United States•North America2-4 months
5,655 USD
3 years
Yes
Employer or Agent
Allowed
No
Not Required
Accompanies an O-1 artist or athlete to assist in a specific event or performance. Must be integral to the O-1's activity.
The O-2 is a US visa for support personnel who accompany a named O-1 artist or athlete to assist in a specific event or performance. It permits work in the United States only in a role that is integral to the O-1 principal's activity.
Initial admission is for up to 3 years, with unlimited 1-year extensions. There is no annual cap or green card pathway. Spouses and children under 21 may join on O-3 status but cannot work. The petitioner is a US employer or agent; premium processing (I-907) costs $2,965.
This visa is ideal for performers, technicians, and crew members with a pre-existing critical support role alongside a specific named O-1 artist or athlete.
Form I-129 Filing Fee (Standard) | 1,055 USD |
Form I-129 Filing Fee (Small Employer/Nonprofit) | 530 USD |
Asylum Program Fee (Standard) | 600 USD |
Asylum Program Fee (Small) | 300 USD |
MRV Visa Application Fee | 205 USD |
Premium Processing Fee (Form I-907) | 2,965 USD |
| Standard | 2 months – 4 months |
| Premium Processing | 2 weeks – 3 weeks |
| Initial grant | 3 years |
Must accompany and assist a specific, named O-1 visa holder in artistic or athletic performances
Must be an integral part of the actual performance — not general support
Must have critical skills and experience specific to the O-1 beneficiary that are not of a general nature
Must demonstrate skills not possessed by available US workers
Must maintain a foreign residence with no intention of abandoning it
For motion picture/TV productions: significant production must have occurred outside the US and will continue inside the US
For film/TV O-2s: continuing participation must be essential to successful completion of production
O-2 classification is only available to support O-1A (athletics/sciences) or O-1B (arts/entertainment) holders — primarily arts and athletics
Job Offer
Employer or Agent
Completed Form I-129 with O/P/Q Classification Supplement
Written consultation/advisory opinion from appropriate labor organization or peer group (mandatory)
For motion picture/TV: consultations from both a labor organization AND a management organization
Evidence of O-2 beneficiary's critical skills and substantial experience working with the specific O-1 beneficiary
Evidence demonstrating the O-2's essentiality to the O-1's performances or productions
For film/TV: evidence of significant production outside the US with continuation inside the US
Written contracts or performance/production itineraries
Evidence of the O-1 beneficiary's events, performances, or activities
Valid passport (beneficiary)
DS-160 confirmation page
I-797 approval notice
MRV fee payment receipt
Passport-style photo meeting DOS specifications
| I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | Fill online |
| I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service | Fill online |
| DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application | Fill online |
| I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | Fill online |
| Application Steps | US employer or agent files Form I-129 with O/P/Q Supplement at the appropriate USCIS service center;… | uscis.gov |
| Dependent Visa | O-3 | uscis.gov |
| Fee Breakdown | Form I-129 Filing Fee (Standard): 1055 USD; Form I-129 Filing Fee (Small Employer/Nonprofit): 530 US… | uscis.gov |
| Fees | USD $1,055 base filing fee ($530 for small employers/nonprofits) + Asylum Program Fee ($600 standard… | uscis.gov |
| Forms | Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) with O/P/Q Supplement — filed by employer/agent; For… | uscis.gov |
| Forms · DS-160 · description | Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application | ceac.state.gov |
| Forms · I-129 · description | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | uscis.gov |
| Forms · I-539 · description | Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | uscis.gov |
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