressure.

How do the attorney introductions work?

Once you've completed the eligibility check and created your profile to organize your information, we introduce you to licensed immigration attorneys whose practice covers your visa category and jurisdiction. Each attorney has been verified: bar admission, experience, and practice focus.


You review the introductions, choose who you'd like to speak with, and have your consultation. You are never obligated to hire anyone we introduce you to, and the attorney is never obligated to take your case. Immigration Pathways is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. We don't select an attorney for you or steer you toward one; we introduce you to attorneys whose stated practice covers your situation, and the choice is yours.

How much does the whole process cost?

There are two parts. The eligibility check and organizing your information on Immigration Pathways are free. Legal fees are set by the attorney you choose, agreed directly between you and them, and shown to you before you commit. Government filing fees are separate and set by USCIS and the State Department.


Attorneys on the platform quote fixed-scope fees wherever the case allows, so you know the cost of each stage up front rather than paying by the hour. We don't add a percentage to your attorney's fee, and we never charge you for an introduction.

Is my personal information safe?

Yes. Your information is encrypted in transit and at rest, and it is visible only to you and to the attorney you choose to work with. It is not shown to other attorneys on the platform, not shared with third parties, and not used for anything other than your own case. It is not used to train AI models.


You control what you share. Attorneys see a summary of your situation only after you've chosen to be introduced. If you decide not to proceed, you can ask us to delete your information at any time.

Is this legal advice?

No. Immigration Pathways is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The eligibility check, the pathway information on this site, and anything our team tells you are general information to help you understand your options and organize your case. They are not a legal opinion about your situation, and using the platform does not create an attorney-client relationship with us.


Legal advice comes from the licensed immigration attorney you choose to work with. Your attorney–client relationship is with them, your communications with them are protected in the ordinary way, and they are responsible for your legal strategy and filings.