What evidence is needed for an O-1 visa?

Evidence includes awards, media coverage, judging roles, publications, critical roles, high remuneration and expert opinion letters demonstrating extraordinary ability.

Do I need a US employer for an O-1 visa?

Yes, an O-1 requires a US employer or agent to sponsor the petition; self-petitioning is not permitted.

How long is the O-1 visa valid?

The O-1 is initially granted for up to 3 years, with 1-year extensions available as needed.

Extraordinary Ability Visas

O-1 Visa

A special visa route for professionals who can document extraordinary ability and achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics or media.

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What Is the O-1 Visa?

The O-1 visa allows individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in their field to work in the US within a specific job, project, event or professional activity.

Evidence such as awards, media coverage, judging roles, publications, critical roles, high-remuneration indicators and expert opinions is turned into a cohesive career narrative.

Trade-Based

An application route based on trade in goods, services or technology.

Renewable Structure

Periodic renewal may be considered as long as eligibility is maintained.

Family Included

Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included in the application.

Managerial/Key Role

A managerial, partner or essential-skill employee profile is important.

Benefits of the O-1 Visa

The O-1 visa offers a strong professional route based on career achievement, independent of classic investment or quota processes.

A well-structured file presents not only documents, but also the applicant’s standing in their field, their impact and their planned activity in the US.

Commercial Expansion

Commercial relationships in the US market can be structured.

Renewal Option

Periodic renewal can be planned as long as the requirements are maintained.

Family Coverage

Joint planning can be done for spouse and children.

Company Focus

Commercial reality is placed at the center of the application file.

O-1 Visa Requirements

An O-1 application must demonstrate the applicant’s extraordinary ability or achievement in their field through comprehensive documentation.

The application generally proceeds through a US employer or agent sponsorship; the activity plan, contracts, expert opinions and evidence categories are prepared together.

Treaty Country

The applicant and the business must demonstrate a qualifying treaty-country connection.

Substantial Trade

Commercial activity must be regular and of meaningful volume, not one-off.

Predominantly US-Türkiye

A significant portion of trade must be between the US and Türkiye.

Role Alignment

A managerial, supervisory or key-skill role must be clearly demonstrated.

O-1 Application Process

The process begins with a review of career history, awards, media records, project files, references and the planned activity in the US.

Evidence is then grouped into categories, expert opinions are obtained, and a strong file narrative demonstrating the applicant’s impact in their field is prepared.

Trade Analysis

Trade volume, direction and continuity are assessed.

Document Map

Company, invoice, contract and financial records are classified.

Application File

Forms and supporting narrative are prepared together.

Interview Preparation

The commercial model and application role are worked out in clear language.

How We Manage the Process

01.

Profile Assessment

We conduct a detailed situation analysis to determine the visa or investment route best suited to your background.

02.

File Preparation

Your entire official portfolio is prepared legally and convincingly in line with the current expectations of US authorities.

03.

Corporate Review

With no external outsourcing, we officially initiate all your legal processes under the direct control of our own corporate legal team.

04.

Operational Follow-up

Even after your entry into America, we remain by your side whenever you need — for company management, status maintenance or your investment.

Why Citil Law.

Tailored Strategy

We offer personalized solutions aligned with your goals.

Experienced Legal Team

We are by your side with our attorneys specialized in US immigration law.

Global Service

We serve through both our Istanbul and US offices.

Process Management

We manage and track the entire process from the first consultation to your visa approval.

Success Stories

"Our E-2 application process went far more smoothly than expected. We received professional support at every stage, from document preparation to the interview. We obtained our visa without issues in about 4 months."

Mehmet K.E-2 Visa

"For our O-1 application, we presented our documents and strategy far more systematically. At every stage we clearly understood which information was needed and why."

Ayse D.O-1 Visa

"Accurately reflecting our US business plan in the application file was critical for us. The Citil Law team prepared our file from both a legal and commercial perspective."

Burak S.O-1 Visa

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out which visa type I qualify for?

Your profile, goals, documents and US plan are evaluated together. After the preliminary analysis, a roadmap is clarified for O-1 or an alternative visa route.

How long does the visa application process take on average?

Timelines vary by file type, document readiness, the processing authority’s calendar and appointment/processing volume. Strategy, document collection and application preparation are planned on a per-profile basis.

Can my family members be included in my application?

Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included in the application. Work authorization options for the spouse and the status of family members are also assessed.

Which documents do I need to prepare?

Company documents, records showing trade volume, financial records, contracts, invoices, bank transactions and personal documents form the basis of the application file. The list is customized to your profile.

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