EB-1 (Employment Based First Preference Visa)

The EB-1 Visa is a US immigrant visa that is part of the employment-based visa category.

EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability Visa)

• This visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.
• Extraordinary ability – achieved a level of expertise in their field that is significantly above that of their peers
• To qualify for this visa, applicants must demonstrate that they have sustained national or international acclaim and that their achievements have been recognized in their field of expertise. They also must be able to provide evidence of their achievements, such as awards, publications, and media coverage.
• Must meet 3 out of the 10 criteria required by USCIS (or comparable evidence if criteria is not applicable). 10 criteria listed below:
  • Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence.
  • Evidence of your membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members.
  • Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media. 
  • Evidence that you have been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel.
  • Evidence of your original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field.
  • Evidence of your authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
  • Evidence that your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
  • Evidence of your performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations.
  • Evidence that you command a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field.
  • Evidence of your commercial successes in the performing arts. 
• Letters of endorsement are extremely important. The endorsements should corroborate the claim of extraordinary ability in the chosen field. 

EB-1B (Outstanding Professors and Researchers Visa)

• This visa is for individuals who can demonstrate international recognition for their outstanding achievements in a particular academic field. 
• Must have at least THREE years of experience in teaching or research in the specific academic field. 
• Must be entering the United States in order to pursue tenure or tenure track teaching or a comparable research position at a university, institution of higher education, or private employer.
• Must meet 2 out of the 6 criteria required by USCIS (or comparable evidence if evidence is not applicable). Criteria listed below:
  • Evidence of receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement.
  • Evidence of membership in associations that require their members to demonstrate outstanding achievement.
  • Evidence of published material in professional publications written by others about the noncitizen’s work in the academic field.
  • Evidence of participation, either on a panel or individually, as a judge of the work of others I the same or allied academic field. 
  • Evidence of original scientific or scholarly research contributions in the field.
  • Evidence of authorship of scholarly books or articles (in scholarly journals with international circulation) in the field.
•  Also, must provide an offer of employment from the prospective U.S. employer and the employer also must demonstrate that it employs at least 3 full-time researchers. However, no labor certification is required. 

EB-1C (Certain Multinational Manager or Executive Visa)

• This visa is for individuals who have been employed outside the United States for at least 1 of the last 3 years preceding the filing of the petition. 
• The U.S. petitioner must have been doing business for at least 1 year, have a qualifying relationship to the entity you worked for outside the U.S., and intend to employ you in a managerial or executive capacity.
• No labor certification is required.