Union and Peer Group Consultation Letters for O Visa Petitions: a Q&A

Obtaining a US work visa can be a complex and daunting process. To obtain an O-1, for example, petitioners/sponsors must gather evidence to establish that the foreign national they wish to employ or represent is extraordinary. This evidence may include press citations, critical reviews, samples of the foreign national’s work, contracts, endorsements, testimonials, and evidence of high salary, among other items. So it’s understandable that after all the evidence is obtained and the O-1 petition is prepared and signed, many petitioners and their foreign national beneficiaries are surprised to find out that before their cases can be filed with US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), the petitioner/sponsor needs to obtain a “consultation letter” from a relevant labor organization or peer group.

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