What You Will Need to Provide to Qualify for the O-1 Visa

The U.S. remains a beacon of opportunity for talented individuals across the world. Whether your extraordinary abilities are in the arts, entertainment, sports, news media, or academia, the O-1 Visa is a great way to achieve your career goals in America. Yet like any U.S. visa, you will have to meet certain criteria to qualify, in addition to completing the various forms and procedures that are required. Below are the basics on what you will need to provide to better your chances of approval, and how the immigration attorneys at Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. can help.

The Extraordinary Standard of the O-1 VisaO-1 Visa candidates must be sponsored by an American employer or agent for work related to the talent for which they are applying: for example, you cannot obtain the O-1 Visa for visual arts to do sponsored work in sports. In addition to providing a wide range of paperwork, obtaining an O visa requires that prove you are “an individual of extraordinary ability or achievement” based on a range of documentary evidence. The makeup of that evidence will vary based on which of the two O-1 Visa classifications you are applying for.

The Evidentiary Criteria for the O-1 VisaRegardless of whether you are applying for the O-1A Visa (for scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, and athletes) or the O-1B Visa (for artists and entertainers in television and film), you will be required to provide evidence that you meet at least three of the categories below proving that you are exceptionally accomplished or talented in your area.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• A national or international prize, award, or other formal recognition of excellence in your field
• Membership in an association in your field that requires outstanding achievement to join
• Coverage about your work or performance in a major media outlet related to your field
• Participation in a review panel that judged the work or performance of others in the same or similar field
• Original contributions of “major significance” in your field, such as an acting technique, research paper, or fashion design
• Published articles in professional journals or other major media
• Any previous or existing work in a prominent professional organization
• Proof that you command a high salary or other compensation for services related to your field

Moreover, this evidence should be clear, relevant, and high quality: a minor local prize is unlikely to meet the cut, nor would work in a small, non-reputable publication. If possible, you should try to provide as much proof as possible of your achievements in your field.

It is crucial to keep in mind that while the minimum requirement to qualify under at least three of the criteria mentioned above, you should strive to submit as many pieces of evidence as possible to qualify under more categories: the more proof of your achievements and talent, the stronger your candidacy.

Hire Immigration Attorneys Who Know the O-1 VisaIf you are unsure of where to begin, what evidence to provide, or how to navigate the application process, hire attorneys who understand the intricacies of America’s complex visa regime. Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. has helped numerus talented and accomplished individuals around the world launch their careers in the U.S. through the O-1 Visa. We can help you and your American sponsor with every step of the O-1 Visa process, from gathering the evidence of your extraordinary abilities, to filling out and submitting the forms.

To learn more, call (305) 921-0440 or email [email protected]

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