EB-1 Green Card for Extraordinary Ability, Researchers and Executives
EB-1 is the first employment-based green card category. In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin it is current for every country except China and India, so an approved petition can move straight to the visa or adjustment step. There are three routes, and only EB-1A needs no employer – you file the petition yourself.
We test your profile against the EB-1A standard, gather evidence and expert letters, prepare Form I-140 and take the case through to the green card. Legal work from $10,000; government fees are separate.
Need our help?
Send your resume with awards, publications and roles. A lawyer will tell you whether EB-1A fits or whether EB-2 NIW is the better start.
EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-1C compared
| EB-1A | EB-1B | EB-1C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | extraordinary ability, any field | professors and researchers | multinational managers |
| Who files | you | US employer | US employer |
| Core test | major award or 3 of 10 criteria | 3 years’ experience, 2 of 6 criteria | managed abroad 1 of last 3 years |
| PERM | no | no | no |
EB-1B is filed by a university or research employer for a permanent post – tenured, tenure-track or open-ended research. EB-1C is the route for a manager moving to the US arm of the same group, often after an L-1 visa.
EB-1A criteria
You need one major internationally recognized award or three of ten criteria.
- national or international prizes
- membership in associations that require outstanding achievement
- published material about you in professional or major media
- judging the work of others
- original contributions of major significance
- authorship of scholarly articles
- display of your work at exhibitions
- a leading or critical role for distinguished organizations
- a high salary relative to others in the field
- commercial success in the performing arts
Meeting three criteria only opens the door. In the final merits review the officer looks at the whole record – are you among the small percentage at the top of your field, and has the acclaim held up over time rather than peaking once. You also show that you will keep working in the same field in the US, through letters from prospective employers, contracts or a work plan.
How long it takes
With premium processing USCIS acts on Form I-140 within 15 business days for EB-1A and EB-1B, and within 45 business days for EB-1C. Regular processing depends on the service center. If you are in the US in valid status and a visa number is available, Form I-485 can be filed together with the I-140.
From abroad, the approved case goes to the National Visa Center, then Form DS-260 and a consular interview. Visa Bulletin dates move every month, and we check the current one before filing.
Learn more
- Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1 – USCIS
- Visa Bulletin – US Department of State
- USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055
Visa categories
Talent and work
Business and investment
All visas
How we handle an EB-1 case
Preparing the petition usually takes two to four months; independent expert letters take the longest.
- Profile review. We map your evidence to the ten criteria and assess the record as a whole. If EB-1A is a stretch today, we say so and compare it with EB-2 NIW.
- Evidence strategy. We pick the three or four strongest criteria and build the case around them. Weak claims are better left out.
- Letters and exhibits. Questions for experts who know your work, press, translations, proof of roles and pay.
- Form I-140. A brief that covers both the criteria and the final merits, filed with USCIS. If you are in the US and a visa number is available – Form I-485 for you and your family at the same time.
- Green card. From abroad – DS-260, medical exam and consular interview. Inside the US – biometrics and, if scheduled, a USCIS interview.
You can file EB-1A from any country and in any status, but adjustment inside the US is open only to people who entered lawfully and kept their status. If your history has overstays or violations, we review them before filing.
- passport, degrees, resume
- evidence for the chosen criteria with translations
- expert letters
- a US work plan, offers or contracts
- family documents – marriage and birth certificates
Who should write your letters
The strongest letters come from people who never studied or worked with you but know your results – they cited the paper, adopted the tool, judged the competition. Five letters from former colleagues read as courtesy. One letter from an independent expert explaining what changed in the field because of your work carries more weight.
Yulia Golinevich – immigration lawyer
EB-1 green card with our help
Prices are for the principal applicant. Government fees are paid separately.
Government fees – Form I-140 $715 ($665 online); Asylum Program Fee with the I-140 $300 for EB-1A self-petitioners and small employers, $600 for other employers, $0 for nonprofits; premium processing $2,965; Form I-485 $1,440 ($1,390 online), $950 for a child under 14 filing with a parent; immigrant visa fee $345 per person plus the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee after the visa is issued.
Amounts follow the USCIS fee schedule G-1055, October 2026 edition, and State Department fees. The medical exam is paid to the panel physician.
Want to see all prices?
Every visa and immigration service we offer, priced on one page.
EB-1 green card questions
Do I need an employer for EB-1?
Not for EB-1A – you self-petition, and no PERM labor certification is needed. EB-1B and EB-1C petitions are filed by a US employer.
How is EB-1A different from the O-1?
The O-1 is a temporary work visa filed by an employer or agent. EB-1A is a self-petitioned green card, and beyond the three criteria USCIS runs a final merits review of the whole record. A side-by-side comparison is in our article on the EB-1 green card for talented people.
Can I file EB-1A and EB-2 NIW at the same time?
Yes. They are two separate I-140 petitions, each with its own fee – a common move when a profile sits on the edge of the EB-1A bar but has a strong NIW work plan.
What if the petition is denied?
A denial does not bar a new filing. We start with the reasons – usually the officer disagreed on one or two criteria or on final merits – and then decide whether to strengthen and refile, appeal, or switch to NIW.
Does my family get green cards too?
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 immigrate with you; they do not need separate petitions.
I live in Canada. Where is the interview?
Immigrant visa interviews for residents of Canada are held at the US Consulate General in Montreal. If you are already in the US in valid status, you may be able to adjust status instead.
Do I need to speak English?
There is no language test. Documents are translated into English, and the interview is in English or with an interpreter.
