How to Qualify for the O-1A: A Practical Guide to Achievable Evidence
Wondering if your achievements are strong enough for the O-1A?
In this webinar, we’ll break down the criteria in plain English and show how applicants, including recent graduates, early-career professionals, founders, and operators, build compelling evidence through realistic, achievable steps.
Many people are surprised to learn that activities like judging a hackathon, publishing in an industry magazine, earning a selective membership, or taking on a critical role at a growing company can all count toward meeting the O-1A’s “3 out of 8” criteria. With focused effort, 1–2 years is enough for most applicants to build a strong, persuasive narrative.
We’ll also share insights from Concord’s experience supporting thousands of successful visa cases, along with current O-1A trends, including last year’s ~93% approval rate out of ~10,000+ petitions.
What you’ll learn
The O-1A criteria explained clearly: what each one actually means and how USCIS interprets it
Real examples of achievable evidence that anyone can build toward (judging, authorship, selective memberships, contributions, media, etc.)
Weak vs. strong evidence and how to upgrade what you already have
How to craft your narrative so your achievements are presented with maximum clarity and impact
What a realistic 6–24 month preparation plan looks like for early-career applicants
Live Q&A: ask about your own profile and get tailored insights
Your speakers
This session will be led by:
Kevin Park, CEO of Concord: startup operator, executive, and visa strategist who has navigated global immigration systems across 20+ countries.
Yijing Li, U.S. Immigration Attorney:JD from Tsinghua and Washington University, with 500+ O-1A, EB-1A, and complex U.S. immigration cases supported.
Together, they’ve helped hundreds of founders, students, researchers, and early-career professionals build winning O-1A cases, including applicants with no prior awards or publications.
About Concord
Concord helps founders, investors, and professionals navigate U.S. immigration with speed, clarity, and zero stress.
Part of the Crimson Education Group, we’ve supported 3,250+ successful visa cases across 170+ countries. Our team combines experienced startup executives with in-house immigration attorneys, offering both strategic guidance and legal precision to turn complex visa pathways into clear, achievable journeys.
📌 Space is limited. RSVP to secure your spot.
💡 Can’t attend live? Register and we’ll send you a summary with key takeaways.