What is an O-1 or O-2 consultation letter?
Petitions for O-1 and O-2 visas must be accompanied by consultation letters, also called advisory opinions, from a designated U.S. peer group or labor organization. A consultation letter becomes part of the underlying petition and is submitted by the petitioner to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) for review.
For what positions does the Directors Guild of America provide consultation letters?
The DGA will provide a consultation letter requested by an applicant for any person seeking to enter the United States to perform the duties of a Director, Assistant Director, Unit Production Manager, Associate Director, or Stage Manager. These positions may be for feature films, documentaries, television programs, commercials, music videos or any other type of motion picture production.
What is included in a consultation letter from the Directors Guild of America?
After the DGA reviews the application and evidence provided to it by a petitioner, the Guild will issue a consultation letter that contains one of three possible responses: the DGA may 1) endorse a petition, 2) object to a petition, or 3) issue a “no objection.” Because federal regulations require the DGA to support an objection with specific facts, objection letters from the DGA often include detailed information about why the application did not satisfy the applicable evidentiary criteria or is otherwise deficient.
What evidence should I provide to the Directors Guild of America (in addition to the petition) when requesting a consultation letter?
For O-1 petitions, provide all evidence necessary to establish that the beneficiary satisfies the applicable evidentiary criteria. The DGA bases its advisory opinions on actual evidence, not on conclusory statements in a cover letter or other document. Petitioners should also submit information about the specific event or production on which the beneficiary will be employed, along with evidence justifying the requested validity period.
For petitioners acting as agents, please provide a complete itinerary of all events, including the dates of each service or engagement, the names and addresses of the establishments, venues or locations where services will be performed, and deal memos or contracts with each employer described in the itinerary. Agents should also provide evidence sufficient to establish they are authorized to act on behalf of both the beneficiary and proposed U.S. employers.
For O-2 petitions based on a long-standing working relationship, provide evidence of the length and nature of the working relationship between the O-1 and O-2 beneficiaries. For O-2 petitions based on continuity of production, provide evidence that significant production has commenced abroad and that the requested O-2 aliens have been sufficiently involved in that production such that their continuing participation is essential to its successful completion.
Where should I send my request for a consultation letter?
You should send a cover letter, the petition and all supporting documentation to:
Directors Guild of America, Inc.
Attn: Sonja Renz, Legal Department
7920 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90046
What does the Directors Guild of America charge for consultation letters?
The DGA charges $250 per petition to provide an advisory opinion. Petitioners should submit with each petition a check in the proper amount made payable to “Directors Guild of America.” The subject line of the check should identify the petitioner and beneficiary. The DGA will not provide advisory opinions for petitions submitted without payment.
How quickly will I receive a consultation letter from the Directors Guild of America?
There is no specific time in which a consultation letter is issued, though the DGA attempts to issue a consultation letter within seven to ten business days of receiving a fully documented request. However, some petitions require additional time to review. After ten business days, petitioners may inquire as to the status of their consultation letter by sending an e-mail to Sonja Renz at srenz@dga.org.
Can I have my consultation letter expedited?
The DGA does not have a process for expediting consultation letters; it responds to requests in the order they are received. If there is an extraordinary reason you require a consultation letter by a certain date, please note that date and the reason for your request in a cover letter.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
Please contact Sonja Renz at srenz@dga.org, or 310-289-2017.