EB-1A: Alien of Extraordinary Ability

Brief Introduction 

• For foreign nationals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics
• Achievements must be thoroughly documented and recognized by those in your field
• Extraordinary ability can be proved through meeting a set of criteria (below) or providing evidence of a one-time achievement such as a Pulitzer, Oscar, or Olympic Medal

Advantages

• Specific job offer is not needed as long as you work in your field of expertise in the US
• May self-petition
• Visas are mostly immediately available for those who qualify
• May file with premium processing, shortening the processing time 

​Timeline

• ​I-140 Application (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker): Premium processing reduces the I-140 processing time from 6-8 months to 15 calendar days but requires an additional $1,410 fee
• I-485 Application (Permanent Residence Application): 6 months
• Can submit both at the same time but if I-140 is rejected then your I-485 form will automatically be rejected as well, costing you more money

​​Qualifications Criteria (need 3 of the following 10)

• 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