Prizes or awards
Lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in your field.
Example evidence: industry awards, best paper prizes, competitive fellowships, with proof of who judged and how selective they are.
If your work has earned sustained recognition in your field, the EB-1A lets you petition for yourself, with no employer sponsor and no job offer. We help you map your record to the criteria and present it the way officers actually read it.
Green card
Permanent residence, not a temporary work visa.
Self-petition
You can file on your own behalf as the petitioner.
No job offer
You show you will continue working in your field in the U.S.
No labor certification
No PERM process and no employer recruitment test.
Premium processing
Available for the petition if you want a faster decision.
Who it is for
EB-1A is designed for the small share of professionals whose achievements have been recognized nationally or internationally, and who can show that recognition has been sustained over time.
The category covers the sciences, arts, education, business and athletics. There is no degree requirement and no minimum salary. What matters is the documented record: how others in your field have recognized your work and what it has changed.
You qualify at the first step with a one-time major, internationally recognized achievement, such as a Nobel Prize or an Olympic medal, or by meeting at least 3 of these 10 criteria.
Meet at least 3 of 10
Three is the minimum to move forward. Strong petitions usually show more, each backed by clear evidence.
Lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in your field.
Example evidence: industry awards, best paper prizes, competitive fellowships, with proof of who judged and how selective they are.
Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement, judged by recognized experts.
Example evidence: fellow-level society memberships or invitation-only bodies, with their admission rules.
Coverage about you and your work in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
Example evidence: feature articles and interviews, with the outlet's circulation or readership.
Serving as a judge of others' work in your field, individually or on a panel.
Example evidence: journal peer review invitations, grant panels, competition or accelerator judging.
Scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic or business contributions that have influenced your field.
Example evidence: adoption of your method or product, licensed patents, independent expert letters explaining the impact.
Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major media in your field.
Example evidence: peer-reviewed papers, conference proceedings, or expert articles in major industry outlets.
Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Example evidence: gallery and museum shows, curated festivals, and material showing the venue's standing.
A leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation.
Example evidence: leadership letters describing your role, org charts, and proof of the organization's reputation.
A high salary or other significantly high pay compared with others in your field.
Example evidence: offer letters, tax documents, equity grants, and salary survey data for comparison.
Commercial success in the performing arts, shown through sales or receipts.
Example evidence: box office figures, streaming and chart data, ticket and record sales.
If a criterion does not readily apply to your occupation, comparable evidence may be submitted instead. Working on a temporary visa first? See how the O-1A criteria compare.
USCIS reviews EB-1A petitions in two stages, a framework that comes from the Kazarian decision. Counting criteria is only the first half. The second half is where most cases are won or lost.
Step one
The officer checks each criterion you claim, one at a time, and asks a narrow question: does this evidence meet the plain terms of the rule?
Step two
The officer then looks at the whole record together and asks a bigger question: taken as a whole, does this show sustained acclaim and a place among the small percentage at the very top of the field?
Meeting three criteria opens the door. A clear narrative of acclaim is what carries a petition through it.
That is why we build every EB-1A case for step two from the start, with expert letters and exhibits that explain why your work matters.
Many people pursue more than one. A common route is an O-1A to work in the U.S. now, with an EB-1A or EB-2 NIW for permanent residence.
| Feature | EB-1A | O-1A | EB-2 NIW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Green card | Temporary, up to 3 years initially, extendable in 1 year increments | Green card |
| Who files | You can self-petition | A U.S. employer or agent | You can self-petition |
| Job offer | Not required | Work arranged through the petitioner | Waived in the national interest |
| Core standard | Sustained national or international acclaim, among the very top of the field | Extraordinary ability shown by sustained acclaim | Advanced degree or exceptional ability, plus the three Dhanasar prongs |
| Threshold | One major achievement, or 3 of 10 criteria, then final merits | One major award, or 3 of 8 criteria | Merit and national importance, well positioned, on balance beneficial |
How we help
We handle the strategy and preparation. Your petition is reviewed, signed and filed by an independent licensed immigration attorney who works with you directly.
Step 1
We map your record against all 10 criteria and give you an honest read on where it is strong and where it is thin.
See the processStep 2
If a criterion needs more support, we plan legitimate ways to document recognition you have earned, such as judging and speaking.
Explore profile buildingStep 3
We identify recommenders, interview them and draft letters that explain the significance of your work for their review.
Explore lettersStep 4
We draft the petition and organize exhibits for your partner attorney, who reviews, signs and files. RFE support if needed.
How filing worksHave a question about your own record? A consultation is the fastest way to a specific answer.
Book a consultationNo. EB-1A allows you to self-petition, and it does not require a job offer or labor certification. You do need to show that you intend to continue working in your area of extraordinary ability in the United States.
It is the minimum for the first step. The officer then makes a final merits determination, looking at the full record to decide whether it shows sustained acclaim at the top of your field. Strong petitions are prepared with that second step in mind.
No. A one-time major achievement is one way to qualify, but most EB-1A petitions are built on the criteria instead: judging, original contributions, published material, critical roles and the others listed above.
It depends on your record. EB-1A asks for evidence of acclaim at the top of your field. EB-2 NIW asks whether your proposed work has national importance and whether you are well positioned to advance it. Some people file both. We help you weigh which is the stronger fit.
Yes, many people do. Evidence prepared for an O-1A often forms a solid base for an EB-1A, though the green card standard is higher. Your partner attorney will advise on how a filing interacts with your current status.
An RFE is a request for more information, not a denial. It sets out what the officer found missing and a deadline to respond. We analyze the request, gather new evidence and letters, and prepare the response with your partner attorney. Learn more about our RFE response support.
Start with a consultation and a first read of your record against the EB-1A criteria.
Book a consultation