What should you include in an O-2 visa application?
April Perez • December 1, 2022
An O-2 visa is a visa for the support personnel of an O-1 visa applicant.
The evidence should establish the O-2’s current essentiality, critical skills, and experience with the O-1 beneficiary and that the O-2 has substantial experience performing the critical skills and essential support services for the O-1.
The petitioner for the O-1 applicant will also be the petitioner for the O-2 applicant. The applications for the O-1 and O-2 can be filed concurrently, or the O-2 visa application can be filed after the O-1 visa applicant has been approved. If the O-2 is filed after the O-1 has been approved the O-1 applicant’s approval notice should be included in the O-2 applicant’s petition.
The evidence for the O-2 petition should include the O-2 applicant’s resume, which should include the past projects worked on with the O-1 applicant and list their other experience within the role for the O-2 being requested by the O-1.
The petition should also include a statement from the petitioner explaining why the O-2 applicant’s work will be essential to the O-1 and necessary to the O-1 to complete his or her work for the employer.
If the O-1 was petitioned by an employer, the O-2 petition should include an employment agreement between the O-1 and the O-2 applicant.
If the beneficiary will work in more than one location, there should also be an itinerary for the O-2 listing the productions or events that the O-2 will work on with the O-1.
The application should also include a statement from the O-1 explaining the O-2 applicant’s background, experience, and the productions or events the O-1 and O-2 have worked on together.
Like the O-1 visa, the O-2 visa application also requires a consultation letter from the appropriate labor organization.
The fees for the O-2 visa include the filing fee, the consultation letter fee, and the premium processing fee, which is optional.
It is possible to have multiple O-2 beneficiaries for one O-1 applicant, as long as each beneficiary will assist with the same O-1 events or performances during the same period, and in the same location.
If you believe you may qualify for an O-2 visa you should contact our office.
This blog is not intended to be legal advice and nothing here should be construed as establishing an attorney client relationship. Please schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney before acting on any information read here.
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