O-2 Visa
(Nonimmigrant Visa for aliens with critical skills and experience)

This section provides all about O2 visa, which is a temporary visa issued to individuals accompanying an O-1 alien to assist in a specific event or performance.

Definition of O-2 Visa:

O-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa and is issued to individuals who accompany and assist O-1 visa holders in the fields of athletics, entertainment, motion picture and television industry. This status is not available to the supporting personnel in science, business or education.

Normally, O-2 visa holders are allowed to stay in the U.S. for a period of three years or for the time necessary to assist the O-1 visa holder to accomplish the event or activity. You are also allowed to stay in the U.S. for a period of ten days after the validity period ends. You are permitted to extend the validity of O2 visa (extension of stay is possible in increments of up to 1 year.)

Eligibility Requirements:

The support personnel of O1 visa holder is eligible to apply for O-2 visa. To be eligible for O-2 status,

• the applicant must prove that he/she is an integral part of the actual performance of the O-1 principal;
• the applicant must possess critical skills and experience that cannot be performed by other individuals;
• the petitioners belonging to television industry and motion pictures should have a long-standing working relationship with the O-1 visa holder;
• the petitioner may not work separate and apart from the O-1 extraordinary artist to whom you provide a support; and
• the applicant may not accompany O-1 extraordinary workers in the fields of science, business, or education.

Applying for O2 work visa:

To apply for O-2 visa, you have to file the form DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application. The visa must be petitioned by a U.S. employer, U.S. agent or foreign employer through a U.S. agent. The application form should be filed in at least six months before you plan to begin work. Along with the form, the applicant should submit certain supporting documents.

O-2 Visa Documents:

• One recent photograph (50mm x 50mm) of each applicant, with the entire face visible;
• a valid passport;
• an agreement between applicant and the O-1 visa holder that proves your professional relationship;
• an official agreement between the principal O-1visa holder and yourself, detailing the terms and conditions of services;
• proof that you are able to assist the O-1 visa holder; and
• proof of a prior professional relationship with the principal O-1 visa holder.

Advantages of O2 visa:

With O-2 work visa,

• You can travel freely in and out of the U.S. and can engage in work activities;
• You can apply for O-3 visas for accompanying spouse and dependent children. O-3 visa holders may join the principal O-2 visa holder at any time and are allowed to enter and leave the United States as unlimited number of times during the validity of the visa;
• You may engage in part-time study while maintaining O-2 work visa.

Limitations of O-2 support visa:

In order to qualify for O-2 visa, you have to

• prove that you plays a major role in performances or events;
• prove that your work in the U.S. is temporary;
• prove that you work only with the O-1 principal to whom you provide support;
• prove that you maintain a foreign residence that you do not intend to abandon.

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