United States of America · skilled migration
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)
Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.
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Overview
The EB-1A is an immigrant visa category for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, supported by sustained national or international acclaim. EB-1A permits self-petitioning, which makes it a key route for researchers, founders, and senior professionals without a specific sponsoring employer.
Processing time
I-140: 6–12 months (premium processing 15 business days). Adjustment of status/consular processing adds further time based on visa bulletin availability.
See source window: 6 months – 1.5 years →Government fees
I-140 USD 715; I-485 Adjustment of Status USD 1,440; premium processing USD 2,805.
Typical duration
Permanent residence (green card).
Primary source
USCIS — Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1 · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
Either a one-time major achievement (e.g. Nobel, Oscar, Pulitzer) or at least 3 of 10 EB-1A regulatory criteria.
Evidence of sustained national or international acclaim.
Intent to continue working in the area of extraordinary ability in the US.
Common blockers
Criteria met on paper but failing the final merits determination (Kazarian two-step).
Weak evidence of how the beneficiary rises to the top of the field.
Typical evidence
Citation analyses (Google Scholar, Scopus) and peer-review records.
Recommendation letters from independent experts.
Press, awards, judging records, membership criteria.
Application pathway
Step 1
Self-file Form I-140
Submit petition directly to USCIS with evidence package.
Step 2
Await approval and visa-bulletin current status
EB-1 is typically current for most countries; India and China may backlog.
Step 3
Adjust status or consular process
File I-485 in the US or apply for an immigrant visa abroad.
Step 4
Receive permanent residence
Receive green card and plan eventual naturalisation.
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Related routes
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job offer for EB-1A?
No. EB-1A allows self-petitioning. You do need to show intent to continue working in your area of extraordinary ability and provide evidence of how you will do so in the US.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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