Latest news with #O-1B
The Age
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
US visa denial forces Australian musical comedy duo to postpone start of world tour
The world tour of popular Australian musical comedy duo TwoSet Violin has been thrown into question after one of the members' US visa application was denied two months before their tour was to begin. Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, TwoSet Violin's founding members, were scheduled to perform shows in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles in July. Both performers applied for an O-1B visa, which applies to individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts. Chen's visa application was quickly accepted. However, Yang learnt his application, which he says was 'exactly the same' as Chen's, was denied on May 15. Before receiving the denial, Yang was asked for further evidence. However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) later denied his application after deeming his additional evidence as unsatisfactory. Chen's application, on the other hand, was approved immediately and he was not required to provide further evidence. As a result, the performers have postponed their first five shows. The remaining US performances – set to include Chicago, Dallas and Boston in September – remain up in the air as their agency, KD Schmid, works through Yang's second visa application. The USCIS said as a matter of practice, it generally does not discuss the details of individual immigration cases. Yang says the rejection was particularly baffling given he has successfully applied for US visas in the past, including for TwoSet Violin's previous two world tours (in 2017-18 and 2023). Notably, they travelled under different visas for their previous tours, not O-1B visas. But because of their growing profile and success, they are using an agency for this tour and applied for the visa for those with an extraordinary ability in the arts. 'It's pretty stressful because there are multiple parties involved,' Yang says. 'It hurts fans quite a lot – people buy tickets, fly to different cities, book accommodations … But we also had orchestras involved and our agency. I wish we could understand the reason [the application was denied] better because I just spent around $6000 on it.' TwoSet Violin officially formed in 2014. Yang and Chen, both of whom worked at two of Australia's leading orchestras at the time, began uploading YouTube videos of themselves playing the violin while cracking jokes. Their mission was simple: to make classical music more accessible and welcoming. This included showcasing their outstanding musical skills while hula-hooping or wearing Apple Vision Pro headsets, or while wearing wigs and impersonating some of history's greatest classical musicians. Today, their YouTube channel has over 4.3 million subscribers and their TikTok account has over 1.2 million followers. They were even named the 'greatest string-based content creators of our time' by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
US visa denial forces Australian musical comedy duo to postpone start of world tour
The world tour of popular Australian musical comedy duo TwoSet Violin has been thrown into question after one of the members' US visa application was denied two months before their tour was to begin. Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, TwoSet Violin's founding members, were scheduled to perform shows in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles in July. Both performers applied for an O-1B visa, which applies to individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts. Chen's visa application was quickly accepted. However, Yang learnt his application, which he says was 'exactly the same' as Chen's, was denied on May 15. Before receiving the denial, Yang was asked for further evidence. However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) later denied his application after deeming his additional evidence as unsatisfactory. Chen's application, on the other hand, was approved immediately and he was not required to provide further evidence. As a result, the performers have postponed their first five shows. The remaining US performances – set to include Chicago, Dallas and Boston in September – remain up in the air as their agency, KD Schmid, works through Yang's second visa application. The USCIS said as a matter of practice, it generally does not discuss the details of individual immigration cases. Yang says the rejection was particularly baffling given he has successfully applied for US visas in the past, including for TwoSet Violin's previous two world tours (in 2017-18 and 2023). Notably, they travelled under different visas for their previous tours, not O-1B visas. But because of their growing profile and success, they are using an agency for this tour and applied for the visa for those with an extraordinary ability in the arts. 'It's pretty stressful because there are multiple parties involved,' Yang says. 'It hurts fans quite a lot – people buy tickets, fly to different cities, book accommodations … But we also had orchestras involved and our agency. I wish we could understand the reason [the application was denied] better because I just spent around $6000 on it.' TwoSet Violin officially formed in 2014. Yang and Chen, both of whom worked at two of Australia's leading orchestras at the time, began uploading YouTube videos of themselves playing the violin while cracking jokes. Their mission was simple: to make classical music more accessible and welcoming. This included showcasing their outstanding musical skills while hula-hooping or wearing Apple Vision Pro headsets, or while wearing wigs and impersonating some of history's greatest classical musicians. Today, their YouTube channel has over 4.3 million subscribers and their TikTok account has over 1.2 million followers. They were even named the 'greatest string-based content creators of our time' by the London Symphony Orchestra.
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Business Standard
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Missed H-1B lottery? O-1 visa could now be your best US work option
Indian professionals who didn't get picked in the H-1B lottery still have a way forward—through the O-1 visa. It's not for everyone, but for those who qualify, it offers a clear, uncapped route to work in the United States. 'This visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability,' said Varun Singh, managing director at XIPHIAS Immigration. 'It includes professionals from science, education, business, athletics and the arts.' Who qualifies Applicants need to show sustained national or international acclaim in their field. That could mean: Scientists with patents or landmark research Business leaders with substantial industry contributions To qualify, you'll need to provide strong evidence—awards, media coverage, original work, or membership in elite professional associations. The visa is backed by documentation, not chance. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there's no lottery, and no annual cap. However, applicants must have a US sponsor or agent to file the petition—self-petitioning is not allowed. Types of O visas The O category is divided into: O-1A: For science, education, business, or athletics (excluding the arts and entertainment) O-1B: For those in the arts, film, or television industry O-2: For support staff accompanying an O-1 visa holder O-3: For spouses and children of O-1 and O-2 visa holders Does the O-1 visa lead to a green card? Not directly. But it's a dual intent visa, which means holders can apply for a green card while on O-1 status through employment-based immigration or other eligible routes. How to apply for an O-1 visa from India 1. Find a US sponsor or agent A US employer, agent or organisation must file on your behalf. If you're working across projects—common in the arts—a US-based agent can submit the petition. 2. Gather documentation You'll need proof of your extraordinary ability. This can include: Major national or international awards Published work or press coverage Exclusive membership in professional bodies High remuneration compared to peers Original contributions (like patents or innovations) Participation on judging panels Commercial success (such as box office revenue or citations) Those applying under O-1B (arts) need to show a high level of distinction but may need fewer types of documentation than those in science or business. 3. File Form I-129 with USCIS Your US sponsor must submit Form I-129 to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including: — A consultation letter from a peer group or labour union (mandatory for O-1B) — Work itinerary — Signed contract with the employer Processing time: Regular: 2–3 months Premium: 15 days (fee: $2,805) 4. Wait for USCIS decision If approved, you'll receive a Form I-797 Notice of Approval. This confirms petition approval, but is not a visa. 5. Apply for the visa at a US consulate in India Next, complete the DS-160 form online and pay the visa fee of \$190. Schedule an interview at a US consulate—options include Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Carry: Your passport DS-160 confirmation Form I-797 Form I-129 and supporting documents 6. Enter the US Once approved, you can travel up to 10 days before your job starts. O-1 visas are typically valid for up to 3 years and can be extended in one-year increments. Key points — Spouses and children under 21 can apply for O-3 visas (but cannot work) — There's no cap on the number of O-1 visas issued each year — Status changes from another visa type (e.g. H-1B to O-1) are allowed For many highly skilled individuals, the O-1 visa can be an open door—provided they have the recognition and records to prove it.
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Love Island star wants to 'start again' as she ditches the UK and moves abroad
Love Islander Abigail Rawlings left the villa in 2021, after being coupled up with Dale Mehmet, but she's flying solo as she leaves the UK to start her 'new life' in Los Angeles Love Island star Abigail Rawling s has packed up and ditched the UK for a "new start" in Los Angeles, after leaving the villa in 2021. The tattoo artist was paired up with Toby Aromolaran in the seventh series of ITV's reality dating show, when she entered on day 24. But he dumped her when he met Mary Bedford in Casa Amor, with Abi recoupling with Dale Mehmet. They were dumped from the villa on day 42, with Abi revealing two weeks after the series ended that she'd got back with her ex, David Aboro Fitzpatrick, and they were living together. However, Abi appears to be single again, having moved stateside to begin her adventure in the US. She's shared her journey on Instagram, posting a series of snaps showing off her new life in LA. Abi, 31, wrote: "So today is officially my third week living in LA.. i'll be dead honest and admit it's been way more challenging than I ever expected it to be. I haven't been posting much on the grid cause honestly it's been mainly pretty boring life stuff, tryna get set up in a new country ain't no joke. "I mean literally no one said it was gonna be easy.. but FECK America why you gotta make everything so dam tricky?? ahahah." She continued: "I'd say I've spent majority of my time here so far feeling overwhelmed and stressed lol. "But as of yesterday, I finally got my SSN number through (something I discovered you can't do anything without it here) so now I can finally make a start on finding my own little apartment and create my own little safe space to start building my foundations for my new lil dream LA life. But regardless of how hard it's been to adjust so far, I'm still unbelievably grateful for this opportunity to start again and even more grateful for the beautiful souls I'm so lucky to have in my life that love and support me endlessly." The star revealed in April she had lined up a job at Sashatattooing Gallery in the city, a female owned studio. Abi will also be doing guest slots at Be More You, another tattoo parlour in LA. Abi thanked the owners of her new studios, saying she would "forever be so unbelievably grateful for you guys helping make this wild opportunity of starting my new lil dream life in LA possible." She also explained how she made her dream of living in Los Angeles come true, saying she "girl bossed so hard I somehow manifested my dream life into my reality." Abi added: "For 8 months solid, I visualised myself sitting in this exact spot whilst doing my admin work .. and now here I am sitting in that spot today. Whatever goal you're tryna achieve right now, just a lil reminder that you've absolutely got this." She also posted a video telling her followers how the move caused "new heights to my stress levels". One of her hashtags on the post said she had an O-1B visa. This kind of visa is for "individuals who have extraordinary ability in the arts or have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry". They can work in the US on the visa, which is a "nonimmigrant" category, with dual intent - this means applicants can pursue a green card at the same time granting them permanent residency.
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Australian comedian ditches US trip due to concern she could be denied entry over Trump jokes
An award-winning Australian comedian has cancelled a planned trip to the US after receiving legal advice that she could be stopped at the border due to her previous jokes about the Trump administration. Alice Fraser, who has appeared on Australia's ABC and the BBC and toured internationally, was due to head to New York in the first week of May to promote her recently published book. She planned to apply for an O-1B visa, which permits comedians to live and work in the US if they demonstrate 'extraordinary ability' in the arts. But after widespread reports of people being denied entry to the US and travellers being detained, Fraser sought advice from an immigration lawyer. 'I asked [the lawyer] what I thought was a ridiculous question – that I do political satire and have a fair few jokes floating around on Elon Musk and Donald Trump, and whether that would be a risk,' Fraser told Guardian Australia. 'I thought I was being paranoid, but she said it might [pose a risk] and they'd almost certainly Google me. She said while the vast majority of people will be able to travel in and out … they're definitely doing increased scrutinising. 'If I didn't have two children, I might be more open to taking a risk, but the vision of me being there with a baby strapped to me and held up and hassled, or worse … I'm not up for that.' According to immigration law group Reeves 'the US government is relying on social media screening more and more during the vetting process to gather extensive information', noting an online presence offers insights into 'interests, associations and potential security concerns'. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Foreigners have had their devices searched at the US border and been denied entry, including a French scientist who had messages on his phone critical of Donald Trump. Travellers have been incarcerated in Ice detention centres and held for weeks, including Germans Lucas Sielaff, Fabian Schmidt and Jessica Brösche; British graphic artist Rebecca Burke and Canadian businesswoman Jasmine Mooney. Fraser has been a regular critic of Trump as a contributor to political podcasts and radio shows, telling the Sydney Morning Herald in 2020: 'I wouldn't take an IOU from Trump if he wrote it on the money he owed me.' She appeared at the Melbourne International comedy festival this week as part of the satirical political podcast A Rational Fear – billed as a 'federal election special' or a 'how to evade deportation' special. Fraser lived and worked in the US on an internship visa more than a decade ago. She said the planned May visit was a 'real opportunity' to promote her book, but travellers now 'don't know what to expect'. 'There's a sense of unreality, this country which has presented itself as very stable, in terms of freedom of speech, is now behaving very unpredictably,' she said. 'People who have always been OK will probably still be OK but people on the margins will be discouraged – and that's disappointing. You lose the voices around the edges.' Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion According to Smartraveller, which provides advice on behalf of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, an ESTA or valid visa allows travellers to board a US-bound plane or request entry at a land border but doesn't guarantee entry to the US. Smartraveller notes customs and border protection have strict requirements and 'broad powers' for temporary detainment or deportation when assessing eligibility. 'Officials may ask to inspect your electronic devices, emails, text messages or social media accounts. If you refuse, they can deny your entry,' it states. 'You may be held at the port of entry or a nearby detention facility. The Australian government cannot intervene on your behalf, and our ability to provide consular assistance in these circumstances may be limited.' Even if granted entry, the US may keep devices for months if a traveller refuses to unlock them. Fraser said she wouldn't stop making jokes but she also wanted to return to the US. 'I will go to the America that will have me, when it's no longer reasonable for a visa lawyer to say I should purge my social media before I go there because a joke about Elon Musk might be considered hostile to the nation,' she said.
