joemme

I just got in approval this morning! It took me a little over 5 weeks, but my RFE was very long so that may have been a reason.

Anyone got approval after RFE for O1B Visa? I sent mine in, they received it on January 30th so its been about 35 days and no response. 

I heard the average is 2-4 weeks to hear back but then the RFE says within 60 days. I am hoping they do respond within the 60 days. How long did yours take? Regular Processing.

On February 15, 2017 at 8:54 PM, Nutnaenorn said:

My O1-B visa was approved today but my extension of stay was denied. 

 

Reason: my status is F1, I took Computer Application Program at school for certificate program. USCIS thought this school is M1 school. I misclassify from F1. Now I'm out of status. I have 30 days grace period to leave US and to ask US embassy in My home country to get O1 visa stamp.

 

My lawyer said that is hard. He suggest me to file Motion to reopen case. He said I have fair chance to do it. It's easy here to understand that is not my fault but school fault. 

 

My questions are.

 

1. If I file motion and I overstay in US (probably 3-4 months), after motion I get approval. Is out of status during over 30 days will be waive automatically. Will I get O1-B back? Is easy to get stamp from my home country?

 

2. If I file motion and I overstay in US, after motion I get deny. Can I still able to get O1 stamp from my home country?

 

3. I have my wife too, she is my dependent for F2 visa and she applies for O3 visa. Her case is still pending (Case was approved) Is she will be out of status too?

 

4. Right now. Do I still have to go to school to maintain my wife and my status during motion?

 

Thanks for answer

You should probably go with your lawyers advice as they would understand situation best.

But are you not able to fly home for a couple weeks before your grace period is up to get your visa stamped and re-enter on the O1 Visa then to begin work? That may be safest way to make sure you secure your visa and know you can be there for another 3 years to work

4 hours ago, elvis2017 said:

Could you please let me know how to get the O1B visa?  What's your major?   Do you find out a agent as sponsor?

It is best you get a lawyer to do the O1 Visa. But you can check out USCIS link I'm putting here to see exactly what they require for it: https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/o-1-visa-individuals-extraordinary-ability-or-achievement

On January 30, 2017 at 4:04 PM, Nutnaenorn said:

My friends told me. They are getting tougher, more rules and more documents.

 

Mine is long too. Once I have update on response I will let you know. Because our submitted time is very close, actually just 3 days away. Please let me know on your too. Good Luck.

Hey I saw in another post you got approved. How long did it take from when they received your RFE Response?

Also do you mind giving me a brief about what they asked you for your RFE? Im still waiting for a final response from them, very scared. Thank you!

Thats scary. They just received and started back working on mine today. Yes we will keep each other updated for sure. Fingers crossed.

I hope its only 1 month. I am applying for O1B as a Producer.

I submitted 10/12/2016 -took 2 months

Got RFE 12/11/2016

Submitted RFE 01/23/2017

My RFE was pretty long though unfortunately, I think I got a very tough officer, but I was able to send everything they asked for. Now I am terrified hoping I get it this time too!

Good luck!

Hi, I got an RFE for Regular Processing after 2 months and just sent it back in. How long was your RFE? And in the RFE notice did they say, if you do not hear back within 60 days contact them? Thats what it said in mine so I am assuming for regular it takes anywhere from a few weeks to 2 months. If you are premium processing they should reply within the 15 days.

Is anyone aware of how long the Vermont Service Center typically takes to respond to a RFE?

Sure for contracts they wanted proof of each venue and location that will be used and equipment rentals etc. Any significance of the awards that the films won, proof I was critical on those productions (letters of participation). Any new press, and proof that the companies that hiring me are established.

It is a lot however I can get them what they ask for. So I am really hoping. This is just an insane process.

Got the RFE Notice with what they need.

It is very detailed and everything that I can provide except for one which I know how to back up.

Will update once final answer comes in which will end up being same January or February. I got quite lucky they made first decision early for timing wise!

Hi all,

I just checked my status today for my O1B Visa, it says a Request for Additional Evidence has been mailed today 12/12 so I am waiting on that notice to see what they want from me. They received my petition on 10/11 and I got the RFE today 12/12. This is 2 months. The regular processing has been 3 1/2 months so they're early on mine which is interesting.

Does a RFE normally mean they're considering denying my case or do I still stand a good chance at approval? I see many people seem to get approval after responding to RFE and my lawyer said once we provide what they want I should be fine, but I am terrified and would like to hear from others experience / knowledge.

Sure hoping so. Thank you!

Update:

I got a RFE today 12/12 It was mailed out today so I should receive scanned copy from my lawyer this week.

This really sucks and has me terrified. It was an early response however which I am grateful for not having to wait till January to find this out.

SO now is to see what more they require from me and try my best to prove myself.

Thats for sure! It is hard.

Let me know if you find out any updates on your friend. Always helps when you know if someone who submitted around the same time gets through. Hoping USCIS is accurate on timing with my case. My contract with first Production Company starts January 5th so thats going to have to be pushed back, hopefully not too far.

Great to hear for you.

I was looking into Premium Processing however my lawyer suggested against it as his experience this year has been that it was more difficult in regards to straight approvals going that route for some reason.

I returned home after OPT so now I am here waiting. It's sucked but I rather wait it out if it means I have a higher chance at approval. When did he apply? I applied October 11th so from looks of it I should hear back by end of January. That would be a 16 weeks which I heard is the norm right now, but who knows.

It's crazy the California Service Center says O1s are taking 2 weeks to process yet the Vermont Service Center is 3 1/2 months! If only they'd split the work load.

Hi,

yes it all worked out and I am in the US already, but I also went for premium processing at USCIS stage, so I was getting a decision faster. Regular could have meant up to 10 months and longer. All I can tell you in regards of O1 USCIS processing times right now is that a friend of mine told me there is a backlog at moment, so that might also affect you. He is also waiting on his O1 decision and can´t leave the country.

I went through consular processing from my home country, which had me do the full NVC path, which took most of the time.

Did you return home or are on hold after your OPT in the US? Are you using a lawyer?

Thank you! Thats good to know. Hope all is well with your EB-1A!

I will keep updated. From USCIS processing times page, if they're pretty accurate, I should hear back some time in January. Fingers crossed!

Hi,

I would say that looks like a strong case with excellent evidence. I went straight to EB-1A but was looking very deep into the O1B route before, so I know the procedure well. It ultimately comes down to your contracts and deal memo once you have convinced in regards of your talent, which you have.

Good luck and keep us updated since most on this forum here is family immigration.

Hey, any update on your part?

I applied on October 11th Regular Processing. Seems like its taking about 15 weeks these days. Wondering how long it took for you to get a response and if it matching Processing Times on USCIS?

I submitted O1 Visa with my wife applying O3 Visa with me on same date June 23. Today Oct 7, it's has been 15 weeks. I checked on proseccing time on USCIS website. Last updated on July 31, USCIS processing until May 30.

My question is

1. Is anyone submitted O1 around same time as me and get responses from USCIS yet?

2. I applied with my dependent, Is it take longer than usual?

3. I also applied O1 Visa last year with premium processing and I got RFE within 12 days. after that I withdrawn the case because I can't provide evidence in their timeline. This time I resubmitted regular processing . Is it take longer because I have been withdrawn my case?

4. My lawyer said wait until 4 months then make inquiries. After make inquiries, how long is usually take?

Thank you.

Hi guys,

While I wait on my response from the VSC about my O1 Visa, I am getting a bit nervous so I was wondering from the knowledge of many of you what you think of my petition and chances based off of yourself and people you know who got approved / RFE's / declined. I hope some can help.

I'm from an island in the Caribbean. I am applying as a Film Producer. Ive only worked professionally in my field for 1 year on my OPT in New York but I was able to accomplish a good bit.

I have:

-1 big (2 page) article in our local newspaper talking about my successes and a feature I will be Producing in the future. I was the feature of that week and interviewed. It was the week of our Film Festival.

-9 really good recommendation letters from successful people in the field I've worked with.

-3 contracts with 3 different production companies with pretty great pay for projects taking up the 3 years.

-2 of the films that I was the Associate Producer on, won awards at film festivals as well as got in to many.

-Produced 2 music videos for a Grammy Award Winning musician.

-Produced a live event video for a semi-known American artist.

-Produced a film where I hired a very well known cinematographer/VFX artist (he worked on films as big as Jupiter's Ascending, Dawn of the Planet Apes, Interstellar et.

-Produced 2 commercials for the New York Film Academy.

-I have also worked as the Associate Producer on a teaser for a film with with well known names attached.

And a good bit more credits in my name etc.

Thank you!

Hi Justin,

Im in the same boat right now as you were. Its taking 3 months these days!

My lawyer tells me its harder now to go through the premium processing as the approval rates with them are less when going through that process. I am getting really nervous.

I know I am not in your field but they will have similarities in evidence Im sure. I've honestly only been working 1 year professionally but in that 1 year I was able to accomplish quite a lot.

May I ask how much evidence you had to show them. Like articles etc? (or if you read a brief of what I have and compare it to what you sent in) would really really help a lot.

I'm from an Island in the Caribbean. I am applying as a Film Producer. I have 1 big (2 page) article in our local newspaper talking about my successes and a feature I will be Producing in the future. I was the feature of that week and interviewed. It was the week of our Film Festival. I also have 9 really good recommendation letters from successful people in the field I've worked with, 3 contracts with 3 different production companies with pretty great pay for projects taking up the 3 years, 2 of the films I've worked on as a producer won awards at film festivals, Ive produced 2 music videos for a Grammy Award Winning musician, Ive also produced a live event video for a semi-known artist, Ive produced a film with a very well known cinematographer/VFX artist, and produced 2 commercials for the New York Film Academy. I have also worked as a producer on a teaser for a film with w. And a good bit more credits in my name.

Thanks so much for any time you take to read the above!

Hello guys!

My name is Justin and I'm new to this forum (: on March 8th we submitted my I-129 for O-1B as a musician.
We submitted it to VSC with normal processing. The status right now is "Case Was Received". I was wondering if anybody has/had an experience lately with VSC with I-129 for O-1 and can testify on the processing time?

On their site it says that the last case that has been processed for O-1 was on Novmber 23rd 2015, the chart was updated on January 31st 2016, does it means that these days it takes 2 months?

Thanks you!

Hi HollywoodNorth,

Congrats on your O1? I just applied for mine and my lawyer said best to keep it at regular processing. The wait is killing me but my job isn't lined up until January which works.

May I ask what you applied as and how the your case got stronger? Im really hoping my case is strong enough. I have the 3 of the 6 requirements the list on their site so I am hoping its strong enough to get approved. Fingers crossed!

One of my O1's was PP, and I had an answer within a week. No problems.

My second O1 was supposed to be PP as well, but because of confusion [the studio I was signing a contract for was being taken over by another film studio and as a result there was two immigration teams dealing with my O1 case], it was filed normally.

It took about 2 months to process and my start date at the new job was pushed back by 1 month [they kept issuing me new contracts every week].

If timing is critical then PP is worth it IMO.

Hi guys,

I applied for my O1B Visa as a Film Producer. The Vermont Service Centre received it on 11th October. I am now a little more than a month in. I know it takes about 3 months and a little according to the site right now. Which means I should hear back some time in January.

I was wondering if anyone applied as a Producer and/or knows someone who did. Id like to know approval rates in that category and what credits etc used if known.

I am getting very worried in this wait as this is extremely important for my career and life.

I was also wondering if anyone knows/ did get accepted before the times listed on the USCIS website?

Lastly, should I expect to see something after "Case was Received" like something similar to "Case Pending" etc? Before the come back with a response?

Thanks!