Photographers are a unique profession. They use their observations to portray our world in different ways and from different angles, revealing beauty we might otherwise miss. Photography also has many sub-fields, and for a modern art photographer, the expression of their viewpoint is especially critical in their artistic work.
We recently received a great piece of news from USCIS: Our client, Mr. T, a modern art photographer, had his EB-1A petition approved without a Request for Evidence (RFE). Congratulations to Mr. T! Here's the good news!
Upon receiving the great news, Mr. T was thrilled and expressed his gratitude for the hard work and support of our legal team. We were incredibly honored to have helped Mr. T and his family secure this "ticket" to the other side of the ocean, and we look forward to meeting with him in the U.S. soon!
Photographers are a common type of client in our success stories. What are some of the common application strategies for photographers in different sub-fields?
Awards: For photographers, awards are an incredibly important criterion. On one hand, the prestige of an award effectively demonstrates the industry's recognition of the photographer's work. On the other hand, when we submit the evidence, we don't just include photocopies of certificates and trophies. We also incorporate the organizing committee's evaluation of the work and the judging process to highlight the award's authority and experts' interpretations and acknowledgment of the work.
Media coverage is also a very helpful criterion for photographers. A photographer's work and awards often have the opportunity to be reported on by the media. Specifically, media reports about the photographer's awards and exhibitions can serve as mutually corroborating evidence.
If a photographer is a member of a national photography association or a branch of a specific photography school, the targeted nature of the membership can make the case even stronger.
This criterion can be met if the applicant has founded their own independent, large-scale studio or photo company, or has held a leading role in an organization or a specific project.
Well-known photographers in the industry are often invited to serve as judges for various awards. These can be organized by professional associations or media outlets. If you have been invited to serve as a judge and have relevant experience, it will undoubtedly strengthen your application.
This is a criterion among the 10 categories of EB-1A that seems custom-made for artistic talent. Photographers, designers, and painters often hold their own art exhibitions or participate in exhibitions with some of their works. Higher-level art exhibitions provide an exceptional application channel for photographers.
The wealth that your talent generates is a very direct and intuitive acknowledgment of your influence in the industry. It is a very important point in an extraordinary ability petition.
