Frequently Asked Questions

How many criteria do I need to meet?

It depends on the visa type — and the strategy differs by route:

US talent / employment-based

• O-1A: At least 3 of 8 criteria, OR a major internationally recognized award (e.g., Nobel Prize)
• EB-1A: At least 3 of 10 criteria, OR a major internationally recognized award
• EB-2 NIW: All 3 Dhanasar prongs, plus an advanced degree or exceptional ability
• O-1B: At least 3 of 6 criteria

Meeting the minimum number is necessary but not sufficient. USCIS then conducts a "final merits determination" evaluating whether the totality of your evidence demonstrates extraordinary ability.

International routes (different logic)

• UK Global Talent: Mandatory endorsement criterion + at least 2 optional criteria (Tech Nation / endorsing body rules)
• EU Blue Card: Job offer (≥6 months), salary threshold, and recognized higher education (or national experience alternative) — not a talent portfolio
• Canada FSW (Express Entry): ≥67 points on the FSW grid to be eligible, then compete on CRS; prove every claim with documents after ITA
• Australia 858: All core pillars — international recognition, still prominent, asset to Australia, Fair Work income ability, and a valid nominator

Visitor / tourist visas (different product logic)

Visitor routes (US B-1/B-2, UK Standard Visitor, Canada TRV, Australia subclass 600, Schengen Type C) are not scored on talent criteria counts. Officers and Visa Engine focus on checklist completeness (passport, funds, ties, purpose, itinerary, lodging, and similar) plus temporary intent / genuine visitor / refusal risk. Some items (for example invitation letters) are optional; missing required high-impact evidence raises assessed risk.

What's the difference between talent and visitor visas in Visa Engine?

Talent / work routes (O-1A, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, O-1B, UK Global Talent, EU Blue Card, Canada FSW, Australia 858) use a criteria or points grid, narrative preparation, and often drafts. Cases emphasize extraordinary ability, endorsement, or skilled-migration evidence.

Visitor / tourist routes use a document checklist and refusal-risk readiness view. Prepare and Drafts tabs are hidden; the focus is ties, funds, trip purpose, and temporary intent — not a talent portfolio.

What do visitor-visa officers weigh most?

Across jurisdictions, officers typically look for a coherent temporary trip:

• Home-country ties — employment, property, family, or studies that support intent to leave
• Funds — balances and income proportionate to the itinerary (or a documented sponsor)
• Purpose — tourism, family visit, or legitimate short business activity, stated consistently
• Itinerary and lodging — dates and places that match each other

Jurisdiction-specific labels differ (for example INA 214(b) in the US, genuine visitor in the UK, Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) in Australia), but weak ties, thin funds, or inconsistent stories are common refusal drivers everywhere.

What is the Schengen 90/180 rule, and do I need travel insurance?

A Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa generally allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. The 90/180 limit applies independently of the visa sticker’s validity window.

Applicants must also show Schengen-wide travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover for emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and repatriation for the whole stay. Apply via the consulate of your main destination (or first entry rules when there is no clear main destination).

What's the difference between O-1A and EB-1A?

Both require extraordinary ability, but they serve different purposes:

Many applicants use O-1A as a stepping stone while preparing an EB-1A petition.

Can I self-petition?

• EB-1A: Yes. You can file Form I-140 on your own behalf.
• EB-2 NIW: Yes. The National Interest Waiver specifically waives the employer sponsorship requirement.
• O-1A / O-1B: No. An employer or agent must file Form I-129 on your behalf.
• UK Global Talent: No employer sponsor for the endorsement/visa stage (endorsing body assesses merit).
• EU Blue Card: Requires a qualifying employer contract/offer in the destination member state.
• Canada FSW: No job offer required (arranged employment is optional CRS points).
• Australia 858: Requires an eligible Australian nominator; the nominator need not be your employer.

What happens if I get an RFE?

A Request for Evidence (RFE) is not a denial — it's an opportunity to strengthen your petition. You typically have 87 days to respond. Common RFE triggers include:

• Insufficient evidence for a claimed criterion
• Missing comparison data for high salary claims
• Generic recommendation letters without specific contribution details
• Awards that lack evidence of national/international recognition

Respond to every point raised in the RFE with specific, documented evidence.

Does Visa Engine provide legal advice?

No. Visa Engine is an educational and analytical tool that helps you understand visa requirements and assess your evidence against published criteria. The analysis is grounded in publicly available immigration policy.

For legal advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified immigration attorney. Our guide content is for informational purposes only.

How does the AI analysis work?

When you upload a document, Visa Engine:

1. Reads the text from your document
2. Analyzes it against the criteria for your visa type, using published immigration rules
3. Scores the document on evidence quality and identifies which criteria it supports
4. Assesses your overall case readiness across all uploaded documents

The analysis is checked against official sources for your country (USCIS, Home Office, and equivalent authorities) — not a generic chatbot.