Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram

O1 Visas and EB1 Green Cards for Media and Entertainment Professionals

O1 Visas and EB1 Green Card Visas for Media and Entertainment Processional Make for the Ideal US Immigration Solution. So whether time is of the essence or you'd like to just arrive in the US with Green Card in Hand the Choice is Totally Yours!

The O1 visa and EB1 green card for Media and Entertainment professionals make for the ideal US Immigration solution. So, whether time is of the essence or you'd like to just arrive in the US with green card in hand - the choice is totally yours!

 – Welcome Page –
 – H-1B Visa: Graduate and Skilled Workers
 – Media and Entertainment Professionals
 – E2 Visa Investors Take the Plunge –
 – Comprehensive Immigration Reform May 2010 –

O1 Visas and EB1 Green Cards for Media and Entertainment Professionals

As O1 visa and EB1 green card specialists for the Media and Entertainment Industry we love hearing from you. Just the other day, my first consultation was with a media production company based in London looking to expand to Los Angeles. Then my next consultation was with an award winning artist from Australia, then an high-end software developer from Germany – and so my morning went on and I thought – ‘How cool is this?!’

If you are currently working in Media and Entertainment and would like to expand your career in the US, then we’d be delighted to work with you. Maybe you’ve not really had a lot of time to assess your options here.

Firstly, I’d like to talk about the EB1 green card visa as a possible option. The EB1 green card is often a very good fit indeed for top professionals who are very busy being successful in their home country, with no real rush to relocate, and when they do, they’d like to just come over with their green card and not have to worry at all about finding US sponsorship. I’ve worked with many clients this way and it’s quite amazing. Most aliens have to struggle for years navigating their way up the immigration ladder towards a green card and there are a certain class of aliens for whom getting a green card without any sponsorship at all is their first step. Are you an EB1 green card candidate?

O1 Visa - EB1 Green Cards - There are many people like you working away in your home country not realizing that you may well be eligible for a green card based on what you have already achieved in your career.

O1 Visa - EB1 Green Cards - There are many people like you working in your home country not realizing that you may well be eligible for a green card based on what you have already achieved in your career.

US Immigration have created a ten point EB1 green card checklist where anyone can do a self assessment as to their chances. This list is posted on our website, but I’ve posted it here for ease of reference. Basically, if you can satisfy 3 categories from the 10 point checklist you may have a good chance of getting your green card. Obviously a lot of work would be required to document your achievements in such forensic detail so as to persuade an immigration official that you are worthy of being granted something that hundreds of thousands of people struggle towards for years – getting a green card.

Before I go into the EB1 green card checklist, I would like to add that if you have been presented with any kind of prestigious national or international award then you may even be spared the checklist. The award would have to be major though, there are many industry awards in Media that are not well known outside the trade, but are equivalent to many of the biggest awards in film and TV, such the MediaWeek Awards, the FAB Awards or the PPA Awards and others like these. So, if you have won a major award in your career, you may be entitled to a green card. Remember, many of these awards would be unknown to some immigration officers reviewing these cases, so we have to do extensive documentation compilation to showcase the magnitude of the award and the significance of you winning it.

i) Documentation of the alien’s receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor;

(ii)Documentation of the alien’s membership in associations in the field for which classification is sought, which require outstanding achievements of their members, as judge by recognized national or international experts in their disciplines or fields;

(iii) Published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media, relating the alien’s work in the field for which classification is sought. Such evidence shall include the title, date, and author of the material, and any necessary translation;

(iv) Evidence of the alien’s participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of work of others in the same or an allied field of specialization for which classification is sought;

(v) Evidence of the alien’s original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field;

(vi) Evidence of the alien’s authorship of scholarly articles in the field, in professional or major trade publications or other major media;

(vii) Evidence of the display of the alien’s work in the field at artistic exhibitions or showcases;

(viii) Evidence that the alien has performed in a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation;

(ix)Evidence that the alien has commanded a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, in relation to others in the field; or

(x) Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts, as shown by box office receipts or record, cassette, compact disk, or video sales.

O1 Visas: There are many highly accomplished musicians who have won a variety of awards and be recognized nationally for their achievements. I’m very much looking forward to hearing from you and learning about your achievements.

O1 Visas: There are many highly accomplished musicians who have won a variety of awards and are recognized nationally for their achievements. I’m very much looking forward to hearing from you and learning about your achievements.

If you were successful in identifying at least three items from the list then- congratulations – you just might have a case. If you were able to find two, but struggled to find a third, then do not be discouraged. I have personally worked many EB1 green card cases on two strong points and while their evidence was coming in they were working on getting a third. As soon as we had enough for the third we completed the case and filed with US Immigration. The vast majority of our EB1 green card Media and Entertainment cases are approved. It’s not easy and there is a lot of work involved but we get the job done.

O1 Visa Option – Media and Entertainment

The O1 visa is an excellent visa option because it can be obtained in a matter of a few weeks to a couple of months from start to finish. Its purpose is to enable people due in the US for an immediate project to relocate quickly. Many O1 visa candidates often make excellent EB1 green card candidates and I spend a lot of my time working on O1 visa to EB1 green card cases.  Like the EB1 green card, O1 visas depend on our client’s ability to show themselves as being at or near the top of their profession according to an O1 visa checklist.

If you can review this checklist and identify three categories you could potentially satisfy from a list of seven then you may make an excellent O1 visa candidate. However, before you get too excited –  unlike EB1 green card candidates, O1 visa candidates must have a job offer on the table waiting for them. This means we have to work with a US employer / sponsor who can confirm the precise nature of the job on offer.

1. Documentation of the alien’s receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor;

2. Documentation of the alien’s membership in associations in the field for which classification is sought, which require outstanding achievements of their members, as judged by recognized national or international experts in their disciplines or fields; [By invitation only membership]

3. Published material in professional or major trade publications or major media about the alien, relating to the alien’s work in the field for which classification is sought, which shall include the title, date, and author of such published material, and any necessary translation;

4. Evidence of the alien’s participation on a panel, or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or in an allied field of specialization for which classification is sought;

5. Evidence of the alien’s original scientific, scholarly or business-related contributions of major significance in the field;

6. Evidence of the alien’s authorship of scholarly articles in the field, in professional journals or other major media;

7. Evidence that the alien has been employed in a critical or essential capacity for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation;

8. Evidence that the alien has commanded and now commands a high salary or other remuneration for services, evidenced by contracts or other reliable evidence.

If you feel confident that you might have a shot at qualifying for an O1 visa please get in touch asap. Time is often of the essence in these cases so the sooner we know about your opportunity the better.

Just the other day I had a great conversation with a Marketing Practitioner and I was fascinated about the number of national and internationally recognized awards that support this industry.

Just the other day I had a great conversation with a Marketing Practitioner and I was fascinated about the number of national and internationally recognized awards that support this industry.

EB1 green cards and O1 visas are the future of Media and Entertainment based US Immigration. We’ve worked with a lot of people who frankly did not realize they had an O1 visa or EB1 green card in them. We’ve had clients who have been told by other immigration lawyers they’d have no chance, only to come to us and find out that not only did they have a great chance, we actually got them their visas and they’re now doing great, and living their American dream. Moreover, they are telling their friends and we’re getting that business too. We don’t work magic here, we work cases. If a client has a chance at an O1 visa or EB1 green card, we’ll polish their profile into a winning case. We’ll also be very honest and upfront and tell the client the truth. If need be, we’ll tell them precisely where they come up short and then work closely with them over the ensuing months until they have enough to make a great case.

Get in touch soon, I’d love to heard from you.

By Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ.

Welcome Page –
H-1B Visa: Graduate and Skilled Workers
Media and Entertainment Professionals
 E2 Visa Investors Take the Plunge –
 Comprehensive Immigration Reform May 2010 –

By Chris M. Ingram, LL.M., ESQ.
Attorney at Law

Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram

US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram
Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ – Immigration Attorney
Admitted in New York.
Practice Specializing in US Immigration Law
520 Broadway, Suite 350,
Santa Monica,
California 90401
Tel: 310 496 4292

Everyday the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram provides a comprehensive range of US Immigration expertise. We also provide a free consultation for our prospective clients. 

  

General Location:  Santa Monica, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Serving all 50 States
Copyright 2010

 

Please note that nothing contained in this website or link therefrom shall be regarded as providing legal advice. Please contact us directly for legal advice specific to your situation. Thank You.