Interest Letters & Deal Memos: Why They Matter for Both Talent and Employers

What's the Difference: Interest Letters vs. Deal Memos

Before we dive in, let's clarify what we're talking about:

Interest Letter: A formal document from an employer expressing interest in engaging your services. It includes the basic terms—role, salary range, and scope of work. This letter serves as evidence for USCIS that your employment is legitimate and contemplated.

Deal Memo: A more detailed agreement that outlines specific terms of engagement—often used in entertainment and sports. Think of it as a step between an interest letter and a full contract.

Both documents serve a critical purpose: proving to USCIS that you have real work waiting for you in the United States.

Why Employers Should Provide Interest Letters

Here's what most employers don't realize: you can hire world-class international talent without filing a single visa.

The Cost Problem

• H-1B visas can cost employers up to $100,000 in filing fees alone
• Even standard O-1 employer-filed petitions run $15,000-$20,000
• Plus legal fees, premium processing, and the time investment

The O1DMatch Solution

When you provide an interest letter through O1DMatch:

• You don't file anything with USCIS
• You don't pay visa fees
• You access extraordinary talent who handle their own visa through an agent-based petition
• You expand your talent pool to include the best in the world—not just who's already authorized

For employers hesitant about visa costs or complexity, this opens doors that were previously closed.

How Interest Letters Strengthen the Talent's Petition

From the talent's perspective, interest letters are petition gold:

1. Establishing Employment Criteria

Certain employers and salary ranges help establish that you meet the essential employment and remuneration criteria for an O-1A application. USCIS wants to see that your compensation matches someone of extraordinary ability.

2. Building Your Itinerary

For agent-based petitions, USCIS requires evidence that employment is not speculative. Even if you're the greatest talent in your field, USCIS can deny your visa if they think you have "nothing to do here."

Interest letters solve this by showing multiple contemplated engagements.

3. Flexibility Without Dependency

With multiple interest letters, you're not dependent on any single employer. If one opportunity falls through, your visa remains intact because it's based on the agent-petitioner, not the individual employer.

4. Business Ownership Option

Here's something most people don't know: with an agent-based O-1, you can also open your own business and work for yourself between engagements with your interest-letter employers.

Risks and Considerations

For Talent

Sometimes schools or employers aren't familiar with the agent-based O-1 process. When this happens, direct them to O1DMatch so they can review our educational resources and understand how it works.

For Employers

The commitment is minimal—you're expressing interest, not guaranteeing employment. But be genuine. These letters go to federal immigration authorities, so only sign if you have real interest in the talent.

The Win-Win

For Employers: Access extraordinary international talent without visa costs or filing obligations.

For Talent: Strengthen your O-1 petition with legitimate employment evidence while maintaining flexibility.

O1DMatch brings both sides together.

For Employers Agent Based Petitions O1A Requirements