O-1 visa requirements: who qualifies.

Short answer: the O-1 is a US work visa for people with extraordinary ability or achievement. In science, education, business or athletics (O-1A), you show a major internationally recognized award, or evidence for at least three of eight criteria. In the arts (O-1B), you show a significant national or international award or nomination, or at least three of six criteria. A US employer or a US agent files the petition; you can't file it for yourself.

What is an O-1 visa?

The O-1 is a temporary (nonimmigrant) work visa. There are two kinds:

• O-1A: extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics.
• O-1B: extraordinary ability in the arts, or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television production.

The petition is filed on Form I-129. You can be admitted for the time your work needs, up to 3 years at first. After that, USCIS can extend it in steps of up to 1 year, with no limit on the number of extensions.

What are the O-1A criteria?

You need a major internationally recognized award, such as a Nobel Prize, or evidence for at least three of these eight criteria:

1. Nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in your field.
2. Membership in associations that require outstanding achievements, judged by recognized experts.
3. Published material about you in professional or major trade publications or major media, about your work. It must show the title, date and author.
4. Judging the work of others in your field, alone or on a panel.
5. Original scientific, scholarly or business contributions of major significance.
6. Scholarly articles you wrote, in professional journals or other major media.
7. A critical or essential role for organizations with a distinguished reputation.
8. A high salary or other high pay, now or in the job you're coming for.

If a criterion doesn't readily apply to your work, your petition can offer comparable evidence instead, with an explanation of why. You still need three criteria in total.

What are the O-1B criteria in the arts?

You need a significant national or international award or nomination, such as an Academy Award, an Emmy, a Grammy or a Directors Guild award, or at least three of these six:

1. A lead or starring role in productions or events with a distinguished reputation.
2. National or international recognition shown by critical reviews or other published material by or about you in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines or other publications.
3. A lead, starring or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation.
4. A record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes.
5. Significant recognition from organizations, critics, government agencies or experts in your field.
6. A high salary or substantial pay compared with others in the field.

Film and television work is judged under a stricter standard, extraordinary achievement, and there comparable evidence isn't accepted. More in PR for O-1B visa applicants in the arts.

Who files an O-1 petition?

A US employer, or in some cases a US agent, for example when you are usually self-employed or will work for several employers. You can't petition for yourself. In most cases the petition also needs a written advisory opinion, called a consultation, from a peer group, labor or management organization in your field. Your immigration attorney arranges it.

Sources: USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 2, Part M, Chapter 3 (who files), Chapter 4 (the criteria) and Chapter 9 (how long). This page explains the rules; it isn't legal advice.

Where does press coverage fit?

Published material about you is one of the eight O-1A criteria, and critical reviews or published material is one of the six O-1B criteria. For O-1A, the article must be about you and your work, in a professional or major trade publication or major media, with its title, date and author.

That is the part we work on. We write and place articles about you and your work in publications your attorney is comfortable presenting, planned backward from your filing date so everything is live in time. Each article has a fixed price agreed upfront, with a full refund if it isn't published. We never promise a visa outcome. How visa PR works →

O-1 or EB-1A?

The O-1 is a temporary work visa that an employer or agent files. EB-1A is a green card category you can file for yourself. Their criteria overlap, and both include published material about you. See the 10 EB-1A criteria.

Questions applicants ask

Can I apply for an O-1 visa myself?

No. A US employer, or in some cases a US agent, files the petition on Form I-129. You can't petition for yourself.

How long is an O-1 visa valid?

Up to 3 years at first, for the time your work needs. USCIS can then extend it in steps of up to 1 year, with no limit on the number of extensions.

How many O-1 criteria do I need?

At least three of the eight O-1A criteria, or three of the six O-1B criteria in the arts, unless you have a major award that counts on its own.

Do I need articles about me for an O-1 visa?

Not always. Published material about you is one of the criteria, not a requirement. Your attorney decides which criteria to claim and how many articles, if any, your case needs.

Does an O-1 visa lead to a green card?

The O-1 is temporary. A green card is a separate petition, such as EB-1A or EB-2 NIW, which your attorney can explain.