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 awards
Membership in associations in the field for which classification is sought which require outstanding achievements
Published material in professional or major trade publications, newspapers or other major media
Original scientific, scholarly, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field
Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major media
A high salary or other remuneration for services as evidenced by contracts
Participation on a panel, or individually, as a judge of the work of others
Employment 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 excellence
Evidence of membership in associations in the field, which demand outstanding achievement of their members
Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Evidence of judging the work of others, either individually or on a panel
Evidence of original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field
Evidence of authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Evidence that work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Evidence of performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations
Evidence that of high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field
Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts
Courtney Act
Avtar Nordine Zoureg, 86, 88 Mr. Universe Bodybuilding Champion (French Algerian)
Scott Allison, co-founder of Teamly, a software company
Inon Barnatan, an Israeli concert pianist
Shera Bechard
Justin Bieber
Olavo de Carvalho, a Brazilian journalist and philosopher.
Clive Crook
Gavin Free
Kemal Gekic, a Croatian concert pianist
Jennifer Gould Keil, a Canadian author
Luiz André Lobo, A Brazilian Broadcast Journalist
Toni Kukoč
Oscar Oiwa, a Brazilian visual artist
John Lennon
Bettina May
Ewan Morgan, Noted expert and Ambassador for Scotch and American Whisk(e)y.
Piers Morgan
Dirk Nowitzki
Gary Numan
Yoko Ono
Prof. Osmond Ifeanyi Onyeka, of Nigeria, was given the O1A status in the US, 2008-2011. ref: EAC 08-017-52683.
Pelé
Marcelo Aniello
Psy
Bertrand Tessa (researcher)
Taron Egerton
