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I have been asked to write a recommendation letter for my former RA's O-1 visa (a US nonimmigrant visa type for "Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement"). She was a perfectly adequate graduate student but not overly impressive RA. She graduated a couple of years ago.

I said I could write something related to my experience with her as a student, but I would have a harder time speaking to her as a leader or her work post-graduation. However, I get the sense from her email that she wants me to evaluate her overall record.

She did send me her CV and some bullets on her accomplishments; however, the issue with taking these at face value is that I think she often oversells herself. Some of this comes from the fact that she constantly uses ChatGPT to write. So, while nothing is strictly untrue, everything sounds just a bit fancier than it would if I were describing it.

Honestly, in my mind, there is no way she should get an O-1 visa. Yet I have been surprised before. I don't want to be the one to tank her application.

Is it more ethical for me to:

  1. Tell her I can't write for her (I don't think any of her other professors would necessarily write for her, and I was her RA supervisor.)
  2. Write about what I know, in positive terms but without exaggeration
  3. Write about her record based on what she has told me
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    Does she have a lawyer helping with the O-1 application? Commented yesterday
  • I am assuming yes. Commented yesterday

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Write the positive things that you know or agree with, skip the negatives.

O-1 is just a visa and "extraordinary" is just a name. In most countries, you get similar rights by simply having a college degree. The US just likes to impose extraordinary requirements on entry.

It takes dozens of letters and other papers for the visa. In your shoes, the standard I'd apply would be "Is she reasonably capable of performing a white-collar job in the US?", because that's all the visa really entitles her to.

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    @AdamPřenosil The step down from O-1 is the H-1, which essentially makes you a wage slave. O-1 is just a 3-year work visa that doesn't kick you out if you lose the job and lets you find a new one. The step up from O-1 is EB-1, which provides the possibility of immigration, and most people with serious achievements go for the EB-1. Commented yesterday
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    @AdamPřenosil Same rights, not same type of visa. The H-1B is extremely restrictive (if not to say abusive) and most countries' white-collar work visas operate closer to the O-1 in terms of allowing for job changes. Australia and Canada in particular allow almost any STEM degree + job offer for similar rights. Commented yesterday
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    Ok, thanks for clarifying this for me! Commented yesterday
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    Okay, this makes sense. I have previously been surprised at who is “extraordinary” … I was wondering if my academic experience led me to put too narrow of a filter on this. Commented yesterday
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    @Dawn The visa was named that way to avoid anti-immigration pushback. In practice, while it's harder than an H-1B, most software developers can get it with some legal help. EB-1 is what award-winning talent or C-levels usually go for. Commented 23 hours ago
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My advice would be to just tell her what you would write and probably show her a draft before it is sent. Tell her this is the best you can honestly do and ask her if she wants it sent or not. Remind her that the visa is intended for "exceptional" candidates.

Let her know that others might be better advocates for her.

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    I'd agree with you except Therac above seems to have the new immigration process down better than anyone else here. Maybe Dawn needs to write 2 letters - the official one for immigration authorities and a personal one where a frank assessment of the applicant's talents is made. Fairly and compassionately of course. References for future employers written by Dawn might follow the tone of the second letter. Commented 22 hours ago
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As I understand the O-1 process, it is quite common for applicants to have a lawyer who will screen the letters and sometimes coach letter writers on how their letters could be more helpful. It is not uncommon for the lawyer to suggest that the applicant get additional letters. You might tell your former RA that you are not sure you could write a helpful letter and ask them to put you in touch with their lawyer for guidance.

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