EB-1A
Extraordinary ability
The EB-1A is a green card for people who have risen to the very top of their field. You can file it yourself, with no employer, no job offer, and no labor certification step. The case must show sustained national or international acclaim, and that you will keep working in your field in the U.S.
Request a consultIs the EB-1A for you?
- Researchers, founders, and engineers with recognized work and a strong public record
- Artists and athletes with sustained acclaim
- O-1 holders ready to move to permanent residence
- People who want a green card that does not depend on one employer
- Who sponsors
- Self-petition
- Typical stay
- Permanent
The evidence criteria
Meet at least 3 of the 10 criteria below, or show a one-time achievement such as a major, internationally recognized award.
- 01Lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field.
- 02Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement of their members, as judged by recognized experts.
- 03Published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
- 04Judging the work of others in your field or an allied field.
- 05Original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business contributions of major significance.
- 06Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or major media.
- 07Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
- 08A leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation.
- 09A high salary or other significantly high pay compared with others in the field.
- 10Commercial success in the performing arts, such as box office receipts or sales.
Your case, start to finish.
An attorney scores your record against all ten criteria, then decides which ones to argue and which to leave out.
We also build for the second step: a narrative showing that your record, taken as a whole, places you among the small group at the top of your field.
We gather citations, coverage, judging records, and pay data. Our tools link each claim in the petition to the exhibit that proves it.
Before filing, an attorney reviews the petition line by line, and our checking tools confirm that dates, figures, and exhibit references match.
Before you ask.
Is meeting three criteria enough?
It gets you to the second step. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) then weighs the whole record to decide whether you have sustained acclaim and are among the small percentage at the very top of your field. We write the petition with that second step in mind.
How long does it take?
Two clocks matter. The first is USCIS processing of the petition (Form I-140), which premium processing can speed up. The second is the State Department's monthly Visa Bulletin, which sets when you can take the final green card step based on your country of birth. We check both when we evaluate your case.
How is it different from the O-1A?
The criteria look similar, and the evidence often overlaps. The EB-1A leads to permanent residence, and USCIS applies a higher bar: sustained acclaim at the top of the field. Some people start with an O-1A and file the EB-1A later.
Can my family get green cards too?
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can receive green cards as your dependents.
Worth comparing.
O-1A
Extraordinary ability in science, business, or technology. No lottery, no annual cap.
Employer or agent · Up to 3 years, renewable
EB-2 NIW
Advanced degree or exceptional ability, in work that serves the national interest.
Self-petition · Permanent
EB-1B
Outstanding professors and researchers with international recognition.
Employer · Permanent
Tell us about
your case.
Share where you are today and where you want to go. We'll help you understand the immigration path and the work surrounding it.