O1 Visa Sponsorship question

[sangreer 0]

Hello everyone at VJ,

I hope someone will be able to give me some advice.

I want to apply for an O1 (extraordinary abilities) visa. I want to work in the entertainment industry, I have got all my information ready to go except for sponsorship. I need to be sponsored by an agent but I am finding it difficult for an agent to go through with the sponsorship. There is a production company that wants to go ahead and sponsor me. If I had to get sponsored by the production company would that production company be allowed to subcontract me out to other production companies, if I wanted to do work elsewhere?

I know that if I had to get sponsored by an agent then I would be able to work for anyone but I can't find a reputable agent willing to sponsor me.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Patrick

[jan22 3,056]

Not to be rude, but if you can't find an agent willing to sponsor you, how are you planning to meet the "extraordinary ability" or "internationally known" aspects of the O-1 requirements? Agents go where the money is...doesn't sound like they think you'll "make it" in the US.

[Boiler 45,908]

Would not your local agent have contacts in the industry to sort this out?

[HFM181818 750]

Someone who meets the O1 standards would not be having difficulties teaming up with a reputable agent....one must be in the top 5% or so in one's field...for the entertainment industry, that would be national and possibly some international recognition....attending a concert or watching a movie would not exactly meet the requirements.....in fact, a lot of bona fide O1 candidates in the entertainment industry would have agents looking for them, not the reverse.

[sangreer 0]

Tough crowd

[Boiler 45,908]

Confusing questions.

[sangreer 0]

I apologize for that, I was just trying to find out if being sponsored by a production company would there be a way for me to be sub contracted out to another company by my sponsor.

[Boiler 45,908]

I have seen a few people do O1's but they had very solid cases. But even then it is an awful lot of paperwork.

My assumption would be that the proper answer is maybe.

Usually people in these situations have Agents, Lawyers etc who handle these things, I have no idea if O1 is even applicable in your case or if there are no different better options, my assumption is that you do not either, why would you?

[HeatherCGY 0]

My guess would be unless you are already recognized globally it would be a difficult visa to process. Do you have any outstanding recognition already?

To qualify for an O-1 visa in the motion picture or television industry, the beneficiary must demonstrate extraordinary achievement evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition significantly above that ordinarily encountered to the extent the person is recognized as outstanding, notable or leading in the motion picture and/or television field.

[HFM181818 750]

Qualifying for an O-1 visa is NOT as simple as having some ethically challenged immigration attorney finding some out-of-work 'consultant' in your field writing some paid-for letter attesting to your being 'outstanding' in your field....sorry....you must have really accomplished one or more things that have received recognition and/or acclaim from your peers, not from some for-hire consultant, who, for a few hundred dollars, would write anything requested of him....have you been in any US made movies? A TV Series? Have you watched a movie? Have you watch TV?

A provable answer to the first two questions would be worthwhile....but any answer to the last two are meaningless....

[Boiler 45,908]

Your accomplishments do not need to be US based. And it is not as exclusive a category as many people seem to think.