The O-1 Visa is a temporary employment visa available for aliens of extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, athletics, education or business. In practice, this includes nearly any field of endeavor: puppeteers, figure skaters, scientific researchers, and more. The O visa can be a welcome option for highly talented individuals who are not eligible for another type of visa. O visas are granted for the duration of an “event” (i.e. a grant, project, tour, etc.) and for an initial period of no longer than three years. Extensions for the O visa are unlimited, usually granted in increments of 1 year at a time.
GENERAL O-1 CRITERIA & REQUIREMENTS
O-1 VISA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
O-1 VISAS FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS
OVERVIEW FOR O-1B PETITIONERS (EMPLOYERS/AGENTS OF ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND ENTERTAINERS)
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS IN THE ARTS (ART, MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER)
O-1 VISAS FOR ENTREPRENEURS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY
For more information on the O-1 visa, please refer to the Achievement-Based Immigration section of our website.
Attorney Berger published RFE trends and hot topics in 2021 with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): Wait, Why Don’t You Think I’m Extraordinary? Current RFE Trends and Hot Topics
Attorney Berger published a guidance on Fighting and Winning RFEs, Resources and Tips for Crafting a Winning Response in 2019 with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Attorney Dan Berger and Senior Paralegal Brigid Fitzgerald produced a guidance on Agents and Itineraries for O and P Petitions for American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
USCIS has published a Policy Memorandum that provides guidance for processing and adjudicating Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, filed on behalf of O Nonimmigrants, with regard to determining the appropriate validity period of an approvable petition when a gap exists between two or more events reflected in the itinerary. A copy of this memorandum can be found here.