Who is EB-1A for?
People with sustained national or international acclaim in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. Applicants can self-petition, with no US employer or investment.
The ten criteria
- Nationally or internationally recognised prizes or awards
- Membership of associations requiring outstanding achievement
- Coverage of you in professional or major media
- Judging the work of others in your field
- Original contributions of major significance
- Authorship of articles in professional journals or major media
- Display of your work at exhibitions
- A leading or critical role for distinguished organisations
- A salary well above others in your field
- Commercial success in the performing arts
Is meeting three enough?
Meeting three is only the threshold. USCIS then makes an overall judgement of whether you are among the top of your field; the quality of evidence and the persuasiveness of recommendation letters matter just as much.
Processing speed
The I-140 can use premium processing, with a decision generally within 15 working days.
EB-1A at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Investment | No investment required |
| Employer | Not needed — self-petition |
| Processing | Premium processing available for I-140 |
| Family | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 |
EB-1A application process and timing
- Profile assessment and evidence plan (1–2 months): We assess which criteria you meet and plan the additional evidence and recommendation letters needed.
- Prepare and file I-140 (2–4 months): Compile the evidence, recommendation letters and petition, and file the I-140.
- I-140 decision (Premium processing about 15 working days): With premium processing USCIS decides within 15 working days; standard processing takes several months.
- Green card stage (Depends on visa backlog): File I-485 to adjust status, or attend a consular interview, when your priority date is current.
Main EB-1A requirements
- Nationally or internationally recognised prizes or awards
- Membership of associations that require outstanding achievement
- Coverage of you and your work in professional or major media
- Judging the work of others in your field
- Original contributions of major significance to your field
- Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or major media
- Display of your work at exhibitions
- A leading or critical role for distinguished organisations
- A high salary compared with others in your field
- Commercial success in the performing arts
Key benefits of EB-1A
- No US employer or job offer needed
- No labour certification (PERM)
- No investment required
- Premium processing available for I-140
- Spouse and children receive green cards too
More questions about EB-1A
How many criteria do I need to meet? You generally need evidence for at least three of the ten criteria; USCIS then decides overall whether you are among the top of your field.
Do I need a US employer? No. EB-1A is a self-petition, but you must show you will continue working in your field in the US.
Next step
Every family’s background, funds and timeline are different. Global Immigrate’s professional consultants can assess, free of charge, whether this programme suits you and compare other options. You can also request the full programme brochure on the programme page.
Learn more: US EB-1A Extraordinary Ability