Profile

• Field: Illustration / Visual Art

• Status at the time: OPT, full-time employed

• Sponsorship: Employer-sponsored O-1

• Preparation timeline: ~12 months

Challenge
The artist needed to transition from OPT to O-1 before OPT expiration, while strengthening their artistic profile beyond a commercial employment context.

Our Strategy
We focused on building a parallel independent artistic profile alongside their employment:

• Curated 1 solo exhibition to establish independent artistic merit

• Organized 2 group exhibitions to demonstrate ongoing peer recognition

• Secured art-focused media coverage contextualizing the work beyond commercial illustration

• Structured recommendation letters from:

  • Curator / exhibition organizer

  • Industry professionals familiar with the artist’s practice

Legal Pathway

• Filing handled through the employer’s immigration attorney

• We provided full background packaging, exhibition documentation, media materials, and narrative alignment for the legal team

Outcome

• Filed under regular processing

• Approved approximately 2 months after submission, before OPT expiration

Key Takeaway
A company-sponsored O-1 is significantly strengthened when the artist demonstrates independent artistic recognition beyond their job role.

Profile

• Field: AR / VR / New Media Art

• Status at the time: Independent artist

• Sponsorship: Agent-based O-1 (through agency representation)

• Preparation timeline: 7 months

Challenge
The artist worked across technology and art, requiring a clear articulation of artistic authorship rather than technical contribution.

Our Strategy
We emphasized authorship, curatorial framing, and public visibility:

• Produced 1 curated solo exhibition highlighting conceptual and technical originality

• Amplified existing independent projects into a cohesive O-1 narrative

• Secured media coverage focusing on artistic innovation rather than technology alone

• Consolidated expert recommendation letters addressing:

  • Original contribution to the field

  • Peer recognition within new media art

Legal Pathway

• O-1 filed through our agency model

• Artist opted for Premium Processing

Outcome

• Approved within two weeks

• Decision issued on the second business day after filing

• One of the fastest approvals among our O-1 cases

Key Takeaway
When artistic authorship is clearly defined, new media and AR/VR practices can be highly competitive O-1 cases, even under accelerated timelines.

Profile

• Field: Fashion Design

• Status at the time: Independent fashion designer

• Sponsorship & filing: Handled by the artist’s own immigration attorney

• Our role: Professional background development only

• Preparation timeline: ~12 months

Challenge
Fashion-related O-1 cases often face higher scrutiny due to the overlap between commercial work and artistic practice.
The key challenge was to clearly establish the artist’s creative authorship and artistic distinction, rather than positioning the work solely within a commercial or brand-driven context.

Our Strategy (Background Development)
We focused exclusively on strengthening the artist’s O-1–relevant professional profile, without participating in the legal filing process:

• Curated 1 solo exhibition / solo presentation, emphasizing conceptual depth and design language

• Supported participation in a runway show, framed as an artistic and cultural platform rather than a commercial showcase

• Arranged group exhibition participation to demonstrate peer recognition and curatorial selection

• Facilitated media coverage addressing:

  • Design philosophy

  • Artistic positioning within contemporary fashion and design discourse

• Assisted in structuring recommendation materials, including:

  • Curatorial endorsements

  • Industry expert references

  • Independent third-party perspectives

Legal Pathway

• All legal evaluation, strategy, and filing were handled independently by the artist’s immigration attorney

• Our team provided background materials only, aligned with O-1 evidentiary standards

Outcome

• Filed under regular processing

• Approved without RFE

• Decision issued within the standard review timeline

Key Takeaway
A well-structured artistic background—when developed early and coherently—can significantly reduce risk in fashion-related O-1 cases, even when legal filing is handled independently.