The EB-1A green card is a work visa that the USCIS awards you if you can prove you are extraordinary in your field of arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics.
You prove yourself as extraordinary by proving you qualify in 3 criteria eg. won awards or received grant funding, have been paid well or have been asked to judge others in your field, have patents or show you have been talked about in the press. Here is the full Requirements list explained here.
If you can show you have been in the press this can also prove you have sustained acclaim eg. if you started your career 3 years ago you show you have consistently received press (press can be tv or radio interviews, websites can also count.) Read more here on how to prove [sustained acclaim.]
Additionally, you prove that your presence in the United States will benefit the country’s economy, culture, or national interests. This visa was created to entice the greatest in every field to come to US and share their specialty. You just need to prove that what you do is needed in the US. You can show this by submitting work contracts for the US. This can be shown too through evidence of job creation, innovation, or other significant contributions to your field. Show how to prove [benefit to the US] here.
Click your field here for more information:
Arts, Sciences, Education, Athletics, Business
When you figure out the criteria you qualify in you build this in to a [petition letter] that you attach photocopies of your [evidence] along with reference letters and any contracts of work that you have upcoming.
The other benefit is that you can [self-petition] based on talent and achievement as a [Priority Worker].
There are usually visas available, [however if you are from India or China a priority date may not be current]. Complete the [form I-140] and send that in with your [petition packet] to the USCIS.
You can choose [Premium Processing] – this service allows you be approved in 15 days. If you are already in the US on an underlying visa you may go for [Adjustment of Status] using the [I-485 form]. This allows you to apply for the [temporary green card] and [permission to travel] document while your Adjustment of Status is pending. If you are filing from outside the US you will go through the [NVC (National Visa Center)] and interview at your local US Consulate / US Embassy.
When approved you will be mailed the actual green card after everything has been checked.
We have articles on all of these steps on our site.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself use a guide like we did or hire an attorney that specializes in the EB1A green card.
Read this article on What is the difference between O-1 and EB-1A?
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All articles are written from our experiences and the experiences of our colleagues. These are fantastic visas and we wish to empower others in applying. This information is for general guidance only and shouldn’t be considered legal advice.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues that we have left out let us know – it is important that others are aware. Email here!