The O-1 visa: requirements, criteria and how to get it yourself
Updated: Author: Alina Kanametova
Key answer
What the visa is and who travels with you
From the knowledge base: O-1, EB-1 or EB-2 NIW: the differences and which visa to choose
This is a decision page: it helps you choose which talent visa to apply for in your situation - O-1, EB-1, or EB-2 NIW. The key decision points are: whether you need an employer, whether you can self-petition, how quickly you want to get to the US, and what your family will receive. Below we discuss each of these choices and give recommendations on who each option fits best.
If you need a detailed table comparing all the parameters (type, timelines, petitioner, result), see the reference page Comparison of O-1, EB-1, and EB-2 NIW visas. The requirements for each category are covered in the criteria overview.
Read the full articleFrom the knowledge base: O-2 and O-3 Visas: Who Can Accompany Talent to the U.S.
O-2 and O-3 visas are two accompanying categories for those traveling to the US with an O-1 holder: O-2 is for the work team, O-3 is for family. The key thing to know in advance is that an O-3 family visa is not issued automatically after the petition is approved, and in the Russian-speaking community there is almost no practical experience with O-2. Both are examined below using real-world cases.
Key asymmetry: O-2 has its own petition, but O-3 does not. This leads to a non-obvious conclusion, which is explained in chats as follows:
The O-3 visa goes to the spouse of the O-1 or O-2 holder and to unmarried children under 21. The authorized stay matches that of the principal visa holder.
Now come the restrictions, which are more serious than they seem at first. You cannot work on O-3. This is not a formality but a complete bar to employment for the full duration of the status.
Read the full articleThe O-1A criteria: three of eight
Each criterion has its own page: what the rule requires, what officers write in RFEs, and how it is met.
What O-1 officers did with each criterion
Counted over 15 real O-1 requests for evidence and denials (Form I-129): in how many notices the officer's own text rejected a criterion, asked for more, discussed the filed evidence or accepted it.
- Awardsappears in 9 of 15 noticesasked for more3engaged with the evidence1noted nothing was filed2not claimed1only listed it2
- Membershipappears in 10 of 15 noticesrejected2asked for more1engaged with the evidence3accepted1noted nothing was filed1only listed it2
- Published material about youappears in 9 of 15 noticesrejected2asked for more3engaged with the evidence1accepted1noted nothing was filed1only listed it1
- Judgingappears in 9 of 15 noticesrejected1asked for more2engaged with the evidence3accepted1only listed it2
- Original contributionappears in 10 of 15 noticesrejected1asked for more4engaged with the evidence2only listed it3
- Scholarly authorshipappears in 8 of 15 noticesrejected2asked for more4noted nothing was filed1only listed it1
- Leading roleappears in 10 of 15 noticesrejected2asked for more3engaged with the evidence4accepted1
- High remunerationappears in 10 of 15 noticesrejected2asked for more3engaged with the evidence1accepted1noted nothing was filed2only listed it1
Every notice here is a petition that already drew an RFE or a denial, and the sample is small - so these are counts, not rates, and none of this is an approval rate. It shows where officers push back on O-1 evidence, not how often O-1 petitions succeed.
The petitioner: who files for you
From the knowledge base: O-1 Petitioners and Employers: Who Can File?
The first practical question about the O-1 is not "do I qualify," but "who will file the petition for me." The O-1 visa petition is not submitted by the applicant but by a petitioner, and your choice of model affects both the set of required documents and the aspects the officer will scrutinize. Below is who can be a petitioner, who will be immediately rejected by USCIS, and what obligations the petitioner assumes with their signature on the form.
USCIS does not require the petitioner to be your classic employer. There are four operating models.
The requirements for the petitioner are the same for both O-1A (science, business, education, athletics) and O-1B (arts, film, television). Only the criteria for proving extraordinary ability differ.
The key restriction is clear: a person cannot petition for themselves.
Community members describe the three basic scenarios in practice as follows:
This is a list missing from most guides, but it saves the most time. You can be refused not because your case is weak, but because the party on the I-129 form is not eligible.
Read the full articleFrom the knowledge base: O-1 Agent Petition: What It Is and Who Needs It
The O-1 petition must be filed for you by an employer or agent. You cannot file for yourself. The agent arrangement is used when you do not have a single employer willing to file the petition, but instead have several clients, are on tour, or work on a project basis. This is a brief overview of what an agent arrangement is, how an agent differs from an employer, and who it is suitable for. For more on documentation, see letters of intent and documents for the agent arrangement.
The weak point of the agent structure is the credibility of the clients. The officer may verify the companies mentioned in the letters of intent and flag them if they seem fake or inactive.
The second risk is a setup where the applicant is, in practice, their own petitioner. According to community observations, the self-owned company approach only works if the company's role is clearly defined: external control, ability to terminate cooperation, and actual business activity rather than a shell company just for the petition.
Read the full articleFrom the knowledge base: Letters of Intent and Documents for the O-1 Agent Model
O-1 requires an advisory opinion from a relevant U.S. organization, and recommendation letters are not a substitute. In real requests for documents, it looks like this:
One important detail: the dates, locations, and employers in the advisory opinion must match the itinerary. Any discrepancy between these two documents is an independent ground for a request for evidence.
Letters of intent and documents for the O-1 agent model often fail not because of missing paperwork, but because of vague wording. For example, a phrase like "payment depends on assigned projects" in a letter of intent almost always triggers a request for additional evidence. Below is an overview of which documents are required for the O-1 agent model, what wording is mandatory, and where these packages most often run into problems. For a general explanation of the agent model and who it suits, see the agent model overview.
Read the full articleNumbers from community stories
Computed over 53 anonymised O-1 approval stories and 28 consulate reports in our base. These are the stories of people who were approved: refusals do not appear here, so the figures describe the path, not the odds.
Premium processing
77%
filed with an I-907 - of 35 stories that say
Request for evidence
56%
received an RFE before approval - of 18 stories that say
Who prepared the petition
lawyer - 34, agency - 0, themselves - 2 (of 36 that say)
Filing to approval
40 days
median over 30 stories with dates (~1 mo)
Consulates: of 28 O-1 interview reports, 10 ended with the visa at once, 12 in 221(g) administrative processing and 6 in a refusal. People report more often when something went wrong, so this is not a refusal rate; median wait for a slot - 56 days, passport after the interview - 3 days. Most often in the approval stories: Yerevan (5), Almaty (4), Belgrade (3), Warsaw (2).
What to expect - distilled from the chats
Timing: how it usually goes
Usually the process takes from several weeks to several months: case and document preparation, petition filing, waiting for a decision, then the consular stage or a change of status. The exact timing depends heavily on how ready the evidence is, the employer's/agent's involvement, USCIS workload, and consular appointment availability.
Premium vs regular processing
Premium processing makes sense if there is a hard deadline to start work, a limited window for a consular appointment, or you need clarity on the risks faster. If timing is not critical and the case is well assembled, regular processing can be a reasonable budget-saving option, but without predictable timing.
How likely an RFE is
An RFE is realistically possible even in a strong case; an approximate 20% rate based on a small sample of stories is not a statistical guarantee. Most often, an RFE arises from insufficient proof of extraordinary ability, a weak link between achievements and future work, questions about the employer/agent, the O-2 role, or insufficiently organized evidence.
What it costs
- I-129 - $530 for a petitioner with under 25 employees and for nonprofits; $1,055 from 25 employees
- Asylum Program Fee - $300 for a small employer, $600 for a large one, $0 for nonprofits
- I-907, premium processing - $2 965 optional; 15 business days
- Consular fee (MRV) - $205 per person, family on O-3 included
Based on: USCIS fees · checked Oct 11, 2026 · G-1055 - the current fee schedule · all costs
Form I-129 in detail What the cost is made of How to pay the feesWhat an O-1 petition consists of, and what worked
The sections real O-1 petitions in our base consist of (generalised, no applicant data):
O-1 and EB-1A petition examples from public cases
- 1Cover letter and petition overviewBriefly explains the purpose of the filing, the requested status, the period of work, the claimed field of extraordinary ability, and the overall logic of the evidence.
- 2Confirmation of a pending petition and procedural historyShows the existence of a filed or previously approved petition, responds to agency requests, and connects the current materials to prior decisions or notices.
- 3Beneficiary information, CV, and professional historyOrganizes the beneficiary's education, experience, positions, key projects, career progression, and professional specialization.
- 4Extraordinary ability criteriaStructures the evidence under the applicable O-1 criteria and shows that the beneficiary's achievements are substantially above the ordinary level in the relevant field.
- 5Awards, recognition, and professional reputationConfirms external recognition through prizes, rankings, invitations, selections, publications about the beneficiary, and other independent indicators of high standing.
- 6Major contributions, projects, and industry impactProves the beneficiary's original or significant contribution, the practical use of the results, and the impact on organizations, products, the market, or the professional community.
- 7Publications, media, presentations, and expert activityShows public visibility and expert standing through articles, interviews, talks, judging, peer review, mentoring, or participation in professional events.
- 8Recommendation and expert lettersContains independent and internal expert opinions confirming the beneficiary's level, the significance of the achievements, and alignment with the O-1 criteria.
- 9Work plan, projects, and itinerary in the United StatesDescribes the proposed activities in the United States, roles, timeframes, work locations, expected results, and the connection between the projects and the field of extraordinary ability.
- 10Petitioner, agent, contracts, and organizational basisConfirms the authority of the petitioner or agent, the existence of working relationships, agreements, resources, infrastructure, and a genuine need for the beneficiary's services.
- 11Financial basis and compensation termsShows the ability to pay for the work, the commercial viability of the projects, funding sources, and whether the compensation is consistent with the specialist's level.
- 12Legal status, eligibility, and conclusionConfirms compliance with immigration requirements, the permissibility of the requested period, the accuracy of the status, and states the final request for approval.
What worked - from O-1 approval stories
performing arts - dance · no RFE
- chose the O-1 route for the primary applicant and O-2 for the partner
- found an employer and a specialized attorney in advance
- filed a strong petition without premium processing
- prepared a consular strategy based on appointment availability and payment rules
- quickly resolved organizational constraints through local assistance
Key evidence: recommendation letters from recognized experts; employer confirmation and future projects; evidence of professional level and achievements; materials about performances, awards, and recognition; documents confirming the second participant's role as an essential support person
software engineering · no RFE
- agent-based petition with a startup petitioner and own company
- broad evidence package covering more criteria than the minimum
- combination of industry impact, expert recognition, publications, and compensation evidence
- legal support and structured presentation of the case
Key evidence: critical roles in multiple companies; high salary compared to market level; judging professional hackathons or competitions; membership in professional associations; media coverage and interviews; scientific publications, professional articles, and recorded conference talks
inclusion in the charitable sector · had an RFE
- revising the petition after an RFE and addressing weak spots
- preparing for detailed interview questions
- filing the family together with the principal applicant
- readiness to explain the financial feasibility of the relocation
- having a plan in case documents are missing
Key evidence: confirmed expertise in a narrow social field; evidence of a significant contribution to the professional field; documents regarding the applicant's future work and role; justification of income and family support; history of prior visa status with no violations
makeup artist in the fashion industry · no RFE
- preparation with a strong reserve of evidence beyond the minimum requirements
- expedited filing with a well-structured case
- emphasis on a sustained professional reputation in the industry
- directly contacting the consulate when no slots are available
- readiness to quickly change logistics and attend an interview in another country
Key evidence: publication of work in well-known fashion and lifestyle media; expert commentary in industry-specific and mainstream publications; work with recognizable commercial brands; recommendation letters from industry specialists; portfolio of commercial and editorial projects
What the chats ask about the O-1 visa
- 3×how strict is the consideration of the O-1 visa in California and Vermont? for Software Engineer
- 2×When do O-1 visa results arrive: by email or via website update?
- 2×I sent a response to the RFE for the O-1 visa on premium processing, it has already been delivered by UPS. Will the status show that the response to the RFE has been received or not? Or could it not change and show case approved or another status immediately?
- 2×Does the decision after an RFE usually come faster for the O-1 visa on premium processing compared to the initial review? It all depends on the submission date; for example, my case was reviewed in 15 business days, and on the 15th day, I received an RFE. Will it be faster this time or not?
- 2×Does the decision after an RFE usually come faster for the O-1 visa on premium processing compared to the initial review? It all depends on the submission date; for example, my case was reviewed in 15 business days, and on the 15th day, I received an RFE. Will it be faster this time or not? I am interested in people's experiences.
- 2×What are the most common reasons for O-1 visa denials?
- 2×For O-1 visa, how to compare salary? If my salary is 1.5 - 2 times the average, is that enough? That is, am I in the top 10 - top 25 salaries in my profession? And I am adding this criterion as a supplement to others. What else could it be?
- 2×O-1 statistics
Community answers
- How should you position your profession for EB-1A/O-1 if your background is varied?
- You need to frame a single area of expertise so that awards, publications, recommendations, judging, contributions, and future plans fit into one coherent story. Positioning that is too broad or inconsistent weakens the case, so it helps to first gather the evidence and determine which professional line is best supported.
- Should the list of achievements be discussed in advance before preparing an EB-1A/O-1/NIW petition?
- Yes, it is useful to first assess the achievements in terms of the specific criteria and the case strategy. Not all awards, publications, memberships, or business results automatically fit the immigration criteria.
- Does approval of an O-1, EB-1A, or EB-2 NIW petition guarantee visa issuance at the consulate?
- No, USCIS approval of a petition does not guarantee visa issuance. The consulate may send the case for review, request additional information, or in rare cases return the petition for reconsideration.
- How are O-1 and immigrant visas like EB-1A or EB-2 NIW different?
- O-1 is a nonimmigrant work visa for people with extraordinary ability, usually with temporary status. EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are immigrant categories that lead to a green card, so their effects on other visas and intentions can differ.
- Does administrative processing for O-1/EB-1/EB-2 NIW depend on premium processing?
- No. Premium processing speeds up petition adjudication, but it does not bypass consular administrative processing. That review usually relates to security/background checks and can take from weeks to many months.
- Can an O-1 be filed through the applicant's own company if the applicant is the sole owner and is effectively hiring themselves?
- This option requires careful structuring: it is important to show a real employer or agent, control over the applicant's work, and active company operations. If the company consists of one person and there is no independent control, this may raise questions with USCIS or the consulate.
- Does a 214(b) refusal apply to EB-1/EB-2 NIW the same way it does to O-1 or B1/B2?
- 214(b) is more often applied to nonimmigrant visas, where you need to show no immigrant intent. EB-1 and EB-2 NIW are immigrant categories, so the refusal logic is different, but other grounds for refusal or review still apply.
- How often are people sent to administrative processing after the interview for EB-1/O-1/other visas?
- Administrative processing does happen, especially in sensitive fields, with prior checks, or with additional questions about background. Individual reports cannot reliably show the denial or review rate - the experience varies greatly by consulate and applicant profile.
Where people go wrong - from the chats
- mistakeAfter entering on O-1, dependence on the employer or petitioner remains an important risk: if the company stops operating or the work does not begin, you need to quickly assess status, options to change employers, file a new petition, or depart.
- mistakeA common mistake is confusing an approved petition, a visa, status in the United States, and the right to enter: having an approved O-1 petition by itself does not always mean an automatic change of status or the ability to enter specifically in that status.
- mistakeIt is a mistake to assume that other applicants' experience at a particular consulate guarantees the same outcome. For O-1 and EB-1, the result can depend heavily on the filing country, the officer, the profile, and additional screening.
- mistakeA risky mistake is building an O-1 through a company where the applicant is effectively the founder or controls the petitioning entity; for this visa, the independence of the employer or petitioner matters.
- mistakeA common mistake is thinking that one master's degree, a business idea, or general professional potential is enough for O-1. You need evidence of extraordinary achievement under the criteria and a proper employment structure.
- mistakeA common mistake is thinking that an O-1 denial permanently bars refiling or automatically harms a tourist visa; refiling is possible if the case is strengthened, and the consequences depend on the reasons for the denial.
Real timelines named in the chats
| Stage | Typically | Note |
|---|---|---|
| O-1/consular visa: waiting for interview slots for nonresidents in Europe | up to 1.5 years | Participants discussed that some European consulates may have very long appointment waits for nonresidents. |
| O-1: obtaining a visa/status as an interim path | 1-1.5 years | O-1 is mentioned as a faster option before moving on to an immigrant visa. |
| O-1A: administrative processing after the interview | about 89 days | A single observation for a work visa: the review took about 3 months. |
| O-1 -> EB-1: refiling a similar case and EB-1 approval after O-1 approval | less than 1 month | There is a single observation where less than a month passed between O-1 approval and the subsequent EB-1 approval for a reworked case. |
| O-1: petition review with premium processing | 2-3 business weeks, sometimes 4-5 weeks with an RFE | Participants discuss that with premium processing for O-1, a decision usually comes within a few business weeks, but a request for additional evidence can extend the timeline. |
| O-1 / EB petitions: regular processing without premium processing | up to 19 months | In one message, the current normal processing time for comparable petitions was said to be about 19 months, with a recommendation to check the official processing times. |
| O-1: I-129 premium processing - decision | about 45 days | The discussion mentions waiting for an O-1 response under premium processing within about 45 days; this refers specifically to the petition decision, not to later document issuance or a green card. |
| EB-1A/O-1/other petitions with premium processing: RFE after filing | in the first few days - about 2.5 units of unclear duration | It was mentioned that the status quickly moved to active review and then an RFE arrived; the exact time unit was not specified in the message, so the estimate is unreliable. |
Myths and reality
Misconception: If the required number of criteria is counted for EB-1A or O-1, the case is almost required to be approved; or the opposite misconception: Final Merits is an arbitrary second denial that USCIS can use to wipe out any counted criteria without much logic.
In reality: For EB-1A, after the formal criteria review, USCIS does conduct a final assessment of the totality of the evidence: Final Merits. Meeting 3+ criteria allows the case to move to this assessment, but it does not by itself guarantee approval. At the Final Merits stage, the officer looks at whether the materials as a whole prove sustained acclaim, a high level of recognition, and membership in the small percentage of specialists at the very top of the field. At the same time, a denial should not simply recount criteria that were already credited or express unsupported disagreement. It must explain why the evidence, taken together, is insufficient. For O-1, the logic is similar in substance: USCIS looks at the formal items and at the level of extraordinary ability, although the terminology and standard differ from EB-1A. For EB-2 NIW, the issue is structured differently: the key elements are advanced degree or exceptional ability and the national importance test, not EB-1A Final Merits.
Misconception: A common misconception is that an O-1 can be filed entirely independently by the beneficiary, without a U.S. employer or agent, and that having one's own company automatically solves the petitioner issue.
In reality: For O-1, the petition is filed not by the applicant, but by a U.S. petitioner: an employer, an agent, or in some cases the applicant's own company if the control structure is set up correctly. Direct self-employment without an independent petitioner usually does not work. An agent structure is possible, but it requires careful documentation: contracts, an itinerary, proof of future work, and an explanation of the agent's role. The applicant's own company may be the petitioner, but it is important to show real separation between the company and the beneficiary, the company's ability to control the work, terminate or replace the applicant, and the existence of specific activity in the United States.
Myth: A PhD is required to file under talent visas or publication criteria.
In reality: A PhD can help, but it is not a universal mandatory requirement for EB-1A/O-1. Cases can be built on achievements, recognition, work, industry role, and other evidence.
Myth: When issuing an O-1 visa, the consular officer must reassess extraordinariness the same way USCIS does for the petition.
In reality: The main assessment of eligibility for the O-1 category is made by USCIS when reviewing the petition. The consulate usually checks visa admissibility, identity, purpose of travel, possible fraud, and other consular issues, although in practice officers sometimes ask substantive questions about the petition.
Myth: A publication in a well-known media outlet almost guarantees value for EB-1A/O-1 by itself, even if the connection to the applicant or the applicant's field is weak.
In reality: Media evidence is evaluated based on relevance, probative value, and credibility. It is important to show that the material truly relates to the applicant, the applicant's achievements, and professional field, rather than being merely a mention in a well-known source.
Myth: With O-1, you can freely change jobs, and the spouse automatically receives work authorization.
In reality: O-1 is usually tied to a specific petitioner, employer, or agent structure, and a material change in work may require a new or amended petition. A spouse in O-3 status generally does not receive automatic work authorization.
Myth: An O-1 or EB-1A always requires an independent third-party employer in the United States.
In reality: EB-1A allows self-petitioning. O-1 requires a petitioner, but in some structures the petitioner may be an agent or a company connected to the applicant, if the requirements for a real relationship, control, contracts, and future work are met.
Myth: If a child is born in the United States while the parent is in tourist status, that alone is an immigration violation and will ruin future O-1/green card processes.
In reality: Birth of a child in the United States is not, by itself, a violation. Risks arise if there were false statements about the purpose of the trip, unpaid medical bills, use of certain public benefits, or other factors affecting good faith and admissibility.
Rules and tips from the chats
- ruleFor O-1 filings from outside the United States, there is usually no NVC stage; it is important not to mix procedures from different immigrant and nonimmigrant categories.
- ruleAfter an interview for an immigrant visa or an O-1/EB-1 related visa, oral approval and passport submission do not guarantee quick visa stamping: the case may go into administrative review, and passports may be requested or held for a long time.
- ruleFor O-1, the place of filing is usually tied to the location of the future work. Instead of a mandatory contract, a letter of intent from the employer is often enough if it is properly drafted and does not create unnecessary obligations for the employer.
- ruleAdvance parole is tied to pending adjustment of status, not to O-1 itself; having a nonimmigrant visa does not mean automatic eligibility for a travel document.
- ruleFor O-1, the petition is filed first; after approval, the applicant and dependent family members complete the consular stage with separate applications and documents for each person.
- ruleObtaining O-1 status inside the United States is not the same as having a visa stamp: travel and reentry usually require consular processing, where administrative processing is possible.
- ruleIf employment is lost on O-1, it is important to preserve status quickly: consider the short grace period, look for a new employer, or transfer the petition to your own company if the structure and facts can support it.
- ruleFor O-1, the petitioner can be not only an employer but also an agent; this structure works when the applicant plans to work on multiple projects or with multiple clients, but it requires properly documented arrangements and an itinerary of activities.
- tipIt is better to get an EB-1/O-1 assessment from several specialists, because free consultations can be superficial, and some consultants have an incentive to overstate the chances of success.
- tipIf you file through your own company, it is important to think in advance about the petitioner structure, the agent arrangement, and the issue of control over the applicant, including the possibility of termination or supervision.
Cases from the community
O-1 · IT - open source · outcome not stated
A developer built an independent open source project, with code written entirely by him, and wanted to confirm the significance of his work.
What they did: Received recommendation letters from organizations and specialists who used his open source work in commercial products.
O-1 · IT - open source · outcome not stated
The applicant promoted his own open source project and considered it part of the immigration or visa case.
What they did: Used the project's visibility and growth as potential evidence of professional contribution and recognition.
O-1 · not specified · outcome not stated
The applicant, living outside the United States, was considering how to prove ties to the country of residence for the visa process; the tie was not to tourist status, but to work status and a housing lease.
What they did: Used legal residence documents and a lease agreement as proof of ties to the place of residence abroad.
O-1 · entrepreneurship/self-owned company · outcome not stated
A founder's case was discussed, where it is important to show that the company can hire and fire the applicant, even if he is the business owner.
What they did: A structure with less than 50% ownership or with an independent advisory board/board of directors to control the applicant's employment was considered.
O-1 · IT · outcome not stated
The applicant was adjusting status with a plan to work for several companies; he expected the interview to closely examine whether the multiple offers were real.
What they did: Prepared several offers and an explanation of the employment model for the interview.
The consular stage: rules from the chats
An approved O-1, EB-1, or EB-2 petition should not be treated as a guarantee of visa issuance at the interview.
The consular officer separately evaluates visa eligibility, documents, interview answers, and any possible grounds for 221g/AP or denial.
Questions and answers on the site
- Can my own company petition for my O-1?
- Can I work for a new employer on an O-1?
- What is a deal memo in the O-1 agent scheme?
- Where do I get an O-1 advisory opinion without a union?
- Should I start EB-1A right after getting an O-1?
- Can I apply for O-1 after filing DS-260?
- Will I become a US tax resident on an O-1?
- Should I simplify my job description in DS-160?
Distilled from the public community chats, anonymised; corpus as of June 2026. These are participants' observations, not legal advice and not USCIS statistics.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an O-1 cost?
- Fees: I-129 $530 for a petitioner with under 25 employees ($1,055 from 25), Asylum Program Fee $300 ($600 for large employers, $0 for nonprofits), an optional I-907 at $2,965, and a $205 consular fee per person.
From community discussions
«It went like this for me: I applied for an extension and the O-1 on the same day without premium processing. I got the extension approval before I received the RFE for the O-1. Then I applied for EB-1 with premium processing on the last day according to the I-94. I was approved for EB-1 the next day and applied for a status change with the I-485, while I didn't respond to the O-1.»
Vladimir · from public community chats
«LOI can be obtained in various ways. Through acquaintances/chat, etc. But LOI does not obligate anyone to hire that person into their company. As I see it, a more realistic case is to enter the country after receiving the O-1 and look for an employer (if the companies from the petition suddenly change their intentions). And here's my question - how willing are employers to engage with this type of visa? People often say that finding a job on an O-1 is very, very difficult. P.S. even if applying with premium processing from outside the US - it takes a lot of time (embassy appointment, etc.) - if I'm not mistaken.»
community member · from public community chats
«This is a matter of discussion. It depends on various circumstances. And I do not have the expertise to make a classification))) Plus now for EB1, you need to prove that you are a truly top specialist. And this may be more important than each criterion individually. By the way, one of the most important points distinguishing EB1 from O1. In practice, there are cases where 3, 5, or 7 criteria are considered, but a denial is issued; we count these criteria, but they do not make you truly top. O1 also has a similar point, but in practice, denials for this reason are seen less frequently. As I understand it.»
Anton S. · from public community chats
«Good evening. It's a tough story. I received a denial and then easily passed on the O1. The problem is that it requires (or required) a large amount of data about your foreign company. At that time, I had about 250 employees and needed to provide nearly a resume for each, etc., bank statements, contracts, cash flow, and more. Plus showing investments in an American company, a business plan, and justifying why this is necessary, etc. It turned out to be much more complex in terms of documentation volume than O1.»
Vlad L. · from public community chats
«If we are talking about O-1, you can check the consulate's page for the nearest date and determine if this country is suitable for your application. To do this, you need your passport number, petition number, and forms. Moreover, this trick can be done multiple times. I last did this on August 23, checking for the nearest O-1 appointment in different countries. I attached screenshots (O-1 visa) from three countries: Brazil, Armenia, and the UAE (I checked on August 23). The same applies to tourist visas to the US. You can see when the nearest appointment date is at each consulate.»
Egor A. · from public community chats
Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.
Sources
Reference information, not legal advice. Verify fees and timelines on uscis.gov - they change.
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