How Many O-1 Visas are Issued Each Year?

To be eligible for the O-1 visa, you must possess extraordinary abilities and an extraordinary achievement nationally and internationally recognized to back up your skills and abilities. You must be considered well-known, renowned, or leading in your particular field of expertise, and must be able to provide evidence to back this up.

Evidence can include things like a Noble-prize, an Emmy, a Grammy award, an Olympic Medal, or any other international award proves your extraordinary abilities in your expertise. Generally, to be eligible for an O1 visa you must be able to meet at least three of the USCIS list of evidentiary criteria.

For O-1A visa applicants, these are:

• You have received nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes as per your excellence in your field of endeavor.
• You are a member of an association that requires outstanding achievements in your field as determined by recognized national or international experts.
• You or your work have been featured in professional or major trade publications, major newspapers, or magazines.
• You have contributed original scientific, scholarly, or business-related works that have major significance in your field.
• You have authored scholarly articles that are published in professional journals or other major media in your field.
• You have a high salary or other payments from the services you rendered in your field, which must be proven by contracts or other reliable evidence.
• You have participated on a panel as a judge of the work of others in your field.
• You have been employed in a critical or essential capacity for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation, and this must be backed up by documents.

For O-1B visa applicants, these are:

• you have performed and will perform as a lead or starring role in productions that have a distinguished reputation from critical reviews, advertisements, and the like.
• You have achieved national or international recognition for achievements due to critical reviews and similar materials.
• You have a record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes indicated by the title, television ratings, box office receipts, and the like.
• You have received significant recognition for your achievements from experts, critics, government agencies, and other recognized institutions or experts in the field.
• You get a high salary or remuneration for the services you render in your field.

In order to submit an application for an O1 visa, you will need the following:

• Petition: An O-1 sponsor (employee or agent) must file a form 1-129, Petition for Non-Immigrant Worker, according to the USCIS standard.
• Submit documentary evidence, including contracts, itineraries, salary statements, certificates, membership files, or similar materials.
• Peer consultation must be a written advisory opinion from a peer group or an expert in your field to prove your extraordinary abilities and achievements.

After submitting your application, you will be given written notice that your application has been received and the decision on your application.

If rejected, you can reapply, and if approved, you will need to apply for form DS-160 (Online Visa processing Form) for your visa, depending on whether you are in the U.S. or abroad.

Unlike other US visa routes, there is currently no hard cap or limit on the number of O-1 visas issued each year, and in fact, the number of O1 visas issued annually increases year-on-year

For example, the total number of O-1 visas issued in 2014 was 22,430, and the total number of 0-1 visas issued in 2015 was 23,680.

Foreign workers can gain excellent experience working as non-permanent employees in the U.S. The experienced immigration lawyers at Total Law can support your O-1 visa application and answer any questions you may have.

The help of our team can get you into your intended employment faster and without stress. Contact Total Law for assistance with your application today. We are open to serve you 24/7, by phone or by online chat on our website.