If I meet three of the eight O-1A criteria, will I be approved?
Not necessarily. Meeting at least three criteria is the initial evidentiary threshold, not a guarantee of approval. USCIS also considers the quality and totality of the evidence to determine whether you have demonstrated the level of extraordinary ability and sustained national or international acclaim required for O-1A status. A petition can therefore satisfy three criteria and still receive a request for evidence or be denied.
In our review of O-1A cases, two recurring weaknesses are achievements concentrated in an earlier period without sufficient evidence of continued recognition or influence, and accomplishments that reflect success in the field but do not meaningfully distinguish the applicant from others in it.
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Related questions
O-1A is for people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim. A petition may qualify through a major internationally recognized award — such as a Nobel Prize — or by satisfying at least three of the following eight regulatory criteria:
- Nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field
- Membership in associations that require outstanding achievements, as judged by recognized experts
- Published material about you in professional or trade publications or major media
- Participation as a judge of the work of others, individually or on a panel, in your field or a related field
- Original contributions of major significance to the field
- Authorship of scholarly articles in professional publications or major media
- A critical or essential capacity for an organization with a distinguished reputation
- A high salary or other significantly high remuneration for your services
Meeting three criteria is only the first step. USCIS must then determine whether the record as a whole demonstrates extraordinary ability and sustained acclaim. What USCIS does after you meet three criteria is a separate question — and often the more difficult one.
Yes. If you work concurrently for multiple employers, each employer generally must file a separate O-1 petition. Alternatively, a U.S. agent may file a petition covering work for multiple employers, supported by the required agreements and an itinerary describing the engagements, including the dates and locations of the work.
In either case, your O-1 employment must remain within the work authorized by the approved petition.
Independent experts and recognized figures in your field are generally stronger choices, particularly when they can speak to the significance and broader impact of your work.
Letters from employers, colleagues, clients, or collaborators can also be included, especially when they provide firsthand insight into your achievements, but they are strongest when supported by objective evidence.
| Letter writer | What it adds | What makes it strong |
|---|---|---|
| Independent experts and recognized figures in your field | Outside assessment of significance and broader impact | Genuine independence from you and your employer |
| Employers, colleagues, clients, collaborators | Firsthand insight into specific achievements | Objective evidence behind what the letter asserts |
A common cause is a record that establishes the team’s or company’s results without clearly showing the applicant’s own contribution. USCIS looks at what you personally contributed and the impact of your role, so listing project outcomes, company performance or team awards without showing how your work contributed to those results may not sufficiently demonstrate your individual ability.
See how your own record reads.
We research what is publicly findable about your work and read it against the O-1 and EB-1A criteria, with a source behind every finding. Two to four minutes, and no email to start.