1. Live in the USA:

With the O1 visa you and your immediate family will be able to legally live in the USA. Your immediate family includes your spouse and your unmarried children under the age of 21. The visa issued to O1 dependents is called the O3 Visa.

2. Work in the USA:

The O1 will authorize you to work in the USA.

3. Public Education:

Your children will have access to schools in the USA, everything from pre-kinder to colleges and universities without needing a Student Visa.

4. Social Security Number & Driver’s License:

You will be able to get Social Security Numbers and will be eligible to apply for a US Driver’s License.

5. O1 to Green Card:

One of the most important benefits of the O1 Visa is that it can facilitate the Green Card application process. This makes the O1 very attractive to people interested in a Green Card. In many cases, O1 holders can apply for a Green Card in a preferable priority category without the need for a Labor Certification. To determine if you can qualify for a Green Card, call our immigration attorney to schedule a consultation.

The first requirement is that you have a job offer from an employer in the USA. The job offer must be to work in your field of extraordinary achievement. To start the O1 visa application, the employer must file Form i-129, including the O/P Supplement, with USCIS. Once the i-129 is approved, the O1 applicant may apply for the visa at a US Embassy or Consulate outside of the United of the States.

Your O1 petition must include:

1. An opinion letter issued by a peer group regarding your abilities;

2. A statement or contract regarding the proposed terms of your proposed employment in the US

3. If applying for the O1 in the sciences or education fields, provide evidence that the services you will perform in the US primarily relate to a scientific or education conference, lecture or convention.

4. If applying for the O1 via the business field, provide evidence that the job offered is so complex that it requires a person with extraordinary business abilities.

5. Proof that you have won an important award such as a Nobel Prize or evidence of any 3 of the following requirements:

a. Proof that you won a national or international award;

b. Proof that you are a member of an association or group for which membership requires outstanding achievement;

c. Proof that professional publications or newspapers have written about you and your work in the field;

d. Proof that you have formally judged the work of others in your field or a related field;

e. Proof that you have made significant scientific or scholarly contributions to your field;

f. Proof that scholarly articles you have authored have been published in professional publications or other media;

g. Proof that you earn high wages for your services; or

h. Proof that you have held an important or leading role with an organization with a distinguished reputation.

The O1 Visa is initially issued for up to 3 years or for the amount of time needed to complete the proposed job in the US, whichever is shorter.

The O1 visa can be renewed or extended to continue or finish the job or activity for which you were initially granted the O1. Extensions are granted in 1 year increments.

1. Can I have two different jobs in the US with the O1?

Yes, however each employer will need to file its own an i-129 with USCIS.

2. What are the requirements to get the O1 Visa as an athlete or a film or television star?

In short, they both require extraordinary achievement. To learn more about these requirements, the best thing to do is to call our immigration attorney to schedule a consolation.