O-1 Visa for British Citizens: Data and Process
UK nationals received more O-1 visas than any other nationality in FY2023, FY2024 and FY2025. State Department figures, the London embassy process and reciprocity validity.
Page reviewed October 30, 2026.
What it is
UK nationals received 3,023 O-1 visas in fiscal year 2025, the most of any nationality and 15.1% of the 20,015 O-1 visas issued worldwide.
London was the top issuing post, with 3,594. The O-1 itself is a USCIS petition filed by a sponsor in the U.S.; the visa interview at the embassy comes after the petition is approved. Figures are our sums of State Department monthly tables and count visas issued abroad, so they exclude people who change status inside the U.S.
- O-1 visas, UK nationals, FY2025
- 3,023Largest of any nationality, 15.1% of 20,015 worldwide.
- Top issuing post
- London3,594 O-1 visas issued in FY2025.
- Visa validity
- Up to 60 monthsCapped by the approved petition's validity.
- Reciprocity fee
- NoneThe standard visa application fee still applies.
O-1 visas issued by nationality, FY2025
Read these figures with their limits. They are our sums of the State Department's monthly tables of nonimmigrant visas issued by nationality and by post, October 2024 to September 2025. They are not the annual Report of the Visa Office. They count visas issued at consulates, so they leave out O-1 approvals for people who change status inside the U.S. The O-1 class combines O-1A and O-1B, with no split. The nationality total and the post total both come to 20,015.
| Rank | Nationality | O-1 visas issued | Share of O-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Kingdom | 3,023 | 15.1% |
| 2 | China | 1,771 | 8.8% |
| 3 | India | 1,632 | 8.2% |
| 4 | Brazil | 1,216 | 6.1% |
| 5 | France | 918 | 4.6% |
| 6 | Mexico | 884 | 4.4% |
| 7 | Germany | 814 | 4.1% |
| 8 | Italy | 745 | 3.7% |
| 9 | Australia | 712 | 3.6% |
| 10 | South Korea | 558 | 2.8% |
London and the other top posts
London issued 3,594 O-1 visas in the same period, which is about 18.0% of the world total and more than three times Paris. We do not know the mix of O-1A and O-1B, or the occupations, behind these numbers, and we draw no conclusion about them.
| Rank | Post | O-1 visas issued |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 3,594 |
| 2 | Paris | 941 |
| 3 | Chennai | 846 |
| 4 | Sao Paulo | 620 |
| 5 | Madrid | 581 |
| 6 (tie) | Beijing | 576 |
| 6 (tie) | Mexico City | 576 |
| 8 | Shanghai | 561 |
| 9 | Seoul | 532 |
| 10 | Tokyo | 412 |
UK nationals: O-1, O-2 and O-3, FY2023 to FY2025
UK nationals ranked first by O-1 visas issued in each of the three fiscal years we compared. We could not compare FY2022, because only part of that year's monthly files were available. O-2 visas are for essential support staff and O-3 visas for spouses and children. We give no reason for any change from year to year, because no source does.
| Fiscal year | O-1 issued | Share of world O-1 | O-2 issued | O-3 issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 2,744 | 14.4% | 2,431 | 566 |
| FY2024 | 2,680 | 13.8% | 2,711 | 483 |
| FY2025 | 3,023 | 15.1% | 2,919 | 549 |
London and Belfast: O-1 visas issued at each post
Post counts are visas issued at that post to applicants of any nationality, so they are not the same as the nationality totals above. London was first among all posts worldwide in FY2025.
| Post | O-1 issued FY2023 | O-1 issued FY2024 | O-1 issued FY2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 3,187 | 3,320 | 3,594 |
| Belfast | 137 | 91 | 101 |
U.S. embassy and consulate addresses in the United Kingdom
Addresses are copied from the U.S. mission's own pages on October 30, 2026. Confirm the address and entrance on your appointment confirmation before travelling.
- Embassy London: 33 Nine Elms Lane, London SW11 7US. The embassy page says all appointments are scheduled there and recommends public transport, because there is no public parking.
- Consulate General Belfast: Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5GR.
How the London embassy handles O-1 cases
The sponsor files Form I-129 with USCIS. The embassy states that it cannot answer questions about petitions, and that the visa is granted for a specific event, such as a tour, lecture series or project. An O-2 applicant provides a copy of the O-1 petition's I-797 approval notice.
The embassy's list of required documents includes the DS-160 confirmation, passport, photo, the petition receipt number or I-797, and a $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee paid on interview day. These embassy pages carry dates in spring 2025, so read them again before you book.
- Reciprocity: the State Department lists O-1, O-2 and O-3 for UK nationals with no reciprocity fee, multiple entries and validity up to 60 months. The footnote says validity may not exceed the approved petition's validity, so 60 months is a ceiling.
- The standard visa application fee still applies.
What we have not confirmed
- Appointment wait times. The State Department's wait-time tool moves often and we did not publish a figure; check it live.
- Whether UK applicants may use either London or Belfast regardless of the petition's listed post.
- Interview-waiver eligibility for UK O-1 applicants.
- USCIS approval counts for UK beneficiaries. We found no primary USCIS figure we could cite.
How this compares with other countries
The countries ranked 2 to 12 in FY2025 by O-1 visas issued each have their own page.
- O-1 visa for China nationals
- O-1 visa for India nationals
- O-1 visa for Brazil nationals
- O-1 visa for France nationals
- O-1 visa for Mexico nationals
- O-1 visa for Germany nationals
- O-1 visa for Italy nationals
- O-1 visa for Australia nationals
- O-1 visa for South Korea nationals
- O-1 visa for Spain nationals
- O-1 visa for Japan nationals
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Your petition is filed at USCIS and we manage every communication from there. For the O-1, filing can take about two weeks once your documents are ready. We handle any RFE at no extra charge.
Common questions
Do UK nationals get more O-1 visas than other nationalities?
By State Department visas issued abroad, yes in each of FY2023, FY2024 and FY2025: 2,744, 2,680 and 3,023. The figures are our sums of monthly tables and exclude change of status inside the U.S.
How long is the O-1 visa valid for British citizens?
Up to 60 months, with multiple entries and no reciprocity fee, but not longer than the approved petition. The standard visa application fee still applies.
Do I apply for the O-1 at the embassy first?
No. A U.S. sponsor files Form I-129 with USCIS first. The embassy interview comes after the petition is approved.
Is Lando a law firm?
No. Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. For advice about your own situation, speak to a licensed immigration attorney.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State: Visa Reciprocity, United Kingdom
- U.S. Department of State: monthly nonimmigrant visa issuances
- U.S. Embassy in the UK: Petition-based visas (H, L, O, P, Q, R)
- U.S. Embassy in the UK: Petition-based applicants, required documents
- USCIS: O-1 Visa, Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Checked October 2026.
Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.