Does my spouse or significant other need an O-2 or O-3 Visa?
Our clients Canelo Alvarez and his wife, Fernanda Gomez, obtain O-1 and O-2 visas to build their empire in the United States. This couple did not want to move to the United States from Mexico but also wished to enjoy the plentiful opportunities to expand both of their brands in the United States. Utilizing the O-2 essential support staff visa instead of the typical O-3 for spouses, Fernanda was empowered to move freely within the United States to start and run businesses on behalf of the couple.
When married couples run businesses as a team, especially in creative and athletic industries, the O-2 visa is a powerful tool allowing each spouse to exercise maximum control over enterprises in the United States. When the principal O-1 visa is structured correctly, the spouse can use an O-2 visa to start and run multiple business affairs of the couple. If the couple is unmarried, then the O-2 is the only option because the O-3 visa only applies to spouses.
Canelo Alvarez's O-1A visa is structured as an entrepreneur, not just a World Champion.
We established Canelo Alvarez's eligibility for O-1A as a multiple-time world champion in multiple weight classes. However, We tailored the entire itinerary of his O-1A visa to include more than competitions. As a world Champion, Canelo has sponsorships, restaurants, investments, and philanthropic endeavors that are not supported; under the standard P-1 visa for internationally recognized athletes. Instead, we used the O-1A category to fill his contemplated itinerary to mirror what we would do for an entrepreneur looking to expand new business in the United States.
Thus under this O-1A approval, which focuses on his background as an athlete, he has obtained multiple O-2 essential support staff visas for his training staff and business venture partners.
O-2 Visa for Fernanda Gomez to support Family enterprises
Fernanda Gomez is a tremendous businessperson in her own right and uses her talents to expand the business endeavors of the couple. She became concerned about unauthorized work authorization due to the need for her travel to the United States to conduct the business affairs of the Canelo Team and enterprises. She had already applied successfully for the O-3 visas for spouses, but her team approached us with the novel concept of obtaining an O-2 visa.
At the time, we had never filed an O-2 visa for a spouse, we have done them for plenty of parents, but this was our first. After weighing the circumstances, we agreed this concept is beautiful for powerful couples worldwide.
Utilizing a well-structured O-1 petition and O-2 essential support staff visa, Fernanda can start and conduct business without worrying about unauthorized work authorization. Furthermore, she can obtain her US tax id to take advantage of complex tax-saving strategies.
We highly recommend the O-1 and O-2 visa structure for married and unmarried power couples looking to take advantage of the United States marketplace without having to live in the United States permanently.
