✅ O-1B: approval
The story of obtaining an O-1B visa for a film sound editor (sound editor), including the preparation process and the interview in Jakarta.
Case details
Filing: March 27, 2024
Decision: May 14, 2024
Attorney: Yulia King
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✓Leading role in the project
A couple of feature films and series
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✓Leading role in a company
Collaboration with a major media company
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✓Commercial success of projects
The same projects mentioned above
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✓Recommendation letters
4 letters from directors and colleagues
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✓Salary
Bank statements and contracts as proof of income
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✓Media
5 articles
How it all went
Hello everyone! Finally had time to write everything down, sharing the information.
O-1B, specialization: film sound editor (sound editor)
I started collecting some of the evidence myself slowly from early 2023; in October 2023 I began working with paralegal Yulia King. We only had calls at the start and end of the work — for the case, approximately 6–7 substantive emails back and forth were enough.
Criteria:
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Leading role in the project: A couple of feature films (were in theaters + wide media coverage) + series/other projects.
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Leading role in a company: Long-term collaboration with a major media company + work at the largest film studio.
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Commercial success of the projects — the same ones listed in the two previous points.
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Recommendation letters: 4 items — 2 from directors, 1 from a colleague, 1 from a company.
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Salary. Since I am self-employed, a year of bank statements was sufficient, plus I additionally attached the main contracts (sound editor is not listed in the self-employment professions list, so the contracts served as evidence that the money was received specifically for my specialization).
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Media: 5 articles; this criterion was covered just in case)
Additionally: 3 deal memos, an IMDb page, 2 associations.
The case was filed on March 27 via standard processing; approval on May 14.
The interview took place in Jakarta on June 28. The only question was about what makes me extraordinary. I spoke for about a minute, the officer interrupted and said the visa was approved.
Main insight
“It’s important to prepare the evidence thoroughly and be ready for interview questions about your extraordinariness.”
Artem (@enterthehall)
2023-10
Started working with the paralegal
2024-03-27
Case filed
2024-05-14
Petition approved
2024-06-28
Interview in Jakarta
Author of the story
Artem (@enterthehall), from the chat @talentvisahelp. Original message in the chat.
Useful resources
All information about O-1 / EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
More success stories and denials: channel @o1eb1