Should recommendation letters be sent directly to USCIS?

No. Recommendation letters are not sent directly to USCIS in a separate submission: they are part of the evidence package that accompanies the O-1 visa petition, filed all at once.

In the O-1 process, the petitioner (who may be the employer, an agent, or legal representative) gathers all supporting documents into a single package and submits them to USCIS together with the petition form. The letters are included in this package as part of the evidence demonstrating that the applicant has extraordinary ability in their field.

In practice, this means the letter writer delivers the letter to you or your representative, not to the agency. It is the responsibility of whoever assembles the case to organize the letters clearly, alongside the other supporting materials, so the adjudicator reviews a cohesive file.

• Letters are part of the evidence package, not a separate submission.
• The petitioner or representative assembles and files the complete package.
• They support the demonstration of extraordinary ability for the O-1.

Since each case has its own specifics, it is worth reviewing the official USCIS instructions and, if possible, working with a specialist to put together a well-structured file.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.