OUR IMMIGRATION SERVICESEB-1 Talent Visa

Author: Attorney Vitaly Malyuk. License: MO No. 73573

Updated: 17 October 2025

This page is updated with the monthly Visa Bulletin (U.S. Department of State) and USCIS announcements (forms, fees, Premium Processing). Official sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

EB-1 made simple (A/B/C)

EB-1 is a first-preference employment-based green card category with no PERM. It includes EB-1A (extraordinary ability; self-petition allowed), EB-1B (outstanding professors/researchers; usually a permanent position), and EB-1C (multinational managers/executives; intra-company transfer).

Below you’ll find clear, plain-English guidance: who qualifies, evidence examples, side-by-side comparison, end-to-end process, fees, and practical document checklists.

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EB-1 Navigator — which subcategory fits?

Tick what applies to you. The tool suggests a likely EB-1 route and what to prepare first. This is guidance, not legal advice.

1) Do you hold a permanent academic/research role (tenure/tenure-track or equivalent)?

Yes No

2) Have you served at least 1 year as a manager/executive abroad in a company related to a U.S. entity?

Yes No

3) Do you meet ≥3 strong “extraordinary ability” criteria (major awards, judging, media about you, high remuneration/commercial success, etc.)?

Yes No/Not sure

4) Do you prefer to self-petition or proceed with an employer?

Self-petition With employer

Your result will appear here

You’ll see a likely EB-1 path and a prioritized “what to prepare” list.

Next: jump to EB-1A, EB-1B, or EB-1C sections below and match your evidence to the criteria.

EB-1A — who qualifies and how to prove it

Idea in plain English: you are recognized at the very top of your field. Two ways to show it: (1) one major internationally recognized award (Nobel/Oscar-level); or (2) at least three criteria from the USCIS list.

Common criteria (pick ≥3)

Significant national/international awards or prizes;
Selective memberships requiring outstanding achievements;
Published material about you in major media or professional outlets;
Judging the work of others (peer review, juries, editorial roles);
Original contributions of major significance (citations, adoptions, licenses);
Scholarly articles/monographs in reputable venues;
Showcases/exhibitions/performances (arts/design/stage);
Leading/critical role at distinguished organizations or projects;
High salary/remuneration versus peers;
Commercial success (e.g., performing arts/production).

How USCIS reads the evidence

It’s about impact, not paper volume. For science — citations, venue prestige, real-world adoption. For business — revenue, market traction, licensing. For arts — festivals, ticketing/sales, independent reviews. Always connect what you did to why it matters.

Frequent pitfalls

Memberships without meaningful achievement-based selection;
Generic recommendation letters with no metrics or independent corroboration;
Local awards presented as “international” without proof;
Counting outputs instead of showing influence/quality (impact factors, adoptions, citations).

Prepare early

CV emphasizing impact (citations, adoptions, revenue/audience);
Clippings and media about you, press kits, third-party analytics;
Proof of judging/editorial roles;
Independent expert letters (not only former managers) that quantify impact.

Good to know

No employer required; you can self-petition I-140;
After I-140 approval: AOS (I-485) in the U.S. or consular processing abroad;
Premium Processing is available for I-140 (15 calendar days decision window).

EB-1B — who fits and what’s required

Essentials: a permanent teaching/research position (or equivalent in R&D/industry lab) and evidence of international recognition.

Candidate profile

Professors/associate professors on tenure/tenure-track; lab leads;
Senior researchers in industry (R&D, pharma, deep tech) at reputable organizations.

What to show

Publications in strong venues, citations, h-index; notable conferences;
Awards/grants, PI/Co-PI roles; patents and real-world implementations;
Peer-reviewing, editorial duties, invited talks;
Independent senior expert letters.

Employer’s part

Offer letter + description of the permanent role/research program;
Organization profile: R&D scale, publication output, resources;
Proof that the role is “permanent” or its recognized equivalent.

Frequent mistakes

Postdoc/temporary roles presented as “permanent”;
Letters lacking specifics on contributions and measurable impact;
Over-focusing on quantity instead of influence (adoptions, citations, venue prestige).

EB-1C — who counts as a manager/executive

Core requirements: a qualifying corporate relationship (parent/sub/affiliate), at least one year of managerial/executive work abroad within the last three years, and a corresponding managerial/executive role in the U.S.

Manager vs. executive

Personnel manager: hire/fire authority, directs professionals, plans and controls work;
Functional manager: owns a key function (P&L, product) even without direct reports;
Executive: sets goals, makes high-level decisions, exercises broad discretion.

What to prove

Corporate relationship (formation docs, ownership charts, filings);
Scale: budgets, KPIs, staff, P&L, scope of authority;
Actual managerial/executive authority (not a senior individual contributor).

Common pitfalls

Vague ownership/structure charts;
Inflated “executive” titles without documentary support;
Insufficient proof of qualifying foreign role in the required period.

EB-1A vs EB-1B vs EB-1C — key differences

Parameter	EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)	EB-1B (Outstanding Prof/Researcher)	EB-1C (Multinational Manager/Executive)
Employer needed	No (self-petition)	Yes (job offer)	Yes (intra-company transfer)
Core idea	World-class record (≥3 criteria or major award)	International recognition + permanent role	Managerial/executive role within related entities
PERM	Not required	Not required	Not required
Premium Processing (I-140)	Available	Available	Available
Best for	Scientists/innovators/artists/entrepreneurs with measurable impact	Academia/industry with sustained R&D and a strong offer	Corporate groups with real authority and scale

Employer: no. Idea: world-class record (≥3 criteria or major award). PERM: not needed. Premium: available. Best for: science, arts, business, sports with measurable impact.

Employer: yes (permanent role). Idea: international recognition + sustained R&D. PERM: not needed. Premium: available. Best for: universities/labs and strong industry R&D.

Employer: yes (related entities). Idea: managerial/executive authority and scope. PERM: not needed. Premium: available. Best for: multinational groups.

Process & timeline — clear and concise

Common route for all EB-1 subcategories: build evidence → file I-140 (Premium optional) → watch the Visa Bulletin for priority date availability → file I-485 (AOS) in the U.S. or proceed with consular processing abroad → receive your green card.

Build your petition

Collect EB-1A/EB-1B/EB-1C evidence: criteria, letters, impact metrics, employer/corporate documents.

File I-140

Optional Premium Processing (15 calendar days for the I-140 decision).

Watch the Visa Bulletin

Check monthly priority date (PD) movement. USCIS states which chart to use for AOS.

AOS or Consular Processing

I-485 in the U.S. (AOS) or DS-260 abroad once PD is current.

✓

Green Card (LPR)

Permanent residence after successfully completing the steps above.

Fees & Premium Processing

USCIS fee updates are published in the Federal Register. Premium Processing (Form I-907) accelerates the I-140 decision (15 calendar days window) but does not make visas available or replace AOS/consular steps.

Core forms

I-140 — EB-1A/B/C petition;
I-485 — Adjustment of Status (if in the U.S.);
DS-260 — consular processing (if abroad);
I-907 — Premium Processing (optional for I-140);
I-131 (Advance Parole), I-765 (EAD) — AOS add-ons when applicable.

Practical notes

Verify current fees on USCIS before filing; amounts can change;
Premium affects only the I-140 decision speed, not Visa Bulletin availability;
For AOS each month USCIS indicates whether to use Final Action or Dates for Filing.

Document checklists — EB-1A • EB-1B • EB-1C

EB-1A

Impact-driven CV (citations, adoptions, revenue/audience);
Evidence for ≥3 criteria (awards, selective memberships, media about you, judging, etc.);
Proof of peer-review/jury/editorial work;
Independent expert letters with concrete metrics and examples of impact;
Explanatory memo tying your work to field-wide significance.

EB-1B

Offer letter + role/research program description;
Publications, citations, h-index; invited talks; patents and implementations;
Independent senior letters (external to your org when possible);
Organization data: R&D scale, reputation, resources;
Proof the role is permanent (or recognized equivalent).

EB-1C

Corporate relationship docs (formation, ownership charts, filings);
Proof of ≥1 year qualifying foreign managerial/executive role (duties, authority, KPIs);
U.S. role description: budget, staff, P&L, scope;
Org charts (before/after), evidence of real authority vs. individual contributor;
Contracts, reports, business plans as needed.

Official sources with explanations

U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin

Monthly charts (Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing) that determine when your EB-1 priority date is current and whether you may proceed with AOS or consular processing.

USCIS — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts

USCIS indicates which Visa Bulletin chart to use for AOS each month (Final Action vs Dates for Filing). This affects when you can file I-485.

USCIS — EB-1 Overview

Official EB-1 page covering EB-1A/EB-1B/EB-1C, baseline requirements, and terminology. Use this to align your evidence and language.

USCIS — Form I-140

Form page with the current edition, instructions, filing addresses, and updates. Always verify the edition date before filing.

USCIS — Form I-907 (Premium Processing)

Official information about Premium Processing for I-140 (15-day window). Note: this speeds up the petition decision only.

Federal Register — USCIS Fee Schedule

Fee rulemaking notices and effective dates. Check here (and on USCIS) for the latest fee amounts before you file.

Answers to FAQs

What is an EB-1 Visa?

The EB-1 visa is a U.S. employment-based immigrant visa designed for individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, or multinational executives and managers. It provides a direct path to permanent residence (a green card).

Who qualifies for an EB-1 visa?

EB-1A: Individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.
EB-1B: Professors and researchers who are internationally recognized for their academic contributions.
EB-1C: Executives and managers of multinational companies moving to the U.S.

Do I need a job offer to obtain an EB-1 visa?

EB-1A applicants may self-petition without a job offer.
EB-1B and EB-1C petitioners must be sponsored by a U.S. employer

What documentation is required for the EB-1 visa?

Applicants must provide evidence of their qualifications, such as awards, published articles, evidence of original contributions, or employment records. Each subcategory has specific criteria that must be met.

How long does it take to process an EB-1 visa?

Processing times vary, but are generally faster than other employment-based visas due to priority processing. On average, it takes a few months for USCIS to adjudicate an EB-1 petition.

Can my family join me on an EB-1 visa?

Yes. Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 can apply for green cards as derivative beneficiaries of the EB-1 visa holder.

What are the primary benefits of the EB-1 visa?

Direct path to permanent residence.
No labor certification (PERM) required in most cases.
Faster processing times compared to other employment-based visas.
Flexibility to work in your field or start your own business (for EB-1A holders).