The O-1 visa is a type of visa designed for foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities in their field who want to work in the United States. This visa covers areas such as business, science, arts, and education, among others. The main requirement of this visa is to demonstrate a level of expertise that places the applicant among the best in their field.
The O-1 visa has two categories to which you can apply, depending on your area of expertise:
If you want to apply for an O-1 visa, you need a job offer in the U.S. and demonstrable skills that go beyond the ordinary.
The eligibility criteria for the O1 visa are broad since there is more than one way to demonstrate that you have "extraordinary ability" in the field in which you intend to work. Awards and recognitions, both national and international, are an excellent way to prove your capabilities. Receiving letters of recommendation from a peer group, belonging to an association that requires extraordinary skills to join, or having published works in major academic journals in your specialty can also help.
Would you like to know the best way to prove your skills during the process? Contact us to schedule a consultation!
Obtaining an O-1 visa is much faster than other options, since you can pay more to access Premium Processing. By paying this fee, USCIS must take some form of action on your case within 15 days, whether that is issuing a direct approval, denial, or issuing a Request for Evidence.
The main advantage of this visa is its low competitiveness. Because it is intended for people who have demonstrated a high level of expertise, there are fewer applicants than in other categories, and your application is more likely to be approved. O-1 visa holders can also bring their family with them to the U.S. via the O-3 visa, which is linked to the duration of the principal O-1.
In addition, filing fees for this type of case are generally cheaper than other alternatives, such as the H1-B Visa for Specialty Workers.
Although the application process may seem fairly straightforward, any mistake can complicate things, especially considering that "extraordinary ability" is a broad concept. Having the support of an experienced team, capable of guiding you through the entire process to avoid mistakes and quickly resolve any inconvenience regardless of your field of expertise, is your best option.
Contact Symphorien-Saavedra Law at 407-802-1717 and schedule a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys. You can also fill out the online form provided on this page and we will contact you shortly. Our law firm has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law matters. Our founder, Frank Symphorien-Saavedra, is Board certified as expert in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar and has helped many clients in the past with their immigration cases, including O-1 Visas. We are dedicated professionals and first-generation immigrants or direct descendants from Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay and Colombia, and can communicate with you in English, Spanish and Portuguese.