O-1 Aliens of Extraordinary Ability

• No limit to time in O-1 visa status.
• Must have achieved and sustained national or international acclaim for extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, etc.
• Must submit documentation from experts in the field who can establish the “outstanding nature of the beneficiary’s contributions to the field of endeavor.”
• ISSS cannot assist the hiring department with the O-1 process but will provide an immigration attorney list.
• In addition to meeting the criteria outlined above, the individual must be coming to the United States to work in his or her area of extraordinary ability or achievement. However, the position, event, or performance need not require the services of a person of extraordinary ability.
• Employment is position, employer, and date specific.

O-1 Qualifications

Under federal law, there are three different standards for the O-1 category:

• the most exacting standard applies to those individuals in the sciences, education, business, and athletics
• a much less rigorous standard applies to individuals in the arts
• an intermediate standard applies to individuals in the motion picture or TV industries