O-1 Visa for Persons of Extraordinary Abilities 
(Business, Arts, Television, etc.)

The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.

Qualification

The O nonimmigrant classification is commonly referred to as:
  • O-1A: individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (not including the arts, motion pictures or television industry)
  • O-1B: individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry
  • O-2: individuals who will accompany an O-1, artist or athlete, to assist in a specific event or performance. 
  • O-3: individuals who are the spouse or children of O-1’s and O-2’s
General Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for an O-1 visa, the beneficiary must demonstrate extraordinary ability by sustained national or international approve and must be coming temporarily to the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability.

Extraordinary ability in the fields of science, education, business or athletics means a level of expertise indicating that the person is one of the small percentage who has risen to the very top of the field of endeavor.
Extraordinary ability in the field of arts means distinction. Distinction means a high level of achievement in the field of the arts evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered to the extent that a person described as prominent is renowned, leading, or well-known in the field of arts.

To qualify for an O-1 visa in the motion picture or television industry, the beneficiary must demonstrate extraordinary achievement evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition significantly above that ordinarily encountered to the extent the person is recognized as outstanding, notable or leading in the motion picture and/or television field.


Source: uscis.gov
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Questions

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Blog Posts

By April Perez 16 Mar, 2023
If you are planning on filing an O1B visa based on your extraordinary ability, you may need to provide some reference letters as part of the evidence for your application. You can use letters for various requirements. One specific requirement for the O1B that you will definitely need letters for is the requirement: Evidence the beneficiary has received significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies, or other recognized experts in the field in which the alien is engaged. Such testimonials must be in a form which clearly indicates the author’s authority, expertise, and knowledge of the alien’s achievement. The letters should come from individuals who work within the same field and explain their own background and accomplishments within that field. The individual should also be familiar with the applicant’s work and be able to attest to that person’s accomplishments within the specified field. Letters from individuals without experience within the same field as the a
By April Perez 22 Sep, 2022
When applying for an O-1 visa USCIS requires that a written advisory opinion from a peer group (including labor organizations) or a person with expertise in the beneficiary’s area of ability be provided as part of the application.
By April Perez 22 Jul, 2022
If you are in the U.S. and you decide to change your status from your current visa to an O visa you must file, the proper forms and all the evidence for the requirements and the application along with the fees.
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