Sample Letters of Recommendation - O-1 (Revised 2013)

8/15/2019 Sample Letters of Recommendation - O-1 (Revised 2013)

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Guidelines to Writing a Letter of Recommendation

Here is a format for writing a letter of recommendation for an artist or performerwho is a potential visa beneficiary:

1. Basis of Expertise: First and foremost, the letter must establish the writer’sexpertise or authority. The writer must be someone who is an expert on the visa

beneficiary’s field. f the applicant is a musician, the person writing the letter

may be a fellow musician, a music critic, a record producer, a band manager, anagent, or someone else who could reasonably be considered an expert on music.

Thus, in the letter, he should establish the basis of his expertise. He can do this by

describing the extent of his professional experience in the field.

!. Relationship: The writer should establish how he has come to "now the

applicant and came to be familiar with her wor".

#. Professional Accomplishments: The examiners are interested in the extent ofthe accomplishments and recognition that the applicant has so far attained. $o

this could be a reference to roles that the applicant has had, or important pro%ectsthat the applicant wor"ed on, or anything that the applicant has done that would

set her apart from others. This is the most important section, so you really want to

give as much detail as is possible here. &ive special attention to facts that are praiseworthy, such as the fact that the applicant had a ma%or role in a production,

or that the applicant organi'ed a production by herself, or that a particular

production that the applicant was in was very successful or well(received. f you

have )uestions as to what you should write about, tal" to me.

*. Talent and Ability: +t least one sentence, but preferably a paragraph or more,should be dedicated to the visa beneficiary’s talent. The examiners loo" for bu''words li"e talent-, ability-, aptitude-, and s"ill-, in combination with

ad%ectives such as extraordinary-, superb-, gifted-, uni)ue-, or genius-. The

writer should be specific in regard to what about the beneficiary’s wor" ma"es her so talented.

. iscellaneous: +ny other relevant information that the writer might thin" would

sway the examiners’ opinions should be mentioned. This could include awardsthe beneficiary won, popular artists/performers with whom the beneficiary

wor"ed, or any other fact that might help to establish the extent to which the

beneficiary has extraordinary ability in her field.


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November 22, 2012

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesVermont Service Center75 o!er "e#den StreetSt. $#bans, V% 05&7'(0001

%o "hom It )a* Concern+

#ease a##o! me to introd-ce m*se#. )* name is /obert dmonds and Iam !riting this #etter in strong s-pport o Sophia Stag#os. )s. Stag#os ispetitioning an (1 visa in the United States.

I am the chairman and C o ino orber Inc., orber )edia Inc., andpresident and C o orber 3% 4igita#. I started the #m and distrib-tioncompan* 6o orber $ssociates, Inc., rom m* apartment in 1'81. Short#*thereater I epanded m* compan* into a !or#d!ide media b-siness !ith &0emp#o*ees and 920 mi##ion in ann-a# reven-e. :* !a* o the 6o orber division,m* b-siness has distrib-ted critica##* acc#aimed oreign #ms, a!ard(!inningindependent eat-res, and c#assics or *ears. $dditiona##*, I have !or;ed ined-cation or the )-se-m o )odern $rt, served on advisor* pane#s or the Ne!

o-rna# Dance Scope, !rittenreg-#ar#* or Artforum and other periodica#s, and served as $ssistant roessor onthe Ne!


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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Vermont Service Center

75 Lower Welden Street

St. Albans, VT 05479-0001

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with the highest regard that I write this letter in support of Marco Monte.

Marco is petitioning for an O-1 visa of extraordinary abilities in the United States. I ask

that you accept this letter as evidence of his extraordinary abilities in the field of dance.

My name is Josip Grigo and I am a seasoned professional choreographer. I have

been in the dance industry for many years and have gained invaluable experience

throughout my illustrious career. Currently, I am a Dance Instructor in London,

including at the famous Royal Opera House. My specialty at this highly reveredinstitution is ballet. For the past 30 years I have performed in countless ballet

productions, largely based in Great Britain. Throughout my career I have performed at

the Royal Opera House’s Covent Garden in productions of “Romeo and Juliet”, “Les

Noces”, “The Four Seasons”, and “The Firebird”. In addition, I have appeared in two

cinematic productions,Don CarloandThe Nutcracker. These films were produced for

television and were televised around the globe.

In 2003, I met Marco Monte when participated in several productions at the

Royal Opera House in London. Additionally, I had the privilege of being Marco’s ballet

instructor. Throughout my career, I have taught many dancers and performers; however,few have possessed the abilities that Mr. Monte possesses. Marco is a gifted performer

who transcends memorized movement and becomes one with all elements within the

production. Being such an extraordinarily gifted dancer I asked him to lend his talents

to the Royal Opera House’s production of “Boris Godunov” in 2003. “Boris Godunov”

was a week-long production that was performed at the world-renown Royal Opera

House Covent Garden in central London. This theatre seats more than 2,256 people and

consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and anamphitheater gallery.

Throughout the production’s sold out engagement, Marco’s talent was clearly

demonstrated. His extraordinary abilities were witnessed by a large audience as heexecuted an immaculate choreography that was both captivating and riveting. It is my

professional opinion, with over 30 years of experience in the field of dance, that Mr.

Monte is an extraordinarily gifted performer who is very deserving of an O-1 visa. Once

on stage, Monte’s abilities are clearly evident to anyone in attendance and his brilliance

as a dancer is something truly astonishing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_(theatre)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balconyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphitheatrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_(theatre)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balconyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphitheatre


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Sincerely yours,

Josip Grigo

Royal Opera House Covent GardenJune 16, 2012

Vermont Service CenterU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services7 !o"er #e$den StreetSt. %$&ans, V' 0(7)*0001

'o #hom It +a Concern-

It is a privi$ege to oer m highest recommendation to Cristina +om&e$$i/s petition or an *1 visao etraordinar a&i$ities. Cristina is a antastica$$ ta$ented artist "ho em&odies the greatestua$ities o an actor.

+ name is +arie 3e$$and and I am a 4rench cinematograph and theatre critic. Current$, I amserving as a correspondent or the 4rench magazine L’Ecran fantastique in Ita$. I amresponsi&$e or creating artic$es and eature in the Ita$ian $anguage and other $anguages as "e$$.

%dditiona$$, I am the author o m o"n month$ co$umn entit$ed Ennio & Co su Alias "hich ispu&$ished in Manifesto magazine. 'hroughout m career I have had the distinct honor o co$$a&orating "ith a num&er o distinguished "riters and have produced reno"ned "or5sinc$uding- Profession reporter de Michaelangelo Antonioni "ith 4arncis Vanoe and Petiteanthologie del Cahiers du cinéma (9 volumes "ith %ntonine de 3aecue. +oreover, I havecritiued severa$ "or5s such as- La Politique des auters, !l cinema horror in !talia" Lars von#rier" and $ario Argento. +oreover, I have served pane$s or internationa$$ revered i$mestiva$s inc$uding the 4estiva$ de$ uovo Cinema di esaro and the Su$monacinema 4estiva$.+ost recent$ I have pu&$ished m $atest &oo5 entit$ed 8'eoria Critica de$ Cine- %vatares de unaCinei$ia9.

3eore having the opportunit to meet +s. +om&e$$i in person, I $i5e an patron o the arts,

en:oed her perormances on the screen. 3eore venturing to e" ;or5 Cit, Cristina esta&$ishedherse$ as a prominent actor in Ita$, appearing in numerous productions inc$uding-

Methemphs%cosis & Steano


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)arch 22, 2012Vermont Service CenterU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services75 o!er "e#den StreetSt. $#bans, V% 05&7'(0001

%o "hom It )a* Concern+

It is m* great enth-siasm that I -nreserved#* recommend $shna /abiaor an (1 visa o etraordinar* abi#it*.

)* name is Sag!asi Cohen and I am an accomp#ished artist. I st-died6ine $rt in m* native India and s-ccess-##* comp#eted a )asters in6ine $rts A aintng rom the :anaras 3ind- Universit*. $cross the *earsI have had proessiona# accomp#ishments that have been n-mero-sand varied, inc#-ding+ so#o and gro-p ehibitions, nationa# ehibitions,a!ards and residencies, and severa# p-b#ications. )* !or;s have beensho!cased aro-nd the !or#d in gro-p ehibitions and I have had thehono-r o presenting so#o ehibitions thro-gho-t India, inc#-dingNationa# hibitions in )-mbai, Ne! 4e#hi, :anga#ore, and era#a.$dditiona##*, m* paintings have been ehibited at the !or#d(reno!nB-ggenheim )-se-m ondon and the Shanghai Contemporar* in

China. In 2008, I !as a!arded the ho> Internationa# $ssociate/esidenc* in Ne! 4e#hi in addition to having received the Bo#d )eda#$!ard in !ater co#o-r painting rom the DI "est :enga# 6estiva#.

I !rite this #etter to oEer m* -nconditiona# s-pport to )s. $shna /abia,an artist !ho is etraordinari#* ta#ented and !ho possesses a tr-#*internationa# perspective and is constant#* prod-cing c-#t-ra##*conscio-s !or;s. %hro-gho-t the *ears, I have seen $shna ehibit here#egant and high#*(st*#ized !or; across vario-s medi-ms. She hassing#e(handed#* created st-nning vis-a# designs that have been -sedin advertisement or the internationa##*(reno!n ashion #abe# Benetton.

%hese advertisements !ere circ-#ated thro-gho-t India and man*parts o So-theast $sia. $dditiona##*, she has prod-ced e#aboratedesign !or; that has been -sed b* the )ac;inac Is#and %o-rism:-rea-. $shna !as responsib#e or creating e=-isite and vis-a##*appea#ing designs that have been p-b#ished and disp#a*ed in a## areaso )ac;inac Is#and. %hese accomp#ishments spea; ver* c#ear#* o herartistic abi#ities and her enormo-s ece##ence in the arts. In addition tobeing an incredib#* gited artist, $shna is an amazing h-man being.


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She has vo#-nteered her time and ta#ent to instr-ct -nderprivi#egedgir#s in India in the arts. I am certain that $shna -nderstands theimportance o giving bac; to the comm-nit*, *et the impact that hashad on these gir#s is tr-#* etraordinar*.

I ;ind#* as; that *o- approve $shna?s (1 visa o etraordinar*abi#ities. She is a -ni=-e#* ta#ented artist !ho is capab#e o achievingman* o-tstanding accomp#ishments thro-gho-t her career. 3er case istr-#* -ni=-e in the act that she is b-rsting !ith ta#ent and *etpossesses an tr-e inte##ect-a# -nderstanding o the !or#d aro-nd her.)s. /abia?s !or; !i## great#* contrib-te to the United States b* !a* oher artistic co-rage and determination.

Sincere#*,

S-santa )anda#

Januar 12, 2012


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Vermont Service CenterU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services7 !o"er #e$den StreetSt. %$&ans, V' 0(7)*0001

'o #hom It +a Concern-$ease a$$o" me to introduce mse$. + name is +arce$$o %gne$o and I

am a proessiona$ trumpeter, composer, and educator. It is m great enthusiasmthat I "rite this $etter o support on &eha$ o +ontserrat ViAa$s. +ontserrat ispetitioning or an *1 visa o etraordinar a&i$it and I "ho$e*hearted$ supporther petition.

>ver since I have had the a&i$it o reco$$ection, music has &een a ma:orpi$$ar in m $ie. I "as &orn in San 4rancisco, Ca$iornia into a musica$ ami$.+ ather, Joe %gne$o, "as a c$assica$ trumpeter and m mother, +aria !eone, "as an opera singer. +usic has a$"as &een m passion, as "e$$ as, the drivingorce in m $ie. I orma$$ studied the music and specia$ized in the Jazz 'rumpetand 3ass, studing under the $egendar Char$ie @aden at Ca$%rts, "here Io&tained degrees in &oth musica$ instruments. Short$ ater comp$eting mproessiona$ training, I moved to e" ;or5 Cit to pursue m career as a Jazzmusician. Since moving to e" ;or5 Cit, m music, a mi o post*&op and neo*c$assica$ :azz "as "ide$ em&raced & the do"nto"n scene. 'hroughout mcareer I have recorded seven a$&ums containing origina$ music and haveco$$a&orated "ith prominent musicians, inc$uding- Steve Co$eman,


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tru$ impressed I am & +s. ViAa$s/ a&i$ities. !istening to the harmonic me$odiesshe produces on the piano is &oth riveting and enchanting. She possesses auniue a&i$it that dra"s the audience into the perormance and a$$o"s or themusic to not simp$ &e heard, &ut instead to &e eperienced.

I respectu$$ as5 that ou approve +s. ViAa$s/ *1 visa petition.

'hroughout m ears in the music industr I have met e" peop$e to &e asta$ented as she. %none "ho has had the distinct opportunit to hear herperorm "ou$d most certain$ agree. I am certain that given the opportunit,+ontserrat "i$$ great$ contri&ute to the %merican music industr.

Sincere$,

+arce$$o %gne$o


9/11

USCIS A Vermont Service Center75 o!er "e#den StreetSt. $#bans, V% 05&7'(0001

4ear Sir or )adam+

%he o##o!ing is !ritten in -nconditiona# s-pport o )r. -ca $ntone##i?spetition or an (1 visa in the United States.

)* name is 6rancesca )irte##i and I am the 6o-nder and !ner o Vio#eta6i#m. %hro-gho-t m* career I have served as a director and prod-cer orreno!n artistic persona#ities, inc#-ding+ )ario )artone, Steano Incerti,)immo Ca#opresti, and Nanni )oretti. )oreover, I have been a consistentcontrib-tor to the United %heatre o Nap#es. In 2001, I >oined the ac-#t* othe disting-ished Istit-to Universitario S. rso#a :enincasa o Nap#es in theScience o Comm-nications department. $dditiona##*, since 200& I have beenspearheading an ann-a# artistic seminar in C-ba or the sc-e#a Internaciona#

de Cinema * %e#evision de San $ntonio de #os :aFos. In 200&, I o-ndedIndigo 6i#m in co##aboration !ith 6rancesca Cima and Car#otta Ca#ori. Since itso-ndation, Indigo 6i#m has prod-ced a p#ethora o a!arding !inning #ms,inc#-ding One man up b* ao#o Sorrentino, The Consequences of love, TheFamily Friend, Marios !ar, "l Divo a @-r* rize !inner at the CannesInternationa# 6i#m 6estiva#, The girl #y the la$e, %a Doppia Ora, and This Must#e the &lace starring Sean enn, amongst others.

$s one o the most disting-ished !or;ing prod-cers in Ita#* I oEer m* highestrecommendation o -ca $ntone##i. -ca is a disting-ished and accomp#isheddirector !ho has achieved an incredib#e degree o internationa# acc#aim. 3ehas been recognized at the Cannes Internationa# 6i#m 6estiva# and has !on an

Ita#ian Bo#den B#obe or his short #m Sotto il mio 'iardino( )oreover, -cahas co##aborated !ith disting-ished Ita#ian artists, most notab#* !ith thecritica##* acc#aimed director ao#o Sorrentino on more than one occasion.

%heir iconic co##aboration in "l Divo !as internationa##* acc#aimed and !asbesto!ed the @-r* rize and the ri V-#cain at the G1st $nn-a# CannesInternationa# 6i#m 6estiva#. It goes !itho-t stating the incredib#e honor anddegree o o-tstanding achievement represented b* an a!ard at the CannesInternationa# 6i#m 6estiva# H an a!ard to !hich a## #m artists aspire.

-ca has demonstrated time and time again that he is deserving o thehonors and benets associated !ith an (1 visa o etraordinar* abi#ities. 3iseceptiona# ta#ent m-st be ce#ebrated, not on#* in Ita#*, b-t a#so in the UnitedStates. )r. $ntone##i is an o-tstanding director, !ho in a short time hasestab#ished himse# as the most a!arded short #m director in the histor* oIta#*. 3is ta#ents !i## great#* contrib-te the $merican #m ind-str* and I amcertain he !i## become o the great directors o o-r time.

:est regards,


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6rancesca )irte##i6o-nder !ner, Indigo 6i#m

July 12, 2012

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Vermont Service Center

! "o#er $elden Street

St. %l&ans, V' 0!()*0001

+ear Sir or adam-

'his letter is #ritten in unconditional support o /uri

'aana#as petition or an *1 visa o e3traordinary a&ilities in

the ield o +ance. s. 'aana#a is an eminently talented artist#ho is a leader in her ield and an e3ceptional am&assador o the

4utoh dance.

I am largely considered to &e one o the leading mem&ers in my

ield. Since having earned a 5h+ in Culture and 5erormance rom

the University o Caliornia 6 "os %ngeles I have ocused my

research on the glo&alization o the Japanese avant*garde

movement o Butoh. Butoh is an intricate, ancient, and &eautiul

dance orm that is largely unno#n outside o Japan. I have

ocused my endeavors on the dissemination o %sian %merican

dance, including- site*speciic perormance, arts activism, space

and place, and the representation o se3 and reproduction in &othperormance and pop culture. oreover, I am a pu&lished author

and have pu&lished numerous articles such as- 7% aniesto or

oving- 8io 9 :omas +elicious ovement $orshops; in the

Journal o 'heatre, +ance, and 5erormance 'raining. y most

recent endeavors include serving as an %ssistant 5roessor o

+ance at 'e3as $omans University and authoring a manuscript

a&out the perormances o the reno#n dancers 8io 9 :oma.

%s a prominent mem&er in my ield, I am oten invited to

distinguished estival and sho#cases that eature the most

talented dancers in the #orld. It #as during one o these

estivals, speciically the Cool


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that she #as a master o techni>ue ? using 4utoh, Contemporary,

4allet and Jazz into her perormance. @aving &een thoroughly

impressed &y her magniicent sho#case, I have since ollo#ed her

career and I am proud to have her represent the 4utoh art orm ?

something #hich is very diicult to do outside o Japan.

I am o the opinion that /uri possesses a degree o talent that#ill &e e3ceptionally diicult to parallel. @er stage presence

is un#avering and her perormances are artistically &rilliant and

daring. She is clearly deserving o the honors associated #ith

the *1 visa and I #ould recommend she &e allo#ed to serve as a

pioneer o the 4utoh dance in mainstream %merica. s. 'aana#a

is more than capa&le o ascinating %merican audiences #ith her

uni>ue talents and technical e3pertise. She #ill continue to &e

a contri&uting asset to the United States as a leader in 4utoh

dance.

Sincerely yours,

Aosario Villanueva

Sample Letters of Recommendation - O-1 (Revised 2013)

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