EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY VISAS

O-1 Visa: Individuals With Extraordinary Ability Or Achievement

The O-1 non-immigrant 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.

The O Non-Immigrant 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

Included in the petition should be a written advisory opinion from a peer group, labor organizations, or a person designated by the group with expertise in the beneficiary’s area of ability. If the O-1 petition is for an individual with extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television, the consultation must come from an appropriate labor union and a management organization with expertise in the beneficiary’s area of ability.

A contract between the petitioner and beneficiary should be included in the petition. An itinerary of events should also be included. The beneficiary may have an Agent act as the petitioner when the beneficiary is going to be working with multiple employers during his stay.

Initial period of stay for the O-1 Visa is up to 3 years. Family members of the O-1 Visa recipient may not work in the United States under this classification, but they may engage in full or part time study.