Got the O1!
May 27th 2009, 10:47 pm
#1
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Got the O1!
No particular reason for this thread except to say USCIS finally capitulated and gave me the O1.
In the end it took 31 letters of reference from famous professors and CEOs, which was bloody hard work to organize, but I finally made it.
So the moral of the story is that a relatively young person (I'm 29) can go for the O1 if they have they can organize a convincing (large) pile of evidence (they don't necessarily need a Nobel prize or a big salary).
Looks like a weekend of partying could be on the agenda!
In the end it took 31 letters of reference from famous professors and CEOs, which was bloody hard work to organize, but I finally made it.
So the moral of the story is that a relatively young person (I'm 29) can go for the O1 if they have they can organize a convincing (large) pile of evidence (they don't necessarily need a Nobel prize or a big salary).
Looks like a weekend of partying could be on the agenda!
May 27th 2009, 11:08 pm
#2
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Re: Got the O1!
One quick thing - do the Belfast consulate process O1 visas?
It isn't very clear from their website.
I don't do phonecalls if I can avoid them (listening to machines drives me nuts, especially at that price.)
It isn't very clear from their website.
I don't do phonecalls if I can avoid them (listening to machines drives me nuts, especially at that price.)
May 27th 2009, 11:33 pm
#3
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Re: Got the O1!
Congratulations, caleyjag!!! Our very own famous... chocolate maker, right? 
It must be very gratifying to have that honor bestowed, even if it's just from USCIS. Be sure to tell your kids one day... I was a person of Exceptional Ability!
PS: weren't you going elsewhere to HQ.. can you interview there? Or are you in the UK now? Don't know how to find that out about Belfast.
It must be very gratifying to have that honor bestowed, even if it's just from USCIS. Be sure to tell your kids one day... I was a person of Exceptional Ability!
PS: weren't you going elsewhere to HQ.. can you interview there? Or are you in the UK now? Don't know how to find that out about Belfast.
May 27th 2009, 11:43 pm
#4
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Re: Got the O1!
No particular reason for this thread except to say USCIS finally capitulated and gave me the O1.
In the end it took 31 letters of reference from famous professors and CEOs, which was bloody hard work to organize, but I finally made it.
So the moral of the story is that a relatively young person (I'm 29) can go for the O1 if they have they can organize a convincing (large) pile of evidence (they don't necessarily need a Nobel prize or a big salary).
Looks like a weekend of partying could be on the agenda!
In the end it took 31 letters of reference from famous professors and CEOs, which was bloody hard work to organize, but I finally made it.
So the moral of the story is that a relatively young person (I'm 29) can go for the O1 if they have they can organize a convincing (large) pile of evidence (they don't necessarily need a Nobel prize or a big salary).
Looks like a weekend of partying could be on the agenda!
Now you can be accused of looking down your nose at everyone else here... like I do!!!
May 27th 2009, 11:43 pm
#5
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Re: Got the O1!
Theo Chocolate - delicious 
May 27th 2009, 11:49 pm
#6
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Re: Got the O1!
That's scary you knew what I meant... 
I've got to try some of it soon.
I was always hoping caleyjag was 'theo'.
I just read the story of Dagoba chocolate recently (crazy!) and it explained the difference between US/Euro chocolate.. but that is for another thread...
I've got to try some of it soon.I was always hoping caleyjag was 'theo'.
I just read the story of Dagoba chocolate recently (crazy!) and it explained the difference between US/Euro chocolate.. but that is for another thread...
May 27th 2009, 11:53 pm
#7
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Re: Got the O1!
But Theo Chocolate is fandamtastic! A friend went to a wedding last month and gave me a choccie from the table. I cant get enough of the stuff now lol Serious choccie lover.
May 28th 2009, 12:31 am
#8
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Re: Got the O1!
Congratulations caleyjag - so all of that sweating over the H1B was for nothing?
May 28th 2009, 1:03 am
#9
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Re: Got the O1!
Yeah, although the attorney's advice is to ditch the O1 in October and take the H1 instead. Any good reason for that? It's not clear to me. I'm not married or anything. Does it make a difference for greencard applications? All she said is "the H1 trumps the O1".
As for looking down on people, I'm now (on and off) F1-J1-J1-J1-O1-H1
So frankly I think I have been able to look down on the Disneyworld Specials for a while!
As for looking down on people, I'm now (on and off) F1-J1-J1-J1-O1-H1
So frankly I think I have been able to look down on the Disneyworld Specials for a while!
May 28th 2009, 1:06 am
#10
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Re: Got the O1!
Yeah, I was going to be employed in the Netherlands but for some reason (unknown to me) it is easier for them to employ me in the UK for now. So I'm based in Edinburgh while the embassy does their thing. I've endured London a few times and am keen to go for Belfast if it is an option.
May 28th 2009, 1:11 am
#11
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Re: Got the O1!
No, I am your resident famous cancer-cell-laser-zapper.
I tell you what though, Hershey could do with getting one or two of those Swiss guys in on O1's sooner rather than later.
May 28th 2009, 6:21 am
#12
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Re: Got the O1!
Yay, congrats! 
May 28th 2009, 11:51 am
#13
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Re: Got the O1!
May 28th 2009, 12:02 pm
#14
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Re: Got the O1!
Yeah, although the attorney's advice is to ditch the O1 in October and take the H1 instead. Any good reason for that? It's not clear to me. I'm not married or anything. Does it make a difference for greencard applications? All she said is "the H1 trumps the O1".
As for looking down on people, I'm now (on and off) F1-J1-J1-J1-O1-H1
So frankly I think I have been able to look down on the Disneyworld Specials for a while!
As for looking down on people, I'm now (on and off) F1-J1-J1-J1-O1-H1
So frankly I think I have been able to look down on the Disneyworld Specials for a while!
In your position I would immediately take the exact same evidence package used for the O1 and submit it in support of a National Interest Waiver for a Green Card application. In my view, being here on an O1 makes the NIW application much stronger than being here on an H1-B, since the O1 and the NIW are effectively saying the same thing - that your presence in the US is advantageous to the country.
Hell, if you got an NIW application in now, you could potentially have a Green Card by the end of the year, and then you could stop this endless cycle of visas!
May 28th 2009, 12:04 pm
#15
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Re: Got the O1!
I don't understand that advice at all, and I think you should maybe start another thread to get Folinsky and Fong's views.
In your position I would immediately take the exact same evidence package used for the O1 and submit it in support of a National Interest Waiver for a Green Card application. In my view, being here on an O1 makes the NIW application much stronger than being here on an H1-B, since the O1 and the NIW are effectively saying the same thing - that your presence in the US is advantageous to the country.
Hell, if you got an NIW application in now, you could potentially have a Green Card by the end of the year, and then you could stop this endless cycle of visas!
In your position I would immediately take the exact same evidence package used for the O1 and submit it in support of a National Interest Waiver for a Green Card application. In my view, being here on an O1 makes the NIW application much stronger than being here on an H1-B, since the O1 and the NIW are effectively saying the same thing - that your presence in the US is advantageous to the country.
Hell, if you got an NIW application in now, you could potentially have a Green Card by the end of the year, and then you could stop this endless cycle of visas!