What qualifies as “extraordinary” in today’s world? Surely you can’t just be an educator, an entrepreneur, a professional musician, or be highly recommended by peers in your field. But what if you were all of those things, and possibly more? Yuliyan Stoyanov, a Bulgarian national, satisfies all of the aforementioned attributes, as well as having a degree in violin performance from LSU and a Ph.D. in musical arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He and his wife, also a Bulgarian national, have received nearly $500,000 in scholarships to pursue their musical education and have played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Josh Groban, and in 10 countries around the globe. Their continued education granted them student visas during their studies and after graduating, they decided to apply for an O-visa.
Friend of the Immigrant 