Obtaining a US work visa can be a complex and daunting process. To obtain an O-1, for example, petitioners/sponsors must gather evidence to establish that the foreign national they wish to employ or represent is extraordinary. This evidence may include press citations, critical reviews, samples of the foreign national’s work, contracts, endorsements, testimonials, and evidence of high salary, among other items. So it’s understandable that after all the evidence is obtained and the O-1 petition is prepared and signed, many petitioners and their foreign national beneficiaries are surprised to find out that before their cases can be filed with US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), the petitioner/sponsor needs to obtain a “consultation letter” from a relevant labor organization or peer group.
Read moreO-1 Visas for Chefs: A Recipe
Many foreign nationals work in the US culinary industry. Of course, this is not surprising since American cuisine has long been influenced by culinary traditions from around the world. While there are a number of visa options that may be suitable for restaurant workers, in this post we are focusing on one of the most common visas available for highly talented chefs, bakers, and front of house staff. That’s the O-1B, for artists of extraordinary ability. (Yes, chefs are artists too!) We’ve previously discussed the O-1 generally and specifically for the TV and film industry, but for those culinary talents considering visa options for the US, we have an O-1 recipe for you! (Okay, this is a little silly, but we’re always looking for new ways to explain complex visas processes.)
Read moreO Visas for the Film and Television Industry: 10 Common Questions (and Answers)
So you’re a German production company looking to shoot a feature film in the United States, or an Australian actor who has been hired for a recurring role in an American television series. You’ve done a little research, possibly read our previous post on special considerations for film and television visas or common O-1 misconceptions, and now you realize that you and/or your production team are in need of O visas. (Almost any foreign national working on commercial or entertainment film or television projects in the US, for any length of time, will need an O-1 or O-2 visa.)
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