Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law can help you and your family through the type O visa process in Oklahoma City. An O-1 or O-2 visa is a great opportunity for people with extraordinary abilities to move to Oklahoma City, but it can also be a good opportunity for your family. That has its own immigration process, and you want to make sure that’s handled correctly from the start. We can help. Set up a free consultation today.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Moving to Oklahoma City for work is a big change, especially when you’re bringing your family with you. That’s where an O-3 visa becomes important. It’s designed specifically for certain family members of O-1 and O-2 visa holders, including:
- Spouses
- Unmarried children under the age of 21
In other words, you’re depending on your spouse or parent that already holds a type O visa. And with that, the stakes are raised considerably. That’s when it makes sense to have legal guidance from our team, where we can:
- Look at your relationship to the O-1 or O-2 visa holder to see whether an O-3 visa may be a good fit
- Help put together the application and supporting documentation
- Explain what USCIS and the State Department look for during the process
- Help you understand what you can and can’t do while you’re in the U.S. on an O-3 visa
- Respond to questions or issues that come up during the process
The O-3 visa is tied to the principal O-1 or O-2 visa holder, so your immigration status can depend on theirs. Getting it right from the beginning can make things easier for your family once you’re here in OKC.
How the O-3 Visa Application Process Works
A lot of people assume that if their spouse or parent gets an O-1 or O-2 visa, the rest of the family automatically gets to come along. That’s not quite how it works. You still have to apply for the visa, and that brings in a process where USCIS is going to:
- Look at your relationship. O-3 visas are available to the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an O-1 or O-2 visa holder.
- Look at the principal visa holder’s status. USCIS and the State Department will look at the O-1 or O-2 visa holder’s status and the period they’ve been authorized to stay in the United States.
From there, you’ll have to:
- Submit the appropriate application and documentation showing your relationship to the O-1 or O-2 visa holder.
- If you’re outside the United States, you typically have to apply for your O-3 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling here.
As with the O-1 or O-2 visa process, USCIS has the latitude to ask clarifying questions throughout the application process, and typically will want further information if anything comes up. Our team can help you understand what needs to be taken care of, but once your petition is approved, you can join your spouse or parent in Oklahoma City and remain here for at least three years.
What Documentation Can Help My O-3 Visa Application?
One benefit to an O-3 visa is that it’s generally a lot easier to meet the requirements. Instead of providing extensive evidence of your extraordinary ability, you simply have to provide proof of your relationship to your O-1 or O-2 visa holder. The best way to do that is to get copies of:
- A marriage certificate
- Your child’s birth certificate
- Passports and other identification documents
- A copy of the principal visa holder’s O-1 or O-2 approval or visa
- Documentation showing the principal visa holder’s authorized period of stay
- Evidence showing that you are an unmarried child under 21
- Other immigration records or documents requested as part of the application
The goal is pretty simple: show who you are, your relationship to the O-1 or O-2 visa holder, and that you qualify for O-3 status. That’s easier said than done in some cases, but no matter what your situation is, our team will be there to help.
Ylla Gosney Helps Families in OKC With O-3 Visas
Moving to Oklahoma City for work can be a big opportunity for you or your spouse, but it’s also a big change for your family. If you’re coming along as the spouse or child of an O-1 or O-2 visa holder, an O-3 visa may be what allows you to make that move together.
At Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law, our team can help you understand whether an O-3 visa makes sense for your situation, prepare the necessary application, and help you stay on top of the process. Set up a free consultation today to talk over your options.