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Who should write reference letters for my O1B visa
April Perez • March 16, 2023
If you are planning on filing an O1B visa
based on your extraordinary ability, you may need to provide some reference letters as part of the evidence for your application.
You can use letters for various requirements.
One specific requirement for the O1B that you will definitely need letters for is the requirement: Evidence the beneficiary has received significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies, or other recognized experts in the field in which the alien is engaged.
Such testimonials must be in a form which clearly indicates the author’s authority, expertise, and knowledge of the alien’s achievement. The letters should come from individuals who work within the same field and explain their own background and accomplishments within that field. The individual should also be familiar with the applicant’s work and be able to attest to that person’s accomplishments within the specified field. Letters from individuals without experience within the same field as the applicant will not necessarily be helpful in providing that the applicant has an extraordinary ability within a specified field.
Another requirement that may also use letters as evidence is the requirement: Evidence beneficiary has performed and will perform in a lead, starring or critical role for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation evidenced by articles in newspapers, trade journals, publication or testimonials.
The letter writers for this requirement should be individuals who are in a high-ranking position within the organization or establishment that the applicant worked for and they should be able to attest to their own background, and title, as well as the applicant’s work and the impact it had on the organization or establishment as a whole. In addition to the letters, you should also provide evidence to prove that the organization is distinguished. This can include articles about the organization and the applicant’s work for the organization, or articles discussing the organization’s distinction.
These are just some of the requirements for the O1B visa that reference letters may be used for. Meeting these two requirements alone is not enough to qualify for the visa.
If you believe you may qualify for any of these options, you should contact our office.
This blog is not intended to be legal advice and nothing here should be construed as establishing an attorney client relationship. Please schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney before acting on any information read here.
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When applying for an O-1 visa USCIS requires that a written advisory opinion from a peer group (including labor organizations) or a person with expertise in the beneficiary’s area of ability be provided as part of the application.
If you are in the U.S. and you decide to change your status from your current visa to an O visa you must file, the proper forms and all the evidence for the requirements and the application along with the fees.
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