Wow, this was an awesome AMA. Peter it is super generous of you to share your expertise in a very opaque and confusing area of the law. On the topic of O-1 and

Wow, this was an awesome AMA. Peter it is super generous of you to share your expertise in a very opaque and confusing area of the law. On the topic of O-1 and EB-1A extraordinary ability, there IS a misconception that this category is too challenging for most people to consider as a visa option. In fact, for entrepreneurial folks who are resourceful and achievement-oriented, "extraordinary ability" can be a great choice. The critical factors are (1) understanding what the adjudicator's looking for, (2) supplying organized, well-presented, high-quality evidence in 3 or more of the specific categories, and (3) creating an interesting, easy-to-understand "success narrative" that guides the adjudicator through your evidence. These quotes from Peter in the threads below sum it up nicely. "For those who have not won major awards, it's really a mix of media coverage, publications, awards, good work, etc.... It's very fact-specific and in the end it's a feeling that someone is very bright and doing interesting work.... Also really that the product being developed is interesting and grabs the attention of the adjudicator." "It's really conveying - supported by evidence - what is really interesting and significant about the work and achievements of the applicant and conveying the applicant's passion. And most talented founders who are truly passionate about what they are doing have a good faith basis for proceeding with an O1." * * * I'm also an immigration attorney (licensed, non-practicing) with a specialty in extraordinary ability cases. If it's OK with Peter and the mods, I'd be happy to continue answering questions on topics relating to O-1 and EB-1A. I'm also in the process of building a DIY course on compiling your own O-1 evidence package. I'm actively seeking beta testers to tell me their stories, provide feedback on the materials, and help me create a kick-ass program that really helps people. The course wouldn't be a substitute for hiring a good lawyer (which I highly recommend). I envision it more as a resource you could use to understand the O-1 requirements thoroughly, and begin compiling a great evidence portfolio right away. Does this sound like a thing that would be useful to people? Please contact me (info in profile) if you have comments or would like to help me beta test. Thanks so much. I'll also reply to some existing questions below. IAAL, but standard disclaimer: This isn't legal advice, and it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship.