Why Choose Us?

  • Strong results for O-2 support personnel
  • Clear guidance on eligibility and documentation
  • Streamlined coordination with O-1 petitions
  • California-based in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles
  • Assisting clients nationwide and globally

What Is an O-2 Visa?

The O-2 visa is a temporary, non-immigrant visa for individuals who provide critical support to O-1 visa holders. While the O-1 category is reserved for people with extraordinary ability, the O-2 allows the people who support the O-1 visa holders to work legally in the U.S.

This category recognizes that no production, tour, or competition succeeds without the dedicated professionals working behind the scenes.

Who Qualifies for an O-2 Visa?

To be eligible for an O-2 visa, your role must be essential to the O-1 visa holder’s performance or production. Examples of qualifying roles include:

  • Stagehands, camera operators, lighting designers, songwriters, and sound engineers
  • Editors and content creators
  • Makeup artists, costume designers, and choreographers
  • Trainers, coaches, or managers supporting athletes
  • Longtime team members whose continued collaboration is vital to the project

Your work must be tied directly to the O-1 visa holder and limited to the specific productions, performances, or competitions that brought you to the U.S.

Application Requirements

A successful O-2 application requires strong documentation. Some of the materials commonly needed include:

  • A written advisory opinion from a labor union or peer group
  • Contracts showing your professional relationship with the O-1 visa holder
  • An itinerary of events, performances, or productions in the U.S.
  • Proof that your skills are unique and not easily replaced by U.S. workers

We work closely with clients to ensure that each piece of evidence is presented in a clear, persuasive way.

The O-2 Visa Process

The O-2 visa process involves several steps:

  1. Petition Filing – The O-1 visa holder’s U.S. employer or agent files Form I-129 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf.
  2. Approval Notice – Once USCIS approves, a Notice of Action is issued.
  3. Visa Application – With that approval, you apply for the O-2 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country.
  4. Interview – You attend a consular interview and provide supporting documents, including your passport, evidence of your qualifying relationship with the O-1 visa holder, and evidence of your qualifications.
  5. Visa Issuance – If approved, you receive your O-2 visa, allowing you to work in the U.S. for the duration of the project.

Duration of Stay

The O-2 visa is generally granted for the same length of time as the O-1 visa holder’s project, up to three years. Extensions may be available in one-year increments if the work continues.

Family Members and the O-3 Visa

If you are granted an O-2 visa, your spouse and children under the age of 21 may apply for O-3 visas to accompany you. While O-3 visa holders cannot work in the United States, they are permitted to attend school and remain with you for the duration of your authorized stay. This provides an option for families who wish to stay together during the visa holder’s time working in the United States. 

How D’Alessio Law Can Help

At D’Alessio Law, we understand the fast-paced demands of the entertainment and sports industries. Our team will:

  • Review your eligibility and prepare a tailored application strategy
  • Coordinate timing so your O-2 petition aligns with the O-1 process
  • Work with unions, agents, and production companies to gather documentation
  • Anticipate challenges and resolve issues before they delay your project, performance, or competition.

We are committed to helping you continue your work without unnecessary interruptions.

Contact Experienced Beverly Hills O-2 Visa Attorneys

If you’re part of a team supporting an O-1 holder, securing an O-2 visa is the key to joining them in the United States. Let us guide you through the process and help you present the strongest case possible. Contact D’Alessio Law today to schedule a consultation and start your O-2 visa application with confidence.

D’Alessio Law serves clients across California, with its roots in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, while also representing individuals throughout the United States and globally.

O-2 Visas

Why Choose Us?

  • Strong results for O-2 support personnel
  • Clear guidance on eligibility and documentation
  • Streamlined coordination with O-1 petitions
  • California-based in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles
  • Assisting clients nationwide and globally

What Is an O-2 Visa?

The O-2 visa is a temporary, non-immigrant visa for individuals who provide critical support to O-1 visa holders. While the O-1 category is reserved for people with extraordinary ability, the O-2 allows the people who support the O-1 visa holders to work legally in the U.S.

This category recognizes that no production, tour, or competition succeeds without the dedicated professionals working behind the scenes.

Who Qualifies for an O-2 Visa?

To be eligible for an O-2 visa, your role must be essential to the O-1 visa holder’s performance or production. Examples of qualifying roles include:

  • Stagehands, camera operators, lighting designers, songwriters, and sound engineers
  • Editors and content creators
  • Makeup artists, costume designers, and choreographers
  • Trainers, coaches, or managers supporting athletes
  • Longtime team members whose continued collaboration is vital to the project

Your work must be tied directly to the O-1 visa holder and limited to the specific productions, performances, or competitions that brought you to the U.S.

Application Requirements

A successful O-2 application requires strong documentation. Some of the materials commonly needed include:

  • A written advisory opinion from a labor union or peer group
  • Contracts showing your professional relationship with the O-1 visa holder
  • An itinerary of events, performances, or productions in the U.S.
  • Proof that your skills are unique and not easily replaced by U.S. workers

We work closely with clients to ensure that each piece of evidence is presented in a clear, persuasive way.

The O-2 Visa Process

The O-2 visa process involves several steps:

  1. Petition Filing – The O-1 visa holder’s U.S. employer or agent files Form I-129 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf.
  2. Approval Notice – Once USCIS approves, a Notice of Action is issued.
  3. Visa Application – With that approval, you apply for the O-2 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country.
  4. Interview – You attend a consular interview and provide supporting documents, including your passport, evidence of your qualifying relationship with the O-1 visa holder, and evidence of your qualifications.
  5. Visa Issuance – If approved, you receive your O-2 visa, allowing you to work in the U.S. for the duration of the project.

Duration of Stay

The O-2 visa is generally granted for the same length of time as the O-1 visa holder’s project, up to three years. Extensions may be available in one-year increments if the work continues.

Family Members and the O-3 Visa

If you are granted an O-2 visa, your spouse and children under the age of 21 may apply for O-3 visas to accompany you. While O-3 visa holders cannot work in the United States, they are permitted to attend school and remain with you for the duration of your authorized stay. This provides an option for families who wish to stay together during the visa holder’s time working in the United States. 

How D’Alessio Law Can Help

At D’Alessio Law, we understand the fast-paced demands of the entertainment and sports industries. Our team will:

  • Review your eligibility and prepare a tailored application strategy
  • Coordinate timing so your O-2 petition aligns with the O-1 process
  • Work with unions, agents, and production companies to gather documentation
  • Anticipate challenges and resolve issues before they delay your project, performance, or competition.

We are committed to helping you continue your work without unnecessary interruptions.

Contact Experienced Beverly Hills O-2 Visa Attorneys

If you’re part of a team supporting an O-1 holder, securing an O-2 visa is the key to joining them in the United States. Let us guide you through the process and help you present the strongest case possible. Contact D’Alessio Law today to schedule a consultation and start your O-2 visa application with confidence.

D’Alessio Law serves clients across California, with its roots in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, while also representing individuals throughout the United States and globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an O-2 applicant need to show a relationship with the O-1 performer?

Yes. Applicants generally must show a working relationship and demonstrate why their participation is critical to the O-1’s activities.

Do O-2 visas require a U.S. employer or agent?

Yes. A U.S. employer, agent, or sponsor typically submits the petition on behalf of both the O-1 and O-2 applicants.

How long can someone stay in the U.S. on an O-2 visa?

O-2 status is granted for the time needed to support the O-1’s event or production, and may be extendable depending on the project.

Can O-2 visa holders change employers?

Any change of employer generally requires a new petition because the O-2 classification is tied to the specific O-1 event or engagement.

Can family members of O-2 workers come to the U.S.?

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 may be eligible for O-3 visas to accompany the O-2 worker.

Are O-2 visa holders allowed to work outside the O-1 event?

O-2 workers are typically limited to the activities and employer listed in the approved petition.

Does an O-2 visa lead to a green card?

The O-2 visa is a temporary, non-immigrant classification. Whether someone can pursue permanent residence depends on separate eligibility criteria.