What Is The Difference Between An O-1 Visa And An Eb-1a?

By Author: Elektra B. Yao
Total Articles: 14
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If you are at the top of your field, you have been featured in publications and national or international newspapers or a member of one of the most prestigious professional organizations. If you possess these characteristics, you are exceptional in your field. With your credentials, what is the best visa for you to travel to the United States?

O-1 Visa VS. EB-1A Visa

The O-1 Visa and the EB-1A Visa will allow you to live and work in the United States, both visas will need you to demonstrate that you are extraordinary and widely recognized in your industry. However, the length of time an immigrant is permitted to remain in the United States is the primary distinction between the two visas. The O-1 visa only allows temporary stay, whereas the EB-1A visa grants permanent residency. EB-1A is a self-petition visa, which indicates that you do not require a job offer as evidence of future employment. Nevertheless, this does not prevent an employer from petitioning on your behalf. While the O-1 Visa is a work visa, you must demonstrate future employment in the United States. Moreover, the standards for an EB-1A ...
... visa are significantly more stringent than those for an O-1 visa; consequently, O-1 visa holders will not be automatically approved for an EB-1A, as the two visas have distinct acceptance criteria.

Transition From O-1 Visa to EB-1A
Transferring from an O-1 visa to an EB-1A visa is highly desirable since it is one of the most suitable visa transitions. Both visas are designed for individuals with extraordinary abilities and industry recognition. Please note that there is no separate application form for the transfer from O-1 to EB-1A. However, you may use all the work and projects you completed while on an O-1 visa in the United States as evidence. This evidence will demonstrate to USCIS officials that you have contributed to highly influential projects in your profession, which is of great value.

Filing Process
Review the instructions for Form I-140, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker;
Complete and sign Form I-140;
Pay the filing fee, if applicable; and
Provide all required evidence and supporting documentation.
You may file Form I-140 for yourself if you apply for an EB-1 visa based on extraordinary ability. You may be eligible to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

Processing Time
It is recommended that you submit your EB-1A application prior to the expiration of your O-1 visa. The procedure can take up to one year, depending on the applicant's capacity to correctly submit documents, the USCIS adjudication time, and whether the applicant uses premium processing. Typically, the processing period ranges from six to eight months.

Elektra Yao, also known at The Artist Visa Lawyer ®, has successfully represented record labels, modeling agencies, production companies, individual artists, and creatives. She is passionate about the arts, specifically the intersection of entertainment and immigration.

Elektra B. Yao, Esq. is the founder and principal attorney at Yao Law Group law firm dedicated to international and domestic artists. Elektra earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, one of the top art schools in the nation. During her undergraduate university career, Elektra wrote, directed, and produced two documentaries (N*gga What? and The Choking Game) which were screened in Texas and New York City. During college, she worked for MTV, the Style Network, and other distinguished production companies in the Film and TV industry. Elektra is a very active attorney and is a member of The American Immigration Lawyers Association, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyer Association, and The New York City Bar Association, where is she is a member of several committees. As a multicultural attorney, with immigrant parents from Italy and Cote D’Ivoire, Elektra is fully fluent in French, Italian, and Spanish. She has lived, studied, and worked internationally in the US, the EU, and Africa. Not only does she understand the language her clients speak, she understands the cultural and artistic landscape of where they come from. Elektra has successfully represented record labels, modeling agencies, production companies, individual artists, and creatives. Mission Elektra’s mission is to serve artists and creative professionals by helping them secure artists visas, cement their brands, and monetize their artistry.