On Jan. 21, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) issued new policy guidance that applies
to certain O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or
Achievement visas.
Overview
The new guidance, updated in the official USCIS Policy Manual,
clarifies the evaluation of an O-1 beneficiary's prospective
work within his or her area of proposed achievement or
extraordinary ability. The guidance further clarifies how USCIS
evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1A nonimmigrants,
particularly for individuals in science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) fields. The new guidance includes a table
discussing the types of evidence that will satisfy each of the
criteria for establishing that the beneficiary meets the standards
for the O-1A classification.
