Alien of extraordinary ability is an alien classification by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The United States may grant a priority visa to an alien who is able to demonstrate "extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics", or through some other extraordinary career achievements.
It is known colloquially as a "genius visa" or "artists' visa" (many of the recipients are artists).
It can be granted on non-immigrant or immigrant basis.
The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for an alien who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.
Eligibility Criteria for O-1A visa should include an evidence that the beneficiary has received a major award, such as a Nobel Prize, or evidence of at least three of the following:
Receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awardsMembership in associations in the field for which classification is sought which require outstanding achievementsPublished material in professional or major trade publications, newspapers or other major mediaOriginal scientific, scholarly, or business-related contributions of major significance in the fieldAuthorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major mediaA high salary or other remuneration for services as evidenced by contractsParticipation on a panel, or individually, as a judge of the work of othersEmployment in a critical or essential capacity for organizations and establishments, that have a distinguished reputation.An extraordinary ability may be eligible for an employment-based, first-preference EB-1 immigrant visa. An alien must be able to demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim. Achievements must be recognized through extensive documentation. No offer of employment is required.
An alien must meet 3 of 10 criteria below, or provide evidence of a one-time achievement (i.e., Pulitzer, Oscar, Olympic Medal)
Must meet three out of the ten listed criteria below to prove extraordinary ability in the field:
Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellenceEvidence of membership in associations in the field, which demand outstanding achievement of their membersEvidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major mediaEvidence of judging the work of others, either individually or on a panelEvidence of original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the fieldEvidence of authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major mediaEvidence that work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcasesEvidence of performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizationsEvidence that of high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the fieldEvidence of commercial successes in the performing artsCourtney ActAvtar Nordine Zoureg, 86, 88 Mr. Universe Bodybuilding Champion (French Algerian)Scott Allison, co-founder of Teamly, a software companyInon Barnatan, an Israeli concert pianistShera BechardJustin BieberOlavo de Carvalho, a Brazilian journalist and philosopher.Clive CrookGavin FreeKemal Gekic, a Croatian concert pianistJennifer Gould Keil, a Canadian authorLuiz André Lobo, A Brazilian Broadcast JournalistToni KukočOscar Oiwa, a Brazilian visual artistJohn LennonBettina MayEwan Morgan, Noted expert and Ambassador for Scotch and American Whisk(e)y.Piers MorganDirk NowitzkiGary NumanYoko OnoProf. Osmond Ifeanyi Onyeka, of Nigeria, was given the O1A status in the US, 2008-2011. ref: EAC 08-017-52683.PeléMarcelo AnielloPsyBertrand Tessa (researcher)Taron Egerton