Zoe Lofgren: “I am pleased to support the O-VISA Act, which is a narrow, but important, bill. I thank my Judiciary Committee…”

“I am pleased to support the O-VISA Act, which is a narrow, but important, bill. I thank my Judiciary Committee colleagues--the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler)--for their bipartisan effort in introducing this legislation, which will bring needed transparency to the O visa petition process. For individuals who seek an O visa specifically to work on a motion picture or a television production, the law requires that an individual have a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement, which must be recognized in the field through extensive documentation. In recognizing the need to balance the demand for a global exchange of creative professionals with the need to prevent the displacement of American workers, current law requires that O visa petitioners provide a written advisory opinion from an appropriate labor organization regarding the beneficiary's qualifications. For example, when petitioning for a foreign director, a petitioner must seek an opinion from the Directors Guild of America. As experts in their fields, these labor organizations are in a great position to appraise a beneficiary's qualifications. This process is intended to ensure that only the most extraordinary and accomplished individuals are granted an O visa. The O-VISA Act requires that the U.S.…”