O Visa

Talent & Extraordinary Ability Visas

The O-1 visa is a temporary visa available for individuals with extraordinary abilities at a national and international level in science, art, education, business, and sports. Individuals with extraordinary achievements in movies or television can also apply for an O-1 visa.

If you are an individual with extraordinary abilities seeking to debut your top-notch talents in America, or a sponsor of such an individual, contact Cifuentes-Marrero, P.A. Our O visa lawyers in Miami have over 20 years of combined experience helping international professionals obtain temporary work visas. Whether you desire to work in Miami or any other U.S. city, our legal team helps clients from all over the world.

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Applying for an O-1 Visa

To obtain the O-1 visa, the applicant must have a sponsor to provide employment in a specific position. For example, a professional baseball player would need either a baseball team offering a position or an agent to act as the sponsor. If the applicant is a musician, a music group or orchestra can sponsor the visa. An actor would need a studio to sponsor the visa.

The sponsor, or petitioner, will need to file Form I-129 with the USCIS. This petition may only be filed within one year of the date when the individual’s services are first required. To ensure that the application is processed on time, one should submit it as soon as possible but no more than 6 months prior to the date of employment.

Along with the Form I-129, the petitioner will need to submit several types of documentary evidence, including:

Evidence of the beneficiary’s talent or extraordinary ability
A written advisory opinion from a peer group or individual with expertise in the area of ability
A copy of the written contract between the sponsor and the beneficiary or a summary of the terms of an oral employment agreement
An itinerary detailing the nature, dates, and locations of events and activities

Duration of Status & Family Members

An O-1 visa holder is admitted into the U.S. for the duration of the event, production or activity, which should not exceed more than three years. However, the O-1 visa can be extended until the holder completes his or her assignments and responsibilities of the position.

The spouse and non-married children of the O-1 visa holder have the right to obtain O-3 visas to come to the U.S. with the principle O-1 visa holder.

Call Today for Qualified Legal Assistance

Cifuentes-Marrero, P.A. is here to effectively guide you through the O-1 visa process. Reach out today for answers to all your questions about your immigration case.