Can I have sponsorship just to cover travel expenses on the O-1?

Unlikely. With the O-1, sponsorship is not limited to covering travel: it reflects a working relationship between you and a sponsor (employer or agent) who files the petition and supports your activities in the United States. Support limited to travel costs alone tends not to meet what the visa requires.

What typically matters is the overall professional relationship, not a one-time reimbursement of expenses. In general, something broader is expected, such as:

• A concrete activity or job offer tied to your field.
• A genuine professional relationship between sponsor and beneficiary.
• Support for carrying out your work while you are in the country.

Covering travel expenses may be part of that package, but relying on that alone is rarely enough. Since each case is assessed individually by the relevant authority, verify the current requirements on the official source (USCIS) or with a specialist before structuring your sponsorship.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.