O-1 Visa for Individuals with an Extraordinary Ability

O-1 visa is for individuals with an extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or extraordinary achievements in the motion picture and television field. Outstanding achievements or ability must be recognized nationally or internationally. O-1A is for the individuals with an extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. O-1B is for the individuals with extraordinary achievements in the motion picture and television field.

Application Requirements

The beneficiary of O-1A must have won a major, international recognized award, such as Novel prizes, or meet at least three of the following USCIS criteria:

1. Recipients of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor;
2. Members in associations in the field for which classification is sought which require outstanding achievements, as judged by recognized national or international experts in the field; 
3. Have published material in professional or major trade publications, newspapers or other major media about the beneficiary and the beneficiary’s work in the field;
4. Have original scientific, scholarly, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field;
5. Have Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major media in the field; 
6. Have a high salary or other remuneration for services as evidenced by contracts or other reliable evidence;
7. Have participated on a panel, or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or in a field of specialization;
8. Have been employed in a critical or essential capacity for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation

The beneficiary of O-1B must have won an international or national recognized award, such as an Academy Award, Amy Award, Grammy Award or Director's Guild Award, or meet at least three of the following USCIS criteria:

1. Performed and will perform services as a lead or starring participant in productions or events that have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by critical reviews, advertisements, publicity releases, publications, contracts or endorsements;
2. Achieved national or international recognition for achievements, as shown by critical reviews or other published materials by or about the beneficiary in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines, or other publications;
3. Performed and will perform in a lead, starring, or critical role for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by articles in newspapers, trade journals, publications, or testimonials;
4. Have a record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes, as shown by such indicators as title, rating or standing in the field, box office receipts, motion picture or television ratings and other occupational achievements reported in trade journals, major newspapers or other publications;
5. Received significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies or other recognized experts in the field in which the beneficiary is engaged, with the testimonials clearly indicating the author's authority, expertise and knowledge of the beneficiary's achievements;
6. Have a high salary or other substantial remuneration for services in relation to others in the field, as shown by contracts or other reliable

O-1簽證是簽發給在科學、藝術、教育、商業或體育領域中具有傑出才能者的赴美工作簽證。 O-1簽證申請人美國雇主必須能夠提供與受益人才能相符的工作， 受益人必須具備傑出才能。 "傑出才能"指在某個領域中具有非常的研究能力、貢獻或者俱有全國甚至國際知名度。簽證持有人在美國的居留期是根據需要而定，沒有期限限制。 O-1簽證沒有配額限制。對比H-1B簽證， H-1B著重受益人在行業中的專長，O-1著重在行業中的成就。 O-1簽證持有人的配偶及其未滿21周歲的未婚子女可持O-3簽證同行。

• 具有傑出成就者

獲得過公認的國際知名獎項即可被認為是"具有傑出成就者"。

未獲得過公認的國際知名獎項的人,如至少符合下列中條件中的3個,也被視為"具有傑出成就者"：

1. 獲得過表彰其優秀業績的全國性獎勵；
2. 作為只有取得優秀業績方可加入的有關行業協會會員；
3. 曾有過專業出版物、行業出版物或主要媒體對自己及其工作的介紹或報導；
4. 現在或者曾經作為小組或個人參加對他人的行業評判。比如專業比賽的評委或評審組成員或某學術性獎勵的評審員；
5. 在科學、學術、商業、藝術或教育等領域中有開創性或突出的創新貢獻；
6. 專業學術著作或文章的作者；
7. 在著名的組織機構中擔任或擔任過關鍵職務；
8. 由於自己的工作而曾經獲得或正在獲得某一高薪或某種不尋常的報酬。

• 電影電視工作者

獲得過美國或國際著名電影獎、電視獎及有關獎或者獲得此類獎提名的電影及電視工作者，即被視為具有傑出能力者。著名獎項主要包括奧斯卡金像獎(Academy Award)、格蘭密唱片獎(Grammy)、導演公會獎(Director's Guild Award)、戛納電影獎(Cannes)等。

未獲得此類獎項或其提名的人，需至少符合下列條件中3個：

1. 過去、現在或即將在一部著名或重要的影片或電視製作中擔任主角或主演；
2. 在重要評論或出版物中被公認的全國或國際著名人士；
3. 過去現在或即將在某個著名機構的製作中擔任主角或重要角色；
4. 參演過商業上或評論上的成功影片，如高票房收入或高收視率；
5. 被有關協會組織、評論界、政府機構或權威專家所公認表現突出；
6. 片酬大大高於行業平均水準。

• 工作需要具有傑出能力者

如果滿足下列條件之一：

1. 所擔任的工作或提供的服務必須同著名的大事件、生產製作或者活動有關；
2. 在影片等的製作中必須擔任主角、主演或重要角色；
3. 其工作必須同由名符其實的科研或教育機構所主辦的科研或教育項目、學術會議、大會、講座或展覽有實質性關係；
4. 其工作在實質上是為了實施某個需要具有傑出才能的行政主管、經理或高級技術人員來承擔的綜合性業務項目。