Immigration: When Only ‘Geniuses’ Need Apply

Far away from these debates lies one quiet corner of U.S. immigration policy: the program for what are known as “genius” visas. These visas are awarded to immigrants with extraordinary abilities in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics. The program, for what are officially called O-1 visas, began in 1990 as lawmakers sought to separate these applicants from the pool of those seeking H-1B visas, the visa program for skilled immigrants used by many technology companies. While H-1B applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree and possess some specialized skill, O-1 visas are allotted to a more elite crowd: those who can prove to U.S. immigration officials that they are the very top in their fields. Peter F. Asaad, an immigration attorney and adjunct professor of law at American University, calls the recipients “Nobel prize quality or equivalent.”http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/may2009/db20090517_864505.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_top+storyBy Moira Herbst — Business Week