O-1 Visas for Arts, Entertainment, Business, Science and Sports
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011Our talented team at Immigration Solutions that handles our Extraordinary Ability Arts, Entertainment and Sports visa practice for the USA, understands the unique time lines and needs associated when working with people of accomplishment. We work hand in hand with the principal applicant, their representatives and the employer/sponsor to develop and design compelling and convincing casework based upon each client’s extraordinary skills and abilities in their particular field of endeavor.
There are O-1 visas for extraordinary ability in the arts which include any field of creative activity or endeavor such as, but not limited to, fine arts, visual arts, culinary arts, and performing arts; those engaged in the field of arts include not only the principal creators and performers but other essential persons such as, but not limited to, directors, set designers, lighting designers, sound designers, choreographers, conductors, composers, musicians, orchestrators, coaches, arrangers, musical supervisors, costume designers, makeup artists, flight masters, stage technicians, animal trainers, etc.
Extraordinary achievement with respect to motion picture and television productions, as commonly defined in the industry, means 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.
Extraordinary ability with respect to those in the sciences, education, business or athletics requires that applicants demonstrate that they possess a level of expertise indicating that the person is one of a small percentage who has risen to the top of the field of endeavor.
It’s important to understand the various options available to artists seeking sponsorship (a US employer), which is not necessarily required for this visa classification. An itinerary of upcoming events can often times be used in lieu of a direct employer-employee arrangement. A US-based agent can file a petition for artists and entertainers who are considered ‘self-employed’ and are represented by agents who manage and arrange employment on their behalf for several project employers. Another workable situation is where a foreign employer authorizes an agent to act on its behalf.
A US agent can assume the role of the actual employer of the artist; can be the representative of both the artist and the employer(s); or, a person or entity authorized by the employer to act on its behalf as its agent.
Please contact us by email at info@immigrationsolution.net, and let us know your thoughts and ideas. We will send you our checklists and together assess your eligibility for either the O-1 visa or the EB-1 green-card (permanent residence).