O1A and O1B Visas are two types of visas which allow foreign nationals to work in the United States. They both have certain benefits, but there are some key differences between them. Firstly, an O1A visa is intended for those who possess extraordinary ability in their field of expertise, while an O1B visa is more suited for individuals with extraordinary achievement.
Nextly, a (very) important difference between these two visas is that an O1A visa does not require a job offer whereas an O1B needs one from a sponsoring employer. Moreover, the application process for the two visas also differs; for example, an O1A applicant must submit evidence proving their "specially extraordinary" skills such as newspaper articles or awards they’ve received, while an O1B applicant must only provide proof of their accomplishments! In addition, the maximum duration of stay permitted with each type of visa differs; while an O1A may be granted up to three years initially and then renewed indefinitely if necessary, an O1B can only be granted up to one year initially with potential renewal periods after that.
Finally yet importantly, the filing fee associated with each type of visa varies significantly. An individual applying for an O1A visa will need to pay $705 USD compared to $460 USD needed for filing an application under the O1B category! To conclude, although both types of visas have their own advantages and requirements - it's important to consider all aspects carefully before deciding which one best suits your needs!