01/06/09

O-1 Visas

O-1A Visas are available for people who have "extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim." Extraordinary ability in science, education, business or athletics is defined as "a level of expertise indicating that the person is one of the small percentage who have arisen to the very top of the field of endeavor.

Proving extraordinary ability in science, education, business or athletics requires that the person have sustained national or interna­tional acclaim by receipt of a major internationally recognized award such as the Nobel Prize, or documenting at least 3 of the following criteria:

  1. receipt of nationally or internationally recognized awards
  2. membership in an organization that requires outstanding achievement
  3. published materials about the appli­cant in professional or major trade publications
  4. judgment of the work of oth­ers
  5. original scientific or scholarly work of major significance in his/her field
  6. evidence of authorship of scholarly work
  7. evidence that s/he has been employed in a critical or essential capacity at an organization with a distin­guished reputation, or
  8. has commanded or will command a high salary in relation to others in the field

Extraordinary ability in the arts is defined as "a high level of achieve­ment in the field of arts evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition substan­tially above that ordinarily encountered." It is necessary to show that the artist is "prominent in his or her field of endeavor." Proving distinction in the arts requires that the person prove that he or she is prominent in his or her field by being nominated for or the recipient of a significant international or national award or prize, such as an Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy or Director's Guild Award, or by documenting at least 3 of the following suggested criteria:

  1. lead in a production having a distinguished reputation
  2. critical reviews in major newspapers or trade journals
  3. lead for organization that has a distinguished reputation
  4. record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes
  5. significant recognition from organizations, critics, government agencies or other recognized experts in the field, or
  6. has commanded or will command a high salary

O-1B visas are available for people in the motion picture and TV industry if the person has a "demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement" and that his or her achievements have been recognized in the field "through extensive documentation." Extraordinary achievement is defined as a "very high level of accomplishment in the motion picture or TV industry evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition sig­nificantly above that ordinarily encountered."

O-2 visas are available for persons accompanying and assisting an O-1 artist or athlete in the artistic or athletic performance for a specific event or events if he or she is an integral part of the performance and has critical skills and experience with the O-1 that are not of a general nature and which cannot be performed by others.

Spouses and children may apply for O-3.