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ALTN

Could internationally recognized programming contests qualify their contestants for O1A or EB1 visa?

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Filed: Other Timeline
Posted (edited)

I was wondering if world class programming contests such as Facebook Hacker Cup, Google Code Jam or TopCoder Open can qualify a contestant for an O1A or EB1 visa? and if so what percentile (first 1%? 0.1%? other?) should the contestant achieve in order to qualify?

Edited by ALTN
Filed: Other Timeline
Posted

The reason I asked initially is because I already have the maybe in mind, so maybe is not really what I'm looking for :P, do you know of a similar case, or can refer an official doc?

 

Also depends on what you mean by winners, in the Facebook contest for instance the first 500 win a symbolic t-shirt, the first 25 win a trip to the final round onsite, while the top 3 win more than $1k. Tens of thousands participate initially from all around the globe. I'm familiar with this type of contests and trust me when I say the first 100... they just don't belong to this planet!

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted

In itself no, as part of a portfolio of work, papers, presentations, peer reviewed studies, maybe.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Posted

Questions all over the place; What's the end game.. Canadian immigration\DV visa\etc? 

USCIS

January 16, 2015 I-130 Mailed, Chi lockbox January 20, 2015 Priority Date, January 21, 2015 NOA1 notice date, Assigned VSC, January 23, 2015 Check Cashed, electronically March 5, 2015 NOA2

NVC

March 27, 2015 NVC received April 6, 2015 Case#, IIN# assigned April 8, 2015 Paid AOS + IV fee Invoices May 5, 2015 AOS + IV package submitted May 11, 2015 Scan Date

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Consular

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POE

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Posted

That's too bad

USCIS

January 16, 2015 I-130 Mailed, Chi lockbox January 20, 2015 Priority Date, January 21, 2015 NOA1 notice date, Assigned VSC, January 23, 2015 Check Cashed, electronically March 5, 2015 NOA2

NVC

March 27, 2015 NVC received April 6, 2015 Case#, IIN# assigned April 8, 2015 Paid AOS + IV fee Invoices May 5, 2015 AOS + IV package submitted May 11, 2015 Scan Date

June 11, 2015 DS-260 submitted June 25, 2015 False checklist (for ds260).. hello? June 30, 2015 Answered checklist Aug 5, 2015 Escalated to Supervisor review Aug 13, 2015 Case Complete

Consular

Sept 10, 2015 Interview Scheduled Sept 11, 2015 P4 Letter received Sept 21, 2015 file In transit from NVC Sept 23, 2015 file at Embassy

Sept 28, 2015 Medical Oct 14, 2015 Biometrics Oct 15, 2015 Interview (Approved) Oct 19, 2015 IV visa Issued Oct 23, 2015 Passport Pickup

POE

Nov 2, 2015 Entered the US Nov 16, 2015 Applied for SSN, walk-in Nov 20, 2015 Social Security Card recd Jan 15, 2016 GC received

Filed: EB-1 Visa Country: Germany
Timeline
Posted (edited)
10 hours ago, ALTN said:

 

@Boiler Thanks for the input, although not what I wanted to hear

Boiler is right though... even if you are the winner none of those prices alone will reach the level of "Evidence that the beneficiary has received a major, internationally-recognized award, such as a Nobel Prize, Olympic Medal, Oscar, Grammy etc." and the O1 would require contracts for jobs and deal memos anyways on top. So not only the credentials are what matters here. For an EB1 you don't need to have work lined up but much harder to fulfill the criteria.

 

However in a combination with your other credentials maybe.

 

Edited by goblin
Posted

Maybe, if you get into the top 1%, you can convince them to sponsor you as an employee (EB2/3) - it's faster anyways. You can try EB2-NIW - with the new criteria you might have a reasonable chance (you need at least a Master's degree or Ph.D. in the field though). Obviously all of the above applies only if you're not from India. If you are from India, I don't see any options beyond what others have suggested. 

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

Filed: Other Timeline
Posted (edited)

@randomstairs That's very interesting! just read the required criteria for EB2 here, and wondering if I would satisfy the 4 below:

  1. Official academic record showing that you have a degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning relating to your area of exceptional ability.
    I do have an advanced degree, not a masters though. It's called "Diplôme d'ingénieur" and I had it upon 6 years of studies in the field of software engineering (related to the contests area), could that qualify?
  2. A license to practice your profession or certification for your profession or occupation.
    A diploma qualifies here?
  3. Evidence that you have commanded a salary or other remuneration for services that demonstrates your exceptional ability.
    Tech industry jobs in the US are very rewarding already, $150k/yr for instance is not an exception at top companies (see wages at Google here). Would a potential sponsor be required to offer a significantly higher wage in order to meet the criteria?
  4. Recognition for your achievements and significant contributions to your industry or field by your peers, government entities, professional or business organizations. Other comparable evidence of eligibility is also acceptable.
    I take your input as the first 1% would qualify for the above? Note that 1% means the first 200 or more. A reference/related story would be much appreciated :)

I'm not indian.

@goblin thanks!

 

... to clarify why I'm digging into this, I tried my chance in a couple non official contests recently with thousands of contestants and managed to rank among the first 2% in both, which could be improved with proper training.

Edited by ALTN
Filed: EB-1 Visa Country: Germany
Timeline
Posted

You should also speak to a bunch of immigration lawyers on this... most of them give free first consultations on evaluating your credentials. Lots also via skype.

I talked to about 10 to then eventually pick one and had a successful EB1A application in the arts/ music. Any credit you have can be helpful. And even though I am not in the same filed like you I can tell you that you might get very different opinions from people especially on a forum. I got NO chance because of false evaluation of my material, to most likely O1 but not an EB1A yet, to almost 100% strong case towards EB1A. At the end I listened to the right guy and we had a good ride without any problems. It was a lot of work and expensive of course, but it was worth it.

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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