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7 min read

Next Steps After Your O-1 Petition is Approved

Immigration

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Author

Jemima Owen-Jones

Published

October 09, 2024

Last Update

October 09, 2024

Table of Contents

Next steps after O-1 approval

O-1 visa stamping guide

Preparing for your visa stamping appointment

Entering the US on O-1 and O-3 status

Things to keep in mind as an O-1 visa holder

Continue your immigration journey with Deel Immigration

Your O-1 visa petition was approved by USCIS? Congratulations! The most difficult part of the O-1 visa process is over, and you are one step closer to living and working in the United States.

Next steps after O-1 approval

Your next steps after getting an O-1 approval depends on your location and the type of O-1 visa you filed. If you filed a Change of Status petition from within the US, you can begin working for your new employer on your O-1 start date.

However, next time you travel internationally you will need to attend an O-1 stamping appointment at a US consulate abroad.

If you filed an O-1 petition outside the US, or filed with Consular processing, you will need to visit a US embassy or consulate to get your O1 visa stamp before traveling to the US.

O-1 visa stamping guide

To enter the US on O-1 nonimmigrant visa status, you need a visa stamp in your passport. The only way to obtain a visa stamp is by visiting a US embassy or consulate abroad.

Generally, you can make an appointment directly with an embassy or consulate to get a visa stamp after your O-1 petition has been approved by USCIS.

Keep in mind that some US consulates have significant appointment wait times. You can view estimated the wait times at each US consulate on the Department of State's website.

To set up an appointment, contact that consulate directly via phone or email.

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Preparing for your visa stamping appointment

Before you go to your visa stamping appointment, you will need to fill out Form DS-160, the online visa processing form. The form needs to be completed for you and any dependents on O-3 visas.

Documents to bring to your visa appointment:

  • Your passport and passports for any dependents
  • A printed copy of your Online Visa Processing Forms
  • Printed copies of the O-1 visa petition
  • Notice of Action (Form I-797) approval notice
  • Any other relevant documentation requested when you schedule your interview

Entering the US on O-1 and O-3 status

If you want to travel on your O-1 visa after approval, you need to submit the following documents to USCIS upon your return to the US:

  1. Supply a copy of your Notice of Action (Form I-797), which was the original notice of receipt you received from USCIS when your O-1 visa was initially approved.
  2. Show proof of a valid O-1 visa stamp in your passport.
  3. Supply a copy of your current employment letter, which proves your status as an O-1 work visa holder for your sponsoring employer.
  4. Show proof of a valid passport.

Things to keep in mind as an O-1 visa holder

The validity of your O-1 status remains intact until the “end validity date” marked on your I-94 card.

Because the status of your O-1 visa is tied to your employment, if your employment is terminated, your O-1 status would be invalidated.

If that happens, there is a 60-day grace period to find another employer or change to a different visa status. This provides time to figure out your next move.

During this period, you will need to find another employer to sponsor a petition on your behalf, otherwise, you’ll need to leave the US once your status expires.

Continue your immigration journey with Deel Immigration

Getting approval for your O-1 visa is a big step, but it’s important to keep in mind that your immigration journey doesn’t end there.

It’s always wise to understand what is required to maintain your visa status, as well as knowing what other opportunities are available to you with an approved O-1 work visa.

Check out our post-approval resource to learn more about changing your visa status or schedule a free consultation for more personalized information and advice.

FAQs

While most O-1 visa applicants apply in their home country, it is possible to attend an appointment in as a "third-country national" in a different country.

Please note that each consulate has different rules relating to appointments for third-country nationals.

Please contact a consulate directly to ask whether they take appointments for non-citizens.

No. Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp to enter the US. They can enter at a US port of entry with their O-1 approval notice and passport.

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About the author

Jemima is a nomadic writer, journalist, and digital marketer with a decade of experience crafting compelling B2B content for a global audience. She is a strong advocate for equal opportunities and is dedicated to shaping the future of work. At Deel, she specializes in thought-leadership content covering global mobility, cross-border compliance, and workplace culture topics.

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