O-1A · O-1B · Evidence Gap Analysis

O-1 Extraordinary Ability Assessment
Criteria by Criteria. No Guesswork.

A scored evaluation of every USCIS criterion you can claim, with evidence gaps identified and a petition strategy built around your actual profile.

287
Reports Generated
8
Criteria Evaluated (O-1A)
~5 min
Delivery Time
$49
One-Time
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Classification

O-1A vs. O-1B: The Assessment Handles Both

O-1 covers two distinct visa categories with different criteria sets. The right classification depends entirely on your field — and getting it wrong at the outset wastes time and weakens the petition. The assessment routes you correctly from the start.

O-1A

Sciences, Education, Business & Athletics

Evaluated against 8 USCIS criteria. Must meet at least 3, or demonstrate a one-time achievement of major significance. Typical applicants: researchers, engineers, executives, athletes, founders.

O-1B

Arts, Motion Picture & Television

Evaluated against 6 USCIS criteria. Must meet at least 3. Typical applicants: directors, performers, writers, cinematographers, creative directors, musicians.

O-1A

8 Criteria Evaluated

🏆

Major Awards or Prizes

🏛️

Membership in Exclusive Associations

📰

Press Coverage in Major Media

⚖️

Judging Others' Work

📄

Original Contributions (Publications)

🌟

Critical Role at Distinguished Organization

💰

High Salary vs. Peers

🎨

Commercial Success (Arts)

O-1B

6 Criteria Evaluated

🎬

Leading or Critical Role in Distinguished Productions

🏅

National or International Awards

📺

Published Material About You

💵

High Remuneration

🎤

Critical Role in Distinguished Organizations

🎭

Commercial or Critically Acclaimed Success

Sample Output

What the Assessment Actually Looks Like

This is a representative preview of an O-1A assessment. Your report is generated specifically for your evidence profile, field, and career stage. Names and details below are illustrative; the format and analysis depth are real.

O-1 Extraordinary Ability Assessment · USVisaStack Sample
Section 1 — Criteria Evaluation (O-1A)
MEETS
Publications
4 peer-reviewed papers in IEEE-indexed journals. Citation count sufficient for original contribution standard.
MEETS
Judging
3 documented instances of peer review for ACM conference proceedings. Strong for this criterion.
PARTIAL
Critical Role
Senior Engineer title at Series B startup — needs evidence of "distinguished" organization status (funding, press, market position).
PARTIAL
High Salary
$195K total comp is above median but below top 10% for your MSA. Strengthen with peer salary survey data + equity valuation.
WEAK
Press Coverage
No major media coverage identified. Technical blog posts do not qualify. Consider whether any product launches received coverage.
Section 2 — Evidence Gap Analysis
HIGH PRIORITY
Critical Role documentation: Obtain employer letter on company letterhead describing your role as essential to the organization's core mission. Include company metrics (ARR, team size, funding) to establish "distinguished" status. USCIS accepts investment press releases and analyst coverage as supporting evidence.
HIGH PRIORITY
High Salary evidence: Pull BLS Occupational Employment Statistics for your SOC code and MSA. Document equity grant valuation via 409A appraisal or vesting schedule. Including total compensation in the comparison (not just base) often moves borderline cases above the threshold.
OPTIONAL
Press Coverage: If any projects you led received product launch coverage (TechCrunch, VentureBeat, even niche trade press), those can potentially satisfy this criterion. Review your LinkedIn activity and prior employer's press archive.
Section 3 — Petition Strategy
✓ Lead with Publications and Judging criteria — both are strongly documented and unambiguous. These form your evidentiary foundation.
✓ Upgrade Critical Role before filing. A strong employer support letter + evidence of company distinction moves this from Partial to Meets. This gives you a comfortable 3-criterion minimum with margin.
✓ High Salary is a fourth criterion within reach. Adding it reduces RFE risk even after the 3-criterion threshold is met — more criteria = stronger overall case.
→ Overall assessment: Case is buildable. 2 criteria firmly established; 2 additional criteria achievable with targeted documentation. Recommend gathering evidence on Critical Role and High Salary before filing.
Sample only · Assessment above is illustrative · Your report reflects your actual evidence and career profile
Use Cases

Who Uses the O-1 Assessment

The O-1 is one of the most misunderstood visas in the US immigration system. Many qualified applicants assume they don't qualify because they haven't won a major award. Many unqualified applicants spend thousands on attorney fees before learning their case is weak. This assessment answers the question before you commit.

Common use cases:

Context

What the Same Analysis Costs Elsewhere

Option What You Get Cost
Immigration attorney initial consultation 1-hour verbal O-1 eligibility review $350–$700
Attorney O-1 case evaluation memo Written criteria analysis + strategy memo $1,000–$3,000
Full O-1 petition (attorney fees only) Petition preparation and filing $4,000–$8,000
USVisaStack O-1 Assessment Criteria scoring, gap analysis, petition strategy $49

This doesn't replace an attorney for filing. It tells you whether filing is worth pursuing — and what evidence to gather before you do.

Questions

Common Questions

What's included in the O-1 assessment? ▼
Criteria classification (O-1A or O-1B based on your field), scored evaluation of each USCIS criterion you can claim, evidence gap analysis identifying what documentation would strengthen borderline criteria, and a petition strategy with recommended evidence priorities.
What's the difference between O-1A and O-1B? ▼
O-1A is for extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, or athletics — requiring evidence across 8 possible criteria (minimum 3). O-1B is for extraordinary achievement in the arts, motion picture, or television industry — with 6 possible criteria (minimum 3). The assessment handles both and routes you to the correct criteria set.
Do I qualify for O-1 if I haven't won major awards? ▼
Yes. The O-1 standard does not require a Nobel Prize or Grammy. USCIS accepts meeting at least 3 of the criteria, which include publications, judging others' work, press coverage, critical role at a distinguished organization, and high salary. The assessment evaluates your evidence across all applicable criteria — not just the high-profile ones.
Is this legal advice? ▼
No. This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is an analytical tool to help you understand your eligibility profile. For legal guidance on your specific immigration matter, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
How does the evidence gap analysis work? ▼
Based on the evidence you describe, the analysis identifies which criteria you currently meet, which you could meet with additional documentation, and which are unlikely to apply. It then suggests the specific evidence types that would strengthen your borderline criteria — for example, documentation patterns USCIS has accepted for "critical role" or "high salary" determinations.
Can I use this to decide whether to hire an O-1 attorney? ▼
Yes — that's one of the most common use cases. The assessment tells you whether your evidence profile is strong enough to warrant pursuing O-1, which areas need work before filing, and what a petition strategy might look like. Many people use it to decide whether to invest in full attorney representation or to go into an attorney consultation already knowing their case profile.
How long until I receive the report? ▼
Your report is generated and emailed within minutes of completing payment.
Legal Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. USVisaStack is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. The analysis reflects patterns in USCIS adjudication data and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with a licensed immigration attorney.

Find Out If You Qualify — Before You Commit

Criteria-by-criteria assessment, evidence gap analysis, and petition strategy. Know exactly where you stand on O-1 eligibility.

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O-1A & O-1B handled All 8 criteria evaluated Evidence gap analysis Petition strategy included

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