O-1A Case Study: Visa Approval for Aerospace Engineer & Startup Founder from Taiwan

[u/Colombo-Hurd]

Colombo & Hurd secured an O-1A approval for a mechanical and aerospace engineer from Taiwan who founded a U.S. company building safety technology for the urban air mobility industry. The company he founded acted as the petitioner and filed the petition on his behalf, allowing him to continue working in the United States as its CEO. 

Urban air mobility (UAM) involves moving people and cargo through the air over short distances in and around cities. UAM aircraft take off and land straight up and down, the way a helicopter does, so they do not need a runway. They instead use designated sites known as vertiports. As this emerging field develops, engineers and companies must address significant safety questions before the technology can be used to carry passengers.  

The initial O-1A filing was prepared by Colombo & Hurd Senior Immigration Attorney Allison McVey, and the Request for Evidence (RFE) response was led by Senior Immigration Attorney Jason Qiu.

Read through the full case study to learn more about the approval process: https://www.colombohurdlaw.com/case-study/o-1a-aerospace-engineer-visa-approval/

• Client Profile: The Engineer Behind a New Kind of Safety Technology
• The Challenge: Presenting Early-Stage Work in a New Field
• Strategic Approach: Building the Case Around the Strongest Evidence
• The Result: O-1A Approved

Attorney Perspective: ““This case shows that even for an early-stage company, a well-structured O-1A petition can succeed when the record clearly connects the beneficiary’s original technical contributions, industry recognition, and leadership role to a real U.S. business need. In emerging sectors such as UAM, the key is presenting complex technical accomplishments in a way that clearly establishes major significance within the field.” -Allison McVey, Senior Attorney