The O-1A is a nonimmigrant visa for the Individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (not including the arts, motion pictures or television industry)

To qualify for an O-1 visa, you must showcase extraordinary ability characterized by sustained national or international acclaim, or a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television industry. Your temporary visit to the United States should be for the purpose of continuing work in the field of extraordinary ability.

In the fields of science, education, business, or athletics, extraordinary ability denotes a level of expertise that positions you among the small percentage who have arisen to the very top of the field. For comprehensive information on how USCIS assesses evidence to determine O-1A eligibility, including specific examples and considerations, especially relevant for those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The supporting documentation for an O-1A petition should encompass evidence demonstrating that the beneficiary has either received a major internationally recognized award (such as the Nobel Prize) or a combination of at least three of the following forms of evidence:

1. Documentation illustrating the beneficiary’s receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the relevant field.
2. Documentation establishing the beneficiary’s membership in associations pertaining to the field, requiring outstanding achievements, as judged by recognized national or international experts in the discipline or field.
3. Published material in professional or major trade publications or major media about the beneficiary’s work, including the title, date, and author of such material, along with any necessary translations.
4. Evidence of the beneficiary’s participation on a panel or individual judging of others’ work in the same or allied field of specialization.
5. Evidence of the beneficiary’s original and significant contributions in the field of science, scholarship, or business.
6. Evidence of the beneficiary’s authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major media.
7. Evidence of employment in a critical or essential capacity for organizations and establishments with a distinguished reputation.
8. Evidence of a high salary or the expectation of commanding a high salary or other remuneration for services, substantiated by contracts or other reliable evidence.

Duration: The maximum duration for your initial stay is three years.
Family Members: If your spouse and children under the age of 21 will accompanying you or join you later (called “following to join”), they may be eligible to apply for an O-3 nonimmigrant visa, that will be subject to the same period of admission and limitations as you. They may not work in the United States under this classification, but they may participate in full-time or part-time study on an O-3 visa.