Who the EB-1 green card is for
EB-1 is the first employment-based preference for permanent residence (a green card). It is reserved for people whose record speaks for itself. It has three branches, and the first question in every consultation is which one you fit.
If you have a strong portfolio of achievements but no U.S. employer, EB-1A is usually the conversation. If you are an academic with a job offer, EB-1B may fit. If you have been running a company abroad and want to lead its U.S. operation, EB-1C is often the answer.
- EB-1A, extraordinary ability: scientists, artists, athletes, business people and educators with sustained national or international acclaim; you can file for yourself
- EB-1B, outstanding professor or researcher: internationally recognized academics with a qualifying offer from a university or research employer
- EB-1C, multinational manager or executive: people who worked for a related company abroad for at least one year in the prior three and are coming to manage the U.S. company
EB-1 requirements: the ten criteria explained
For EB-1A, USCIS asks two questions. First, do you meet at least three of ten listed criteria, or have you received a single major international award? Second, looking at the whole record, do you really stand out at the top of your field? Both parts matter. Here are the ten criteria in plain words.
EB-1B uses a shorter, similar list and requires a job offer. EB-1C does not use these criteria at all; it focuses on your managerial role abroad and in the U.S., and on the relationship between the two companies.
- Nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence
- Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement to join
- Published material about you in professional or major media
- Serving as a judge of other people's work, alone or on a panel
- Original contributions of major significance to your field
- Scholarly articles you authored in professional journals or major media
- Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases
- A leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation
- A high salary or pay compared with others in the field
- Commercial success in the performing arts
How the EB-1 process works, step by step
The petition is Form I-140, filed with USCIS. For EB-1A you can sign it yourself. For EB-1B and EB-1C the employer signs. The petition includes a detailed cover letter that walks the officer through each criterion, plus exhibits: letters from experts, citations, press, contracts, awards and organizational charts.
USCIS may approve, deny or send a request for evidence (RFE). Once the I-140 is approved and a visa number is available for your country of birth, you apply for the green card itself, either through adjustment of status with Form I-485 if you are in the U.S., or through consular processing abroad. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included.
Immigration law is federal, so the process is the same in Virginia, Maryland and DC.
What an EB-1 lawyer at USG Law Group does for you
We begin with an honest evaluation. Not everyone with a good career meets the EB-1 standard, and we would rather tell you that early than file a weak case. If EB-1 is not the right fit, we discuss alternatives such as EB-2.
If it is, we map your record to the criteria, identify the gaps and plan how to fill them. We help you choose recommenders and draft clear, specific support letters. We write the legal brief, organize the exhibits, file the I-140 and respond to any RFE. Then we handle the green card stage, prepare you for any interview, and keep your family's applications moving with yours.
Why EB-1 petitions get denied, and how we plan around it
Common problems include letters that praise you in general terms without concrete examples, evidence that technically meets a criterion but does not show real impact, and petitions that list achievements without explaining why they matter to someone outside your field. For EB-1C, denials often come from thin proof of the corporate relationship or job duties that look hands-on rather than managerial.
A strong petition anticipates these objections. We check every case against them in a free consultation before you commit.
Why professionals choose USG Law Group for EB-1
Attorney Marianela Uribe knows what it means to build a career across borders. Educated in Bolivia, she served six years as in-house counsel for a multinational, earned three LL.M. degrees and a JD cum laude from American University Washington College of Law, and now leads a bilingual immigration practice. She is licensed in Maryland and Virginia and serves clients in Washington DC.
Clients tell us we explain everything in detail and move cases faster than other offices quoted. We offer evening, weekend and virtual appointments, payment plans and a free initial consultation. See also our L-1 Visa page for executives who may transfer first, and our Business Immigration overview.
