Using Dependency Graphs as O-1 Evidence

Open source O-1A petitions present unique challenges. Your work is public and verifiable but scattered across platforms. Dependency graphs solve this. They show exactly how many projects depend on your code. This is powerful third-party validation.

GitHub, npm, and PyPI all generate dependency graph immigration evidence automatically. These graphs track which packages import yours. When 10,000 repositories depend on your library, that proves widespread adoption better than any recommendation letter could.

USCIS officers understand numbers. They may not grasp technical nuances of your algorithms. But they comprehend that 50,000 weekly downloads means genuine industry reliance on your work. O-1 visa open source maintainer cases strengthen significantly with quantifiable metrics.

Screenshot your dependency graphs from multiple sources. GitHub shows dependent repositories. npm displays weekly download counts. PyPI provides version-specific statistics. Capture historical growth demonstrating increasing adoption over time.

Document which major companies use your code. LinkedIn, Airbnb, Stripe, Google, or Microsoft mentioning your library in their technical blogs provides extraordinary evidence. Get testimonials from engineers at these companies explaining why they chose your solution.

Beyond Border helps open-source maintainers translate technical metrics into compelling immigration evidence that USCIS officers immediately understand.

Download Statistics as Original Contributions Proof

GitHub download stats O-1 petitions work when presented strategically. Raw numbers alone don't suffice. You need context. Compare your download counts to similar projects. Show you're in the top percentile of packages in your category.

npm packages with 100,000+ weekly downloads demonstrate exceptional reach. PyPI projects with millions of total downloads prove sustained impact. Open source contributor visa applications strengthen when download trends show consistent growth rather than one-time spikes from viral moments.

Track download statistics over time using third-party analytics tools. npmtrends.com compares your package against competitors. pypistats.org provides detailed historical data. These objective third-party sources carry more weight than self-reported metrics.

Document geographic distribution of downloads. If developers across 100+ countries use your library, that proves international acclaim. Regional concentration in tech hubs like Silicon Valley, New York, London, or Berlin demonstrates adoption by sophisticated engineering teams at major companies.

Break down downloads by version. Rapid adoption of new releases proves developers actively track your work and trust your updates. High retention rates between versions show users don't abandon your library after trying it once.

Beyond Border structures download evidence to meet O-1 visa open source maintainer requirements while addressing USCIS concerns about distinguishing individual contributions from community efforts.

Security Advisories as Judging Criterion

Security advisory O-1 criteria documentation offers powerful judging evidence. When you discover vulnerabilities in others' code and publish CVE reports, you're literally evaluating peers' work. This satisfies judging requirements directly.

CVE database entries with your name as reporter prove you identified security flaws professionals missed. Link to CVE reports at cve.mitre.org showing your security research. Include metrics about vulnerability severity ratings you assigned. Critical vulnerabilities you discovered demonstrate deep technical expertise.

GitHub Security Advisories you authored show proactive security work. Document how many repositories fixed issues based on your reports. Quantify impact through affected user counts. If your vulnerability disclosure protected millions of users, that proves significant industry contribution.

Participating in responsible disclosure programs strengthens open source O-1A petitions. HackerOne, Bugcrowd, or direct company security reports all count. Get acknowledgment letters from companies thanking you for security research. Include any bounties paid, though payment isn't required.

Security conference presentations about vulnerabilities you discovered add published material criterion evidence. BlackHat, DEF CON, or regional security conferences all qualify. Record your talks and include view counts demonstrating community interest in your security research.

Beyond Border helps security researchers document vulnerability discoveries as judging evidence while protecting confidential disclosure agreements with affected companies.

Maintainer Status as Critical Role Evidence

Becoming a third-party validation O-1 maintainer on major open-source projects proves extraordinary ability. React, TensorFlow, Linux, Kubernetes, or other widely-used projects have rigorous vetting. Only top contributors earn maintainer privileges.

Document your path to maintainer status. Show pull request acceptance rates. If only 5% of contributors eventually become maintainers, that proves you're in the top tier. Include emails or GitHub notifications granting you maintainer access. Get letters from project leads explaining selection criteria and your standing.

Maintainer duties demonstrate critical role criterion. Code review responsibilities show you judge others' contributions. Merge privileges prove trusted decision-making authority. Release management demonstrates leadership within highly-visible projects affecting millions of users.

Quantify your maintainer impact through open source contributor visa metrics. How many pull requests have you reviewed? How many contributors have you mentored? What percentage of project commits come from developers you onboarded? These numbers prove essential contributions to project health.

Multiple maintainer roles across different projects strengthen petitions significantly. Maintaining three major libraries demonstrates sustained excellence rather than one-time success. Diversity across technology stacks proves broad technical expertise rather than narrow specialization.

Beyond Border positions maintainer status as combination evidence satisfying critical role, judging, and original contributions criteria simultaneously.

Building Complete Open-Source O-1 Petitions

Successful O-1 visa open source maintainer petitions combine multiple evidence types. Start with dependency graph immigration evidence showing adoption. Add download statistics proving usage scale. Include security work demonstrating judging abilities. Document maintainer status proving critical roles.

Don't forget traditional criteria. Technical blog posts count as scholarly articles. Conference talks provide published material evidence. Speaking at PyCon, JSConf, or GopherCon proves community recognition. Awards from hackathons or open-source foundations strengthen cases considerably.

Membership criterion works through USCIS recognized organizations. IEEE, ACM, or Apache Software Foundation memberships requiring achievement-based selection all qualify. GitHub Sponsors supporters or Open Collective backers prove financial recognition of your value, though numbers matter more than individual amounts.

High salary criterion applies even to open-source work if you're employed based on your reputation. Tech companies hiring you specifically for open-source expertise can document premium compensation compared to general software engineering roles. Consulting rates or corporate sponsorship deals provide additional salary evidence.

Press coverage of your projects satisfies published material requirements. TechCrunch, Hacker News front page, or Ars Technica articles about libraries you maintain all count. Include traffic statistics showing article reach when available.

Beyond Border develops comprehensive open source O-1A strategies combining technical metrics with traditional extraordinary ability evidence for maximum approval chances.‍

Frequently Asked Questions

Can GitHub stars alone prove extraordinary ability for O-1 visas? GitHub stars support O-1 petitions but need supplemental evidence like download statistics, dependency graphs, maintainer roles, and community recognition to prove sustained acclaim required for extraordinary ability classification.

How many downloads do I need for an O-1 visa? No specific download threshold exists, but successful O-1 petitions typically show weekly downloads exceeding 10,000 for npm packages or millions of total downloads for PyPI projects, with context showing top percentile ranking.

Do open-source security advisories count as judging others' work? Yes, security advisories with CVE entries prove judging criterion when you evaluate code security, assign severity ratings, and provide vulnerability assessments that others rely on for protecting their systems.

Can I get an O-1 visa without working for a company? Open-source maintainers can obtain O-1 visas through agent sponsorship rather than traditional employers, allowing continued independent work while maintaining valid immigration status in the United States.

What evidence proves my individual contribution to collaborative projects? Individual contributions show through commit history, pull request authorship, maintainer status, code review comments, release notes you wrote, and documentation attributing specific features or innovations to you.