The O-1 category is reserved for individuals who have risen to the very top of their field and have enjoyed sustained national or international acclaim. Extensive documentation of their achievements and a peer consultation must be presented with the petition. The person should be entering the US to participate in a specific, definable activity or event. This category is only appropriate for a very limited number of truly outstanding individuals. Former J-1 Exchange Visitors who are subject to the two year home residence requirement are eligible for O-1 status even though they have neither complied with the requirement nor obtained a waiver.Please be advised O-1’s are only work authorized for their sponsoring employer and only O-1’s sponsored by UCONN can be paid by UCONN through the Payroll Department. No Honorarium can be paid to an O-1 sponsored by another University. To do so would violate INS/Immigration rules. |
- Type(s) of Payment
- *Salary
*Payment to individual
*Travel reimbursement
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- Length of Time to Process
- Several weeks to gather documentation; 1-2 months at INS, longer if documentation is deemed insufficient
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- Length of Stay
- No set limit, but only for the duration of the specific activity or event
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- Special Conditions
- *The individual must be truly outstanding and have sustained national or international acclaim
*Requires extensive documentation of the person’s outstanding qualifications
*The hiring department must provide a written advisory opinion from a “peer group” in the field
*The hiring department must pay the cost of return transportation to the O-1’s home country should the person be dismissed for any reason prior to the end date of the O-1
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- Required Documents Summary
- *Evidence of the individual’s sustained national or international acclaim and recognition for achievements in the field
*Peer advisory opinion
*Form I-129
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Forms Needed for Payment##
- Salary
- *Form W-4 and CT-W4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate completed single, one and contact Payroll for amounts/biweekly using standard graduated withholding tables, unless tax treaty exemption applies.
*I-9, copy of passport, copy of I-94 and Foreign National Information Form.
*Form 8233 Exemption from Withholding on Compensation and applicable Revenue Statement if tax treaty exemption applies.
*Social Security number required
- Payment for Services and Travel Reimbursement
- *Disbursement Voucher with attached copy of passport, visa, I-94 and Foreign National Information form(for employee travel use Travel Expense Report, no copies of immigration documents needed), passport & visa.
*Form W8BEN – Certificate of Foreign Status
*Form 8233 Exemption from Withholding on Compensation and applicable Revenue Statement if tax treaty exemption applies.
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Tax Liability/Withholding
- Social Security Tax
- FICA withholding required
- Federal Tax
- Salary:
Taxes are deducted based on “single with one allowance plus contact Payroll for amounts, using standard graduated withholding tables, unless tax treaty exemption applies
- Travel Reimbursement:
None at this time, under review
- Payment for Services (Performers Only):
30% withholding, unless tax treaty exemption applies.
- State Tax
- Salary:
Taxes are deducted based on “single” with one allowance using standard graduated withholding tables, tax treaties do not in Connecticut.
- Travel Reimbursement:
None
- Payment for Services:
None, except entertainers and speakers paid $1,000.00 or more, are taxed at 5%
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- I-9 Verification###
- Valid I-94 with O-1 notation
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