How can an alien change into O1 status in the U.S.?
When the alien is already in the U.S., he or she can change other nonimmigrant status into O1 status inside US, if he or she qualifies as an O1 alien. This option is not available to aliens who entered the US without inspection or who had overstayed their authorized term of admission under the previous status. Further, an alien who is subject to the J1 two year foreign residency requirement may not change his or her status in the US and must obtain an O1 visa outside US after the O1 petition is approved.
