Visa Consultation Letters
Helping international students and professional designers thrive in the US.
Applications for an O-1 visas often require that a written advisory opinion from a peer group (including labor or membership organizations like IDSA) or a person with expertise in the beneficiary’s area of ability be provided as part of the application.
What is an O-1 visa?
The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.
The O nonimmigrant classification are commonly referred to as:
- O-1A: Individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (not including the arts, motion pictures or television industry);
- O-1B: Individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry;
- O-2: Individuals who will accompany an O-1 artist or athlete to assist in a specific event or performance; and
- O-3: Individuals who are the spouse or children of O-1 and O-2 visa holders.
General eligibility
To qualify for an O-1 visa, you must demonstrate extraordinary ability by sustained national or international acclaim, or a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television industry, and must be coming temporarily to the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability.
Extraordinary ability in the fields of science, education, business or athletics means a level of expertise indicating that you are one of the small percentage who have arisen to the very top of the field.
For additional information, please consult with your immigration attorney or review the details provided by the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services website.
How can IDSA help?
IDSA will happily supply such letters of support when needed as a benefit of membership. In order to receive a letter from IDSA, the individual must hold a current IDSA membership.
Submit your inquiry with our Membership Department for assistance: [email protected]
Please allow up to 2 weeks for your materials to be reviewed and a letter of support created for your needs.