US O-1
O-1 is a temporary (nonimmigrant) US category for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement. It is a separate US category, not a US version of UK Global Talent.
GTJ is not an official service. This page is general information written from the official pages listed below. It does not say whether you qualify, and it does not estimate anyone’s chances. The official page is always the authority; read the current version before you rely on anything.
Who files
The USCIS page says a US employer, a US agent, or a foreign employer through a US agent files the petition on the person’s behalf. GTJ therefore does not offer an O-1 self-petition workspace; O-1 preparation in GTJ is material for whoever files.
The kinds GTJ distinguishes
- O-1A — Extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business or athletics. USCIS wording:
extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics
- O-1B — Extraordinary ability in the arts. USCIS wording:
Extraordinary ability in the field of arts means distinction.
- O-1B — Extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television. USCIS wording:
extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry
What this page does not establish
- Splitting O-1B into “arts” and “motion picture or television” is GTJ’s own labelling. The USCIS page draws the distinction in its text but gives neither branch its own identifier.
- The page displays “Last Reviewed/Updated” as 3 March 2023. That is about three and a half years old, while the other USCIS pages GTJ checked show 2025 or 2026 dates. GTJ read the page as it was served; whether its content is current is not something GTJ can establish.
- The US Department of State’s visa pages (travel.state.gov) refused GTJ’s automated check, so nothing here is cross-checked against them. Everything on this page rests on the USCIS page alone.
- An approved petition, a visa issued by a consulate, admission at the border and a change of status are separate steps. This page does not describe them.
- No fees, forms editions or processing times are given here.
Official sources
- USCIS · O-1 Visa: Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/o-1-visa-individuals-with-extraordinary-ability-or-achievement
Editorial status
Written by the GTJ team from the official pages listed on this page, using route record version 2026-09-12.3. It has not been reviewed by a lawyer or a regulated immigration adviser.