What is the EB-1A visa for aliens of extraordinary ability?

What sets the EB-1A apart is that you don’t need a job offer or employer sponsorship to apply. You can self-petition —meaning the strength of your application comes directly from your own accomplishments, not your company’s.

To qualify, you’ll need to show that your work has received national or international acclaim and that you’ve reached a level of success that puts you at the top of your field. The U.S. immigration system uses a set of ten criteria (which we’ll dive into shortly) to evaluate EB-1A applicants. To qualify for this green card, you’ll need to meet at least three of the criteria.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) set a high bar, but for those who qualify, the EB-1A offers one of the fastest, most flexible ways to become a permanent resident of the United States.

🤔 Comparing EB-1A vs. EB-1B vs. EB-1C : The EB-1A is for individuals with extraordinary ability, the EB-1B is for outstanding professors and researchers with a permanent job offer, and the EB-1C is for multinational executives or managers transferring to a U.S. company. If you’re deciding between the three, an experienced immigration attorney can help you choose the right path.

What are the benefits of the EB1A?

Faster Processing Times : The EB-1A falls under the “Employment-Based First Preference” category, which receives priority over other visa categories. This often results in quicker processing times for both the visa and green card applications.

Green Card : The EB-1A is an immigrant visa that provides a pathway to permanent residency. Once your EB-1A petition is approved, you can apply for a 10-year green card in the U.S.

Dependents : Your immediate family—spouse and children under 21—can also benefit from the EB-1A visa. They can apply for green cards with you or join you in the U.S. later based on your EB-1A approval.

Employment Freedom : As an EB-1A beneficiary, you have the flexibility to work for any employer in the U.S., or even be self-employed, without being tied to a specific job.

Simplified Process : Unlike many employment-based visas, the EB1A does not require a labor certification, simplifying the application process and reducing paperwork and time.

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What are the eligibility criteria for the EB-1A?

You've received major awards or prizes in your field: Even if they're not internationally recognized awards, these should provide evidence of excellence recognized by peers or institutions.

You're a member of exclusive professional associations: These organizations must only admit top-level talent—membership should require outstanding achievements or expert evaluation.

Major media outlets have covered your work: Articles, interviews, or features about you in professional publications or major outlets count, especially if they highlight your impact or leadership.

You've served as a judge or evaluator for the work of others: That includes peer review, grant review panels, judging competitions, or other roles where your opinion carries weight in your field.

You’ve made original contributions with major significance: This includes inventions, discoveries, methods, or ideas that have shifted thinking or practice in your field of expertise.

You’ve published your own work in respected outlets: This encompasses the authorship of scholarly articles, op-eds, or pieces in major media outlets that demonstrate your thought leadership and influence.

Your work has been showcased publicly: Includes artistic exhibitions, performances, or displays that reflect critical acclaim or recognition.

You’ve held a leading or critical role in major organizations: Evidence that you were central to high-impact work, whether in research, business, academia, or the arts.

You earn significantly more than others in your field: Think contracts, pay stubs, or industry data showing you have a high salary compared to your peers.

You've had commercial success in the performing arts: Sales figures, box office receipts, streaming metrics—anything that shows your work has real-world reach and impact counts towards this criteria.

Manifest Tip: To support your EB1A application, you will eventually gather recommendation letters from experts who can vouch for your achievements and skills. Often applicants aim to obtain 5-10 recommendation letters from coworkers, colleagues or other professional connections.

Take our eligibility quiz to find out if you meet the criteria for the EB-1A visa.

What’s the EB-1A approval rate in 2025?

Keep in mind: The EB-1A is still a great option for highly accomplished professionals, but it's no longer the slam dunk it once was. Make sure your petition is airtight from the start—and consider working with an experienced EB-1A lawyer to ensure you have an airtight case.

How much does it cost to apply for the EB-1A green card?

Item

I-140 Filing (USCIS)

Asylum Program Fee

Premium Processing (optional)

Adjustment of Status (I-485)

Work Permit (I-765)

Travel Document (I-131)

Attorney Fees

Fee

$715

$300 (self-petitioners)

$2,805

$1,440 (age 14+), $950 (under 14)

$260

$630

$5,000–$12,000+

EB-1A Processing Time: What to Expect

Phase

Case Building

Case Preparation

USCIS Review

What It Is

Gathering evidence, awards, letters, citations, and more.

Writing your petition, legal strategy, and final review.

Waiting for a decision after filing.

Timeline

6-18 months

2-4 months

6-12 months or 15 business days with premium processing, for an additional fee of $2,805.

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7 steps to build your profile for the EB-1A visa

Evidence Needed

Substitute Scholarly Articles with Conference Presentations

Equity as a Stand-In for High Salary

Using Open-Source Contributions as Evidence

Alternative Proof

If publishing scholarly articles doesn’t fit your profession, you can substitute this with presentations at major conferences or trade shows.

For example, if you work in industry rather than academia, showing that you’ve presented your work at a significant trade event can meet the requirement for scholarly articles.

For entrepreneurs or those in startups, documenting a high salary might not be practical. Instead, you can present evidence that the value of your equity in the company is equivalent to a high salary. This approach helps fulfill the high salary criterion with proof of significant financial stakes in your business.

If traditional criteria don’t fit, you can use open-source contributions as evidence. For instance:

• GitHub code reviews for important open-source projects can count as “Judging.”
• Forks and activity on repositories you contribute to can serve as examples of “Published Material.”
• High star counts on your repositories can demonstrate widespread use, fulfilling the “Original Contributions” criterion.
• Ownership of a popular open-source project can be seen as equivalent to “Membership in Associations.”

GitHub code reviews for important open-source projects can count as “Judging.”

Forks and activity on repositories you contribute to can serve as examples of “Published Material.”

High star counts on your repositories can demonstrate widespread use, fulfilling the “Original Contributions” criterion.

Ownership of a popular open-source project can be seen as equivalent to “Membership in Associations.”

7 lawyer-approved tips to boost your EB-1A green card application

Action step: Read the Kazarian decision closely, and look at how USCIS applies this framework in AAO (Administrative Appeals Office) case summaries. Understanding how your application will be judged helps you present your case with clarity and precision.

Action step: Read real-world examples of successful EB-1A applications . Find public AAO decisions or forums where successful applicants share redacted versions of their petitions. Pay attention to how they organized evidence and drew narrative connections between their achievements and the EB-1A standards.

Action step: Use digital annotations—circles, arrows, underlines—to guide the officer’s eye to your name, role, or contribution. For PDFs, you can use tools like Adobe Acrobat or PDF Expert to add these visual cues directly.

Complete our free EB-1A quiz to see if you’re qualified for an EB-1A visa.

Action step: Collect and format these informal items professionally. Include context, such as the sender’s title or the event’s relevance.

Action step: If your research or work aligns with any of the CET focus areas (like biotechnology, AI, or advanced materials), reference this in your personal statement or attorney cover letter. Include a citation or brief quote from the NSTC document to make the connection explicit.

Action step: Use a short personal statement to frame your application. Explain how your work has evolved, what your contributions have been, and how they fit into larger societal or industry goals. This statement doesn’t replace evidence, but it helps make sense of it.

Action step: Choose a law firm with a strong EB-1A track record in your field. Ask about their approval rates, who exactly will be handling your case, and whether they’ve worked with professionals in your industry. A good firm will help you shape a winning strategy—not just file paperwork.

Build your EB-1A strategy with Keller Law

You might wonder if you can handle the EB-1A visa application on your own. While it’s possible, keep in mind that the process is lengthy and complicated. Doing it yourself means you’ll need to manage most of the work and might struggle with aspects specific to your field. You might also find it challenging to get the detailed, personalized attention that an immigration lawyer can provide.

Working with an experienced immigration lawyer can offer you reassurance and a higher chance of success. At Keller Law, we’re dedicated to supporting you every step of the way and making sure your EB-1A application is as strong as possible.

Our team of immigration lawyers have over 10 years of experience on average, and we offer flexible payment plans of up to 6 months. Plus, we provide a visa-approved or money-back guarantee ( terms apply ).

Reach out to us today for a consultation to learn more.

Complete our complimentary EB-1A quiz to see if you're qualified!

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In this blog article:

What is the EB-1A visa for aliens of extraordinary ability?

What are the benefits of the EB-1A?

What are the eligibility criteria for EB-1A?

What’s the EB-1A approval rate in 2025?

How much does it cost to apply for the EB-1A green card?

How much does an EB-1A visa lawyer cost?

EB-1A Processing Time: What to Expect

7 steps to build your profile for the EB-1A visa

Webinar: Tips on applying for the EB-1A (from an immigration lawyer)

7 lawyer-approved tips to boost your EB-1A green card application

Build your EB-1A strategy with Keller Law

Frequently Asked Questions