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O-1 Visa Sustained Acclaim and Recognition as Outstanding in the Field

Hi William,

How should an O-1 application establish a foreign national's accomplishments in motion picture or television industry?

Answer,

An O-1 visa for motion picture/TV requires proving "extraordinary achievement" with major awards or meeting specific criteria like critical acclaim, major media coverage, leading roles, high salary, or expert recommendations, filed by a U.S. employer on Form I-129, including a required advisory opinion from a labor union and management organization, detailing work in the U.S., often for up to 3 years with extensions.

For O-1 application in motion picture or television industry, an applicant should have a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in motion picture and/or television productions, and the alien is coming temporarily to the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary achievement.

To qualify as a person of O-1 extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry, it must be shown that the foreign national has a very high level of accomplishment in the motion picture or television industry evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition significantly above that ordinarily encountered to the extent that the person is recognized as outstanding, notable, or leading in the motion picture or television field.

The types of documentation that may be submitted to establish that the foreign national is a person of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry are the same as the evidence required to establish that a foreign national is a person of extraordinary ability in the arts.

To demonstrate extraordinary achievement, you must show sustained acclaim and recognition as outstanding in the field, evidenced by extensive documentation. You should provide proof like major awards, leading roles, high ratings/box office success, significant media coverage in major publications, or letters from prominent experts.

For consultation, a crucial step is obtaining a written advisory opinion from a U.S. labor union and a management organization (e.g., WGA, DGA).