The O-1A visa is a work visa that allows individuals with extraordinary abilities in business, education, science, and athletics to come to the U.S. One of the primary requirements for obtaining an O-1A visa is securing a job offer in the United States. To initiate the process, an applicant must receive a job offer from a U.S. employer and submit an application.
The general criterion for extraordinary abilities is recognition at a national or international level. This means the applicant must have received an award or been acknowledged for their contributions by a prestigious organization. Simply being a member of an organization that recognizes various contributions is not sufficient. Each O-1A application is evaluated individually, and achievements based on group success are not considered. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate their extraordinary knowledge or skills personally. This distinction sets the O-1A visa apart from other U.S. work visas, such as the H-1B visa, which only requires a sponsoring employer.
The job offer must be appropriate for demonstrating the applicant’s extraordinary abilities. For example, a successful businessperson cannot use a job offer from a café as part of their application. The position must align with the individual’s skills and expertise.
To qualify for the O-1A visa, applicants must meet stringent conditions: