Do schools require specific documents to enroll children?

Yes, but enrolling children of O-1 visa holders follows the standard process used by any school in the United States. Although the O-1 is designed for professionals of extraordinary ability, dependents face no different school enrollment requirements than other families.

In general, public and private schools request documents to confirm the child’s identity, academic history, and compliance with health and district residency requirements. Commonly requested items include:

• The child’s birth certificate or passport.
• Previous school records or transcripts.
• Proof of residency in the school district, such as a lease agreement or utility bills.
• Vaccination records.

If original documents are in another language, a certified translation into English may be required. Because requirements vary considerably from school to school and state to state, the best approach is to contact the school or district directly where you plan to enroll your children to get the exact list of documents needed.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.