EB1 Visas
Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1
You may be eligible for an employment-based, first-preference visa if you have an extraordinary ability, are an outstanding professor or researcher, or are a multinational executive or manager. Each occupational category has certain requirements that must be met:
Eligibility Criteria
Categories | Description | Evidence |
Extraordinary Ability | You must be able to demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim. Your achievements must be recognized in your field through extensive documentation. No offer of employment is required. | You must meet 3 of 10 criteria* below, or provide evidence of a one-time achievement (i.e., Pulitzer, Oscar, Olympic Medal) |
Outstanding professors and researchers | You must demonstrate international recognition for your outstanding achievements in a particular academic field. You must have at least 3 years experience in teaching or research in that academic area. You must be entering the United States in order to pursue tenure or tenure track teaching or comparable research position at a university or other institution of higher education. | You must include documentation of at least two listed below** and an offer of employment from the prospective U.S. employer. |
Multinational manager or executive | You must have been employed outside the United States in the 3 years preceding the petition for at least 1 year by a firm or corporation and you must be seeking to enter the United States to continue service to that firm or organization. Your employment must have been outside the United States in a managerial or executive capacity and with the same employer, an affiliate, or a subsidiary of the employer. | must be a U.S. employer. Your employer must have been doing business for at least 1 year, as an affiliate, a subsidiary, or as the same corporation or other legal entity that employed you abroad. |
* Criteria for Demonstrating Extraordinary Ability
You must meet 3 out of the 10 listed criteria below to prove extraordinary ability in your field:
- 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
** Examples of Documentary Evidence That A Person is an Outstanding Professor Or Researcher
- 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 aliens work in the academic field
- Evidence of participation, either on a panel or individually, as a judge of the work of others in 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
Application Process
• Extraordinary Ability: You may petition for yourself without an Employer. This immigration process allows you to file the Petition for Immigrant Worker (I-140) for yourself and also allows you to concurrently file for your Adjustment of Status (green card application). It is an extremely complex process. You should retain a competent attorney to help you navigate this application process. Please feel free to contact the Hassonjee Law Firm.
• Outstanding Professors and Researchers: Your employer must file a Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. For individuals from most countries you may also be able to concurrently file for your Adjustment of Status. It is an extremely complex process. You should retain a competent attorney to help you navigate this application process. Please feel free to contact the Hassonjee Law Firm.
• Multinational Manager or Executive: Your employer must file USCIS Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. For individuals from most countries you may also be able to concurrently file for your Adjustment of Status. It is an extremely complex process. You should retain a competent attorney to help you navigate this application process. Please feel free to contact the Hassonjee Law Firm.