HELP FOR ARTISTS SEEKING AN O-1 VISA
What does an artist need to be granted an O-1 visa?
At the heart of the O-1 visa process is proving you are an artist of distinction within your field. While the process can seem at times overwhelming or even impossible, what is most important is that you continue to put one foot in front of the other. Anyone who has ever seen a less-talented colleague get an O-1 visa knows that simply putting the work into getting your application together is a big piece of the puzzle.
Below you will find the 5 essential components to every O-1 visa application for artists. Click on each tab to learn more.
This really boils down to proof of your extraordinary ability.
If you don’t already have a major award like a Grammy or an Oscar, that’s okay: there are 6 other categories of evidence and you only need to meet 3 of them.
You can find a list of the categories on the USCIS website. In essence, what they want to see is:
- Evidence you have performed for distinguished people or productions
- Evidence you have performed or played a critical role for distinguished events or organizations
- National or international media attention
- Awards of national significance
- Letters of recommendation from leaders in your field
- Have been paid higher than average for your field
Remember, you only need to satisfy 3 of these requirements, not all 6.
If you are feeling stuck, don’t think about, “I’m not good enough.” Instead think, “How am I good enough?“
If you want help figuring out your next steps to getting your O-1 as quickly and easily as possible, reach out too see if you qualify for a complimentary Artist Visa Strategy Session-($500 value).
You can also get started right now on our free O-1 Visa Action Plan Training, which will help you get a plan in place and start taking the right steps in the right order so you can get your O-1 visa petition together without the headache.
An itinerary is basically a document letting the government know what you plan to do in the United States while on your O-1 visa.
O-1 visas can be granted for up to 3 years (with unlimited extensions possible), so ideally your itinerary should also be 3 years long. If your itinerary is shorter, you risk the USCIS granting you a shorter O-1 visa. Why go to all that trouble and then not get the maximum time?
A lot of artists struggle with itineraries. They have no idea how they are going to put together 3 years of gigs so far in advance, since that isn’t really how their industry works.
Don’t worry! There are lots of ways to come up with the itinerary events you need. If you’d like help, let us know. If you qualify, we will talk one-on-one with you to see what you best steps to take are with your itinerary and any other pieces of the puzzle you may be currently missing. Apply to talk to us.
Like most visas, you need someone to sponsor your O-1 application – you can’t self-petition. The good news is that with the O-1 visa, you can have an agent, rather than an employer apply on your behalf.
There are 2 benefits to this:
- You are not restricted to working for one employer while in the United States. With some exceptions, you are free to go to new auditions and pick up new gigs while you’re on your O-1 visa.
- It is often much easier to find an agent sponsor who can petition on your behalf for the full 3-year visa, rather than a single employer who may not be interested or able to hire a single artist for such a long period of time.
If you qualify, the American Artists Council can act as your agent for your O-1 visa petition. If you do not qualify for American Artists Council sponsorship, we can likely point you in the direction of other sponsors. If you would like to see if you qualify for a free O-1 visa strategy session ($500 value) to help with your agent and other O-1 needs, please fill out the application.
You can also get started right now on our free O-1 Visa Action Plan Training, which will help you get a plan in place and start taking the right steps in the right order so you can get your O-1 visa petition together as quickly and easily as possible.
One thing virtually all O-1 petitions require is a labor union opinion, which is basically a consultation from the labor union that works in the same field that you do.
For most musicians, your labor union letter would come from the AGMA. For most other artists, it would ordinarily come from the AGVA. Actors would normally apply to Actors’ Equity.
To receive your labor union opinion, it is usually as straightforward as forwarding your completed O-1 package to the union and paying the fee for the letter.
If your industry does not fit under the umbrella of one of these organizations, the American Artists Council may be able to supply your labor union opinion. Please fill out the form below if you’d like to make an inquiry.
[contact-form to=’connect@americanartistscouncil.org’ subject=’Labor Union Consulation Inquiry’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Let us know what you need!’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]A cover letter is required for O-1 visa applications. The cover letter should serve as a brief summary of your evidence, which is very important because often O-1 visa packages are over a hundred pages in length.
The best person to put together your O-1 visa cover letter is an immigration lawyer who specializes in O-1 visas for artists. It cannot be overstated how crucial this piece is to your O-1 visa application and the best thing you can do for yourself is have an expert create it for you.
If you would like an immigration lawyer recommendation, please let us know and we will refer you to the best of the best. There are also programs available for artists who would like legal representation but are concerned about the financial component. Reach out if you’d like help!
[contact-form to=’connect@americanartistscouncil.org’ subject=’Immigration Lawyer Inquiry’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’How can we help?’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]
