Visas for Those with Unique Skills or Achievements: O, P, or R Visas

Certain visas are available for people with unique skills or occupations to come to the U.S. on a temporary basis. Your Massachusetts immigration attorney can advise you about whether you may qualify for one of these specialized nonimmigrant visas. For example:

  • O-1A – For people with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (not including the arts, motion picture, or television industry).
  • O-1B – For people with extraordinary abilities in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry.
  • O-2 – For people who will accompany an O-1, artist or athlete, to assist in a specific event or performance. An O-2 worker must have critical skills and experience with the O-1 that cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker and that are necessary to the O-1’s successful performance.
  • O-3 – For the spouse or children of O-1s and O-2s.
  • P-1B – For people coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform as a member of an entertainment group that has been recognized internationally as outstanding in the discipline for a sustained and substantial period of time.
  • P-2 – For people coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform as an artist or entertainer, individually or as part of a group, who will perform under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the U.S. and an organization in a foreign country.
  • P-3 – For people coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform, teach, or coach as artists or entertainers, individually or as part of a group, under a program that is culturally unique.
  • R-1 – For people who are coming to the U.S. temporarily to be employed at least part time (average of at least 20 hours per week) by a non-profit religious organization in the U.S. (or an organization which is affiliated with the religious denomination in the U.S.) to work as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation.

The periods of stay and the ability of family members to work in the U.S. varies among these visas.

For advice and assistance with your specific immigration situation, contact Ionson Law, your Massachusetts immigration lawyers, at 781-674-2562.