O-1

O-1 Alien of Extraordinary Ability 

The O-1 visa classification is intended for foreign nationals who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, or business and who are coming temporarily to the United States to engage in employment. An O-1 is one of a handful of individuals who have risen to the top of their profession or field of endeavor. Pursuant to Institutional guidelines and policies, JHU limits O-1 sponsorship to faculty position. To inquire about eligibility for O-1 sponsorship, please contact the OIS at [email protected].

The Office of International Services does not prepare O-1 cases but coordinates the O-1 sponsorship process with the applicant, attorney, and hiring department. The OIS is the only office with the authority to facilitate the filing of an O-1 petition with the University’s approved outside immigration counsel, or sign Form I-129 in support of an O-1 request. As the Johns Hopkins University [JHU] will be the petitioner in such cases, it is not at the discretion of the foreign national or the sponsoring Department to select an attorney to represent JHU. These cases may only be handled by the University’s outside immigration counsel following a written referral from the OIS.

O-1 sponsorship incurs both legal and filing fees. These fees are not a mandated employer business expense and may be borne by either the foreign national or the sponsoring department. The responsible party for all costs must be determined before the OIS will forward a case to outside immigration counsel.