O-1 VISA

The O-1 visa is a temporary visa that is issued to athletes who have “extraordinary ability” in their discipline. The O-1 visa requires an employer sponsor to petition for the intending immigrant. The O-1 visa is valid for up to 3 years and may be renewed in one-year increments for the same position with the same employer. To qualify for an O-1 visa, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will want the applicant to have:

• Nationally and/or internationally recognized prizes or awards.
• Membership in associations requiring members to have outstanding achievements.
• Media publications are produced about the applicant and their work in the field.
• Evidence of the intending immigrant’s judgement/critique of other’s work.
• Original contributions of major significance in their field.
• Authorship of scholarly articles in the field.
• Employment by distinguished organizations in a leading or critical role; and
• High salary in relation to others in the field.

The O-1 visa is a great option for individuals with extraordinary ability who would like to work for a United States employer. If this sounds like you, please contact our office today at 614-459-2830.