---
title: O-1 Visa Examples: What Qualifying Evidence Looks Like | Lando
url: https://trylando.com/o1-visa-examples
description: Examples of the evidence USCIS accepts for each O-1A and O-1B criterion: awards, press, judging, original contributions, critical roles, high salary.
---

# O-1 Visa Examples: What Qualifying Evidence Looks Like

Examples of the evidence USCIS accepts for each O-1A and O-1B criterion: awards, press, judging, original contributions, critical roles, high salary and more.

Page reviewed October 8, 2026.

**Quick answer.** O-1 evidence is documents, not claims. Examples: a prize with published selection criteria, a feature about you in a trade publication, proof that you reviewed papers or sat on a jury, a product or method that others adopted, a published paper, a letter showing a critical role at a distinguished organization, or a contract showing pay above your field's norm. A petition needs a major award or at least three criteria, plus an advisory opinion.

## How to read these examples

These are illustrations of the kinds of documents that match each criterion. They are not promises about any case. USCIS first checks whether the evidence meets the required number of criteria, then weighs the whole record in a final merits determination.

## O-1A examples

The O-1A covers the sciences, education, business and athletics. A petition shows a major internationally recognized award, or at least three of eight criteria.

- Awards: a national or international prize with published selection criteria and the body that awards it, such as an industry award, a competition ranking or a research prize.
- Memberships: admission to an association that requires outstanding achievement, judged by recognized experts. Open-enrollment or fee-only groups do not help.
- Published material about you: a profile, interview or feature in a professional or major trade publication, with the publication's reach documented.
- Judging others: peer review for a journal or conference, a startup competition jury, a grant panel, or a hiring or admissions committee role.
- Original contributions: a product, method, model or business approach adopted by others, supported by expert letters and usage or citation data.
- Scholarly articles: papers or articles you authored in professional journals or major media.
- Critical role: a letter and organizational evidence showing you held a critical or essential role at an organization with a distinguished reputation.
- High salary: contracts, pay records or equity value compared with typical pay in your field and location.
- [O-1A awards](https://trylando.com/o1a-visa/awards)
- [O-1A press and media](https://trylando.com/o1a-visa/press-media)
- [O-1A judging](https://trylando.com/o1a-visa/judging)
- [O-1A original contributions](https://trylando.com/o1a-visa/original-contributions)
- [O-1A critical role](https://trylando.com/o1a-visa/critical-role)
- [O-1A high salary](https://trylando.com/o1a-visa/high-salary)

## O-1B examples

The O-1B covers the arts, and extraordinary achievement in motion pictures and television. A petition shows a significant national or international award or nomination, or at least three of six criteria.

- Lead or starring roles: credits in productions or events with a distinguished reputation, shown through reviews, publicity, contracts or endorsements.
- National or international recognition: critical reviews and published coverage in major newspapers, trade journals or magazines.
- Distinguished organizations: articles or testimonials showing that the organization you led or played a critical role in has a distinguished reputation.
- Commercial or critical success: box office, sales, streaming figures, ratings or chart standing reported in the trade or general press.
- Recognition from experts: testimonials from critics, organizations or recognized experts that state the author's authority and the basis for the opinion.
- High salary: contracts and payment records relative to others in your field.
- [O-1B awards](https://trylando.com/o1b-visa/awards)
- [O-1B press and media](https://trylando.com/o1b-visa/press-media)
- [O-1B critical role](https://trylando.com/o1b-visa/critical-role)
- [O-1B commercial success](https://trylando.com/o1b-visa/commercial-success)
- [O-1B distinguished organizations](https://trylando.com/o1b-visa/distinguished-organizations)
- [O-1B high salary](https://trylando.com/o1b-visa/high-salary)

## What makes an example strong

- It shows who issued the document and why that source is credible.
- It shows how the item relates to your field, not only that it exists.
- It comes with context: circulation for press, selection criteria for awards, adoption or citation data for contributions, a comparison to field norms for pay.
- It is independent of you where possible. A third party's article or letter carries more weight than your own description.

## What else a petition needs

Evidence alone does not complete a petition. It also needs a written advisory opinion (consultation) from a peer group or an expert in your field, a description or itinerary of the planned U.S. work, and a petitioner: a U.S. employer, a U.S. agent, or a foreign employer through a U.S. agent.

- [O-1 visa requirements](https://trylando.com/o1-visa-requirements)
- [What is the O-1 visa?](https://trylando.com/what-is-the-o1-visa)
- [O-1 agent petitioner](https://trylando.com/o1-visa-agent-petitioner)

## Common questions

### What is an example of O-1 evidence for press?

A published article, profile or interview about you and your work in a professional or major trade publication or in major media, with the publication's circulation or standing documented. Coverage that only mentions you in passing carries less weight than coverage about you and your work.

### What counts as judging the work of others?

Peer reviewing for a journal or conference, sitting on a competition jury or grant panel, or evaluating candidates or projects in your field, shown by invitations or confirmations from the organizer.

### What counts as an original contribution?

Work of major significance that others in the field have adopted or cited, shown by letters from experts, usage or citation data, or adoption by recognized organizations. A contribution has to be both original and of major significance to the field.

### How many examples do I need?

A petition shows either a major internationally recognized award (or, for the O-1B in the arts, a significant national or international award or nomination), or at least three criteria: three of eight for the O-1A and three of six for the O-1B. USCIS then weighs the whole record.

### Are these examples a guarantee of approval?

No. They illustrate the kinds of documents that match each criterion. USCIS decides each petition on its full record, and no one can guarantee a decision. Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

## Sources

- [USCIS: O-1 Visa, Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/o-1-visa-individuals-with-extraordinary-ability-or-achievement)
- [USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part M, Chapter 4](https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-2-part-m-chapter-4)
- [8 CFR 214.2(o) on eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/section-214.2)

Checked October 2026.

Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.

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Lando is not a law firm. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. Source: https://trylando.com/o1-visa-examples