Want to start your career in the US? The EB-1 Visa is a fast-track route to a Green Card for foreign nationals with outstanding achievement in one of these areas: extraordinary ability, multinational managers or executives, and outstanding professors and researchers.
This immigrant, employment-based visa is meant to bring experts and priority workers to the country. It’s usually the kind of visa you get after obtaining a job offer from an American-based company, and you plan to relocate to the US.
The EB-1 Visa is a first-preference visa for foreign nationals at the top of their fields, such as business, research, science, art, athletics, or education. The EB-1 is of major significance because it provides a path to US permanent residency (Green Card).
Since this is a very sought-after visa with strict eligibility criteria, it can be difficult to provide comparable evidence to support your case. But we can help. This article takes a closer look at the available EB1 categories, basic requirements, and application process.
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Introduction to Employment-based Immigration US
In 2023, the United States issued about 1,170,000 Green Cards to immigrants, 16.7 percent of which were for applicants through employment-based immigration, allowing them to live and work in the country as permanent residents.
Employment-based immigrants can choose one of the five categories: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, and EB-5. The EB-1 Visa stands out as a first-preference category designed for priority workers with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.
The EB-1 Green Card is for the most qualified experts. This includes those who have achieved sustained national or international acclaim (EB-1A), as well as outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B), and multinational managers and executives (EB-1C).
Benefits of EB-1 Visa
The EB-1 Visa comes with various advantages, including:
- Path to a Green Card – EB-1 is a fast-track to a Green Card, granting permanent residency through employment. This allows foreign nationals to live, work, and travel in and out of the United States.
- No labor certification – Unlike other visas, such as the EB-2 or EB-3, the EB-1 doesn’t require applicants to undergo the PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) process. Visa availability is very high.
- Faster processing times – The EB-1 immigrant visa is for priority workers with outstanding achievement, meaning it has very little backlog and shorter processing times.
- Access to premium processing – For an extra fee of $2,805, Applicants can speed up the application process.
- Self-petition option (EB-1A) – The EB-1A allows foreign nationals to self-petition, meaning they don’t need a labor certification or job offer.
What are the different EB1 types?
The EB-1 has three subcategories: extraordinary ability (EB-1A), outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B), and multinational managers or executives (EB-1C).
To obtain an EB-1 Green Card, you must demonstrate extraordinary ability in your field, be an outstanding professor or researcher, or be a multinational executive or manager. The EB-1 requirements vary based on the sub-category selected. Here’s a quick look at each category.
EB-1A Visa | EB-1B Visa | EB-1C Visa |
→ For foreigners with extraordinary ability of value to the United States economy. → Access to self-petition. → Doesn’t require a job offer. | → For foreigners deemed as outstanding professors and researchers of value to the academic field in the U.S. → A job offer is required from an academic institution in the U.S. | → For foreigners considered as multinational managers or executives, often in business sectors. → A job offer is required from a U.S. multinational corporation. |
EB-1A: Extraordinary ability
The EB-1 Visa is a U.S. employment-based immigrant visa classification for foreign nationals who are highly accomplished in their field. It provides a faster route to lawful permanent residency due to the lack of labor certification requirements and high-priority processing.
Applicants must showcase evidence of outstanding achievement and contributions of major significance, using documentation that showcases evidence of their recognized excellence. There’s no labor certification or job offer requirement for EB-1 A.
EB-1B: Outstanding professors and researchers
The EB-1B is an immigrant visa classification for outstanding professors and researchers in higher education. There is no labor certification required.
Applicants must show outstanding achievement and at least three years’ experience in their academic field, with scholarly research contributions and professional publications. For example, foreigners can provide scholarly articles or professional publications and a tenure-track teaching offer.
EB-1C: Multinational manager or executive
The EB-1C is an immigrant visa classification for multinational managers making business-related contributions. Compared to the EB-1A and EB-1B, the EB-1C doesn’t demand outstanding achievement. There is no labor certification required. Instead, the requirements are based on the qualifying work experience.
Applicants must work in a managerial or executive capacity and enter the US to fill an executive position. Thanks to their prior leadership experience, these candidates can boost the commercial success of the company that hires them.
EB1 Green Card Requirements
The EB-1 employment-based visa is a first-preference category Green Card designed for people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, researchers, and multinational managers or executives. To qualify, your application must meet the EB-1 Visa requirements based on the category you select, such as the EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C.
Requirements for EB-1A Green Card
To qualify for the EB-1A Visa, foreign nationals must prove extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim. They must intend to work in their area of extraordinary ability in the US.
Foreign nationals must meet either of the following criteria: Have received a one-time major internationally recognized award (e.g., Olympic Medal, Oscar, Pulitzer) or provide extensive documentation for at least three of the ten criteria.
The three out of ten criteria for EB-1A include:
- Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement.
- Published or printed literature in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
- Judging the work of others.
- Original contributions of major significance.
- Earning lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards.
- Authorship of scholarly articles.
- Fulfilling a leading or critical role for distinguished organizations.
- Display of artistic work.
- Have a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services.
- Commercial successes in the performing arts.
Requirements for EB-1B Green Card
To be eligible for the EB-1B Visa, foreign nationals must:
- Prove outstanding achievements in the academic field.
- Provide evidence for at least two of the six specified criteria (e.g., major awards, membership in elite associations, published material in major trade publications, judging others’ work, original research contributions, or writing scholarly journals)
- Have a minimum of three years of work experience in comparable research positions or teaching jobs.
- Have tenure or tenure-track from a US university or institution of higher education, or a comparable permanent research position at a private employer.
Requirements for EB-1C Green Card
To be eligible for the EB-1C Visa, foreign nationals must:
- Be hired as multinational managers or executives transferring to a US office of their current employer.
- Have worked for the related foreign company in a managerial or executive capacity for at least a year in the last three years before entering the US.
- Have proof of qualifying employment abroad, a job offer for a managerial or executive role in the US.
- Have documentation of the US company’s business operations.
EB-1 Application Process
To start the application process for the EB-1 Visa, follow these steps:
- File and submit Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker), along with the supporting documents. This petition will be filed by your employer for EB-1B and EB-1C. For EB-1A, you have to self-petition.
- After your I-140 petition is approved, your next step depends on your location. If you are outside the United States, you will complete an Immigrant Visa Electronic Application (Form DS-260) and process your visa at a US Embassy or consulate abroad. If you are already in the US, you will apply to adjust your status (Form I-485).
- Attend a biometrics appointment to provide fingerprints, photographs, and signatures. You will also need to attend the immigration medical exam.
- Attend the visa interview.
- If the application is approved, you will receive your Green Card, allowing you to work and live in the United States.
EB-1 Fees and Costs
When applying, there are several fees and costs to consider, which change depending on whether you are applying from outside or inside the US.
Applying from within the US (adjustment of status)
- Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) filing fee: $715
- Form I-485 (the application to adjust status for applicants living in the US) filing fee: $950-$1,140 per person. (This fee varies depending on age)
- Biometrics fee (if applicable): $85
- Premium processing fee (optional): $2,805
- Medical examination (performed by an authorized physician): $100 to $500 (depending on the doctor and the location)
Applying from outside the US (consular processing)
- Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) filing fee: $715
- DS-260 (immigrant visa electronic application) fee: $325 per person
- Immigrant fee: $235
- Premium processing (optional): $2,805
- Medical examination (performed by an authorized physician): $100 to $500 (depending on the doctor and the location)
EB1 Green Card Processing Time
The EB-1 Green Card processing times vary based on the sub-category selected and whether you use premium processing, but it often takes a couple of months to a few years. I-140 petitions (Immigrant Petitions) are usually processed in 6 to 12 months with regular procedures, while Premium processing can cut the wait time to 15 (or 45 for EB-1C) business days, for an extra fee of $2,805. After the I-140 gets approved and your priority date becomes current, you can apply for adjustment of status (I-485), which can take an additional 16 to 50 months.
You can check the Visa Bulletin to see if your priority date is set to current, indicating whether the visa is available in your home country. Some countries, such as China or India, have longer wait times because more people have applied than there are visas available for the fiscal year. For those applying from abroad, the case is handled by the National Visa Center (NVC) and forwarded to the nearest embassy or consulate for an in-person interview. The timeline for this stage varies based on location.
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- We have helped hundreds of clients from 35+ countries in all the top Residency by Investment and Citizenship by Investment programs. With an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the area, we provide our clients with solid guidance. We have a team of immigration lawyers, and immigration advisers specialized in US immigration.
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- The BeGlobal Onboarding System® allows you to access the status of your application every step of the way, something that sets us apart from our competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions About the EB1 Green Card
Who qualifies for the EB-1 Green Card?
To qualify for an EB-1 Visa, foreign nationals should provide extraordinary ability in their field. This employment-based, immigrant visa is reserved for individuals with internationally recognized prizes or experience in a managerial or executive position. The EB1 Green Card is divided into three subtypes: EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C.
How long does it take to get a Green Card in EB-1?
The processing time for the EB1 Green Card can take anywhere from eight to 37 months. The timeline can vary depending on several factors, including the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) workload and the completeness of your application.
How many EB-1 Green Cards are there a year?
Every year, about 40,000 visas are available under the EB-1 category. In 2024, the Department of State (DOS) set an annual limit for employment-based visas to 160,791 in all categories, limiting the number of priority workers and other foreign nationals who can receive a Green Card.
Which is better, EB-1 or EB-2?
The choice between EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) categories depends on your individual circumstances and eligibility. Both have different criteria. While EB-1 is often considered more prestigious with faster processing, EB-2 NIW may be more suitable if you have a high level of expertise and/or qualifications without meeting EB-1’s exceptional standards.
How does the EB-1 Visa work for employment-based immigration?
The EB-1 employment-based visa requires proof of performance, such as showing the authorities that you wrote scholarly articles in professional publications or major trade publications. You can provide proof that your work is recognized in a specific field through allied academic field evidence.
Do I need a job offer for the EB-1 Green Card?
It depends on the sub-category. You do need a job offer for EB-1C (multinational managers or executives) and EB-1B (outstanding professors and researchers). But you don’t need one if you apply for EB-1A (extraordinary ability). For that, you can self-petition.
What is the EB1 Green Card processing time in 2025?
The total processing times are different for each EB-1 category, but they usually take from a couple of months to a few years. Form I-140 takes 6 to 12 months to process, and I-485 processing can last 16 to 50 months and vary by case.
What is considered extraordinary ability for the EB-1 Visa?
Extraordinary ability under the EB-1 Visa means the applicant is at the top of their field. They often have national or international acclaim and recognition through major media evidence. Applicants with extraordinary ability often hold a leading or critical role, publish allied academic field evidence, or work in distinguished organizations.
What is the priority date for EB-1?
The priority date shows your place in line for an EB-1 immigrant visa. It’s the date the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) received your Form I-140, and you can see it on the I-797C Notice of Action receipt that the USCIS sends to you after they accept your petition for processing.
Can I upgrade from EB-2 to EB-1?
Yes, all you have to do is file a brand new I-140 petition under one of the EB-1 categories, and port your original priority date from your approved EB-2 I-140. This can be helpful for foreign nationals from countries with long EB-2 backlogs, like India or China.
How do you fit the criteria for performing arts with the EB-1 Visa?
To qualify for an EB-1 Visa in the performing arts, you must show exceptional ability through major prizes, artistic exhibitions, or distinguished organizations evidence. Comparable evidence can also support your case. For example, you had leading or starring roles, critical acclaim from credible sources, a high salary in your field, etc.
What is the EB1C Green Card rejection rate?
It’s very low. The EB-1C Visa is for multinational executives and managers has the highest approval rate of 94 percent. Applicants must provide evidence of business-related contributions of major significance in their field. Unlike the EB-1A category, the EB-1C does not require proof of “extraordinary ability” or “major media evidence.”
What is a leading and critical role in EB-1?
A leading and critical role is a position where applicants have the power to influence projects, operations, or decisions within an organization, such as a comparable research position. This employment-based visa requires extraordinary ability and can demand outstanding achievement.
Can multinational managers or executives apply for EB-1?
Yes, executives and managers can apply for the EB-1 visa if they have worked in a managerial or executive capacity abroad and are entering a managerial or executive position in the U.S. They must show business-related contributions, other major media evidence, and other significantly high remuneration to qualify. This evidence proves the person holds a high-value role.
Do I need to hire an immigration attorney for my application?
While it’s not mandatory, it is worth considering hiring an immigration attorney for your application to provide guidance and give you the best possible chance of success.
