Immigration news from Boston's Irish Pastoral Centre

We had a good turn out at our July legal clinic in the Banshee. Thanks to our volunteers who showed up on the evening to help out at the clinic. Attorney Chris Lavery had a busy night fielding queries from people from around the world. We had immigrants not just from Ireland, but also from nations as far away as Congo, India and South Korea. We’re pleased that staff at local area hospitals is now beginning to share the news of our work and our free clinics with other staff, and with patients and their families.

During a recent IPC review of an Irish doctors case in Texas, there was a discussion on the O visa is a non-immigrant visa. The O has been used by doctors, chefs, and Olympic athletes among many others. An O-1 cannot petition for him/herself.

• Receipt of scholarship, awards and/or grants.
• Membership of societies for the elite.
• Showing your works being cited by others.
• Showing that you have participated as a judge in your particular field.
• Show evidence of original scientific and or scholarly achievement, for example letters from field experts.
• Evidence of scholarly articles.
• Performed a critical role in a corporation/organization or such environment.
• Show you command a high salary in your field.

It is worth noting that the same pieces of information/evidence may be used to satisfy a number of these criteria, and to satisfy some of them, you may send your evidence to be evaluated by a peer organization.  To obtain an O visa, you do need a contract. You may ask for a three year term or for the particular length of the contract if it’s for a shorter period. If you do not request the three-year period, and ask for a shorter period, all extensions are good for one-year increments.