Common questions about visa applications, criteria, and the Visa Engine platform
It depends on the visa type:
Meeting the minimum number is necessary but not sufficient. USCIS then conducts a "final merits determination" evaluating whether the totality of your evidence demonstrates extraordinary ability.
Both require extraordinary ability, but they serve different purposes:
| | O-1A | EB-1A | |---|---|---| | Type | Temporary (nonimmigrant) | Permanent (green card) | | Duration | Up to 3 years, renewable | Permanent | | Self-petition | No — requires employer sponsor | Yes — can self-petition | | Criteria | 3 of 8 | 3 of 10 | | Labor cert | Not required | Not required | | Evidentiary bar | High | Generally higher |
Many applicants use O-1A as a stepping stone while preparing an EB-1A petition.
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is not a denial — it's an opportunity to strengthen your petition. You typically have 87 days to respond. Common RFE triggers include:
Respond to every point raised in the RFE with specific, documented evidence.
No. Visa Engine is an educational and analytical tool that helps you understand visa requirements and assess your evidence against published criteria. The analysis is grounded in publicly available immigration policy.
For legal advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified immigration attorney. Our guide content is for informational purposes only.
When you upload a document, our AI pipeline:
The analysis uses structured evaluation rubrics and is grounded in actual USCIS policy — not generic AI knowledge.