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EB1A, EB1B, EB1C

What are EB1 visas?

EB1 visas allow individuals with extraordinary ability in their field of expertise, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational managers or executives to permanently come to the United States for employment. There are three types of EB1 visa: EB1A, EB1B, and EB1C. The EB1A visa is available for persons of extraordinary ability in their field of expertise. The EB1B visa is available for outstanding professors and researchers. And, the EB1C visa is available for certain multinational managers or executives.

What are the differences between the EB1A, EB1B, and EB1C visas?

EB1 visas are all available for permanent employment-based workers. However, all EB1 visas are applicable to different types of workers.

  • EB1A
    The EB1A visa is available for workers with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. An EB1A visa holder’s extraordinary ability must be the subject of sustained national or international acclaim and his or her achievements must be recognized in his or her field through extensive documentation.
  • EB1B
    The EB1B visa is available for professors and researchers who demonstrate international recognition for outstanding achievements in a particular academic field and have at least three years of experience in teaching or researching within that field.
  • EB1C
    The EB1C visa is available for managerial or executive workers who work for a United States firm or corporation outside of the United States and seek to enter the United States to continue work for the same employer, an affiliate, or a subsidiary of the employer.

Who qualifies for each type of EB1 visa?

  • EB1A
    To qualify for an EB1A visa, an applicant must show evidence of his or her extraordinary ability and expertise in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. An EB1A visa applicant does not need an offer of employment to qualify. However, an applicant must prove that he or she is coming to the United States to continue work in his or her area of expertise.
    How to Prove EB1A Qualifications
    EB1A visa applicants may prove their qualifications by presenting evidence of a major, internationally-recognized one-time achievement or award, such as a Pulitzer, Oscar, or Olympic Medal. Alternatively, EB1A visa applicants must meet at least 3 of the 10 following criteria in order to prove their sustained national or international acclaim and recognition in their field of expertise:

    • Evidence of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence;
    • Evidence of published material about the applicant in professional or major trade publications or other major media;
    • Evidence of the applicant’s original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field;
    • Evidence that the applicant has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases;
    • Evidence of the applicant’s performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations;
    • Evidence of the applicant’s commercial successes in the performing arts;
    • Evidence of the applicant’s membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members;
    • Evidence that the applicant has been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel;
    • Evidence of the applicant’s authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media;
    • Evidence of the applicant’s performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations
    • Evidence that the applicant commands a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field.
  • EB1B
    To qualify for an EB1B visa, an applicant must show evidence of his or her outstanding achievements in a particular academic field. An EB1B applicant must have at least three years of experience in teaching or researching in his or her respective field. An applicant must be seeking to enter the United States to pursue tenure, a tenure track teaching, or comparable research position at a university or other higher education institution. Before applying for an EB1B visa, an EB1B applicant must also have a job offer from a university, higher education institution, or a department, division or institute of a private employer.
    How to Prove EB1B Qualifications
    EB1B applicants must be able to prove that they are an outstanding professor or researcher. To do so, applicants must meet at least 2 of 6 criteria below:
  • Evidence of the applicant’s membership in associations that require their members to demonstrate outstanding achievement;
  • Evidence of the applicant’s published material in professional publications written by others about the alien’s work in the academic field;
  • Evidence of the applicant’s original scientific or scholarly research contributions in his or her academic field;
  • Evidence of the applicant’s receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement;
  • Evidence of the applicant’s participation, either on a panel or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied academic field;
  • Evidence of the applicant’s authorship of scholarly books or articles in scholarly journals with international circulation in the field
  • EB1C
    To qualify for an EB1C visa, an applicant must show evidence of his or her managerial or executive capacity. A qualifying manager or executive must have worked for a firm or corporation outside the United States for at least one year during the three years before submitting his or her application. An EB1C applicant must desire to enter the United States in order to continue working for that same firm or corporation, an affiliate, or a subsidiary of the employer.

    The employer the EB1C applicant works for must also be a United States employer and the employer must also have been doing business for at least one year as an affiliate, a subsidiary, or as the same corporation or other legal entity that employed the applicant abroad.

What is the process for obtaining an EB1 visa?

The application process for all types of EB1 visas is substantially similar. Generally, the application process is led by the applicant’s employer. However, EB1A visa applicants may uniquely apply on their own because EB1A visa applicants are not required to have an employer to enter the United States. EB1A visa applicants may also be eligible to apply for permanent resident status by filing Form I-485, which is the application to register as a permanent resident or to adjust status.

All EB1 applicants must complete and sign Form I-140 according to the form’s instructions. The form is submitted with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). After completing and signing the form, it must be submitted with the applicable filing fee and documentary evidence showing the applicant meets the qualifications for the EB1A, EB1B, or EB1C visa.

Premium Processing

Premium process is available for EB1A and EB1B visa applicants. This will expedite the process by which the visa application is reviewed and approved for an additional fee.

Applicants Already Inside the United States

EB1 visa applicants already in the United States at the time they apply must file Form I-485 to change their visa status along with Form I-140.

Applicants Outside the United States

EB1 applicants who are outside of the United States must also submit the online Form DS-261 application. These applicants must also schedule an interview with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate near them. At their interview, applicants will be required to have their biometrics taken and will be asked questions about the applicant’s background, experience, and interest in coming to the United States permanently. Applicants must bring the following items to their interview:

  • Copy of printed Form DS-261;
  • Copy of Form I-140;
  • A valid passport;
  • A photo conforming to the United States Department of State’s photo requirements;
  • Evidentiary documents proving the applicant’s qualifications;
  • Approved PERM Labor Certification;
  • The applicant’s CV or resume;
  • An affidavit of support from the applicant’s employer

How much does it cost to get an EB1 visa?

  • The Form I-140 filing fee is $700.
  • The Form I-485 filing fee is $750-$1,450, dependent on the applicant’s age.
  • The biometrics fee for overseas applicants is $85.
  • The Form DS-261 filing fee for overseas applicants is $445.
  • The affidavit of support for overseas applicants is $88.
  • The premium processing fee (available for EB1A & EB1B visas) is $1,440.

Family of EB1 visa holders

The spouse or unmarried children under 21 years of age may accompany the EB1 visa holder in the United States. The family member(s) must apply to accompany the visa holder in the United States at the same time or after the EB1 visa holder applies.

How long are EB1 visas valid?

All EB1 visas are valid for 10 years, at which time EB1 visa holders may apply to renew their EB1 visa.

Sweta Khandelwal

Sweta completed her Masters in Law from the University of California, Los Angeles and her JD from the Faculty of Law, Delhi University in India and has been practicing law for 15+ years getting visas, green cards, and citizenship for 1000+ clients, 100+ companies across 50+ nationalities.

Sweta has been recognized as a ” Super Lawyer, Rising Star,” and as amongst the ” Top 40 under 40″ immigration attorneys in California (American Society of Legal Advocates). She is also the recipient of the Advocacy Award by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Sweta is also a chartered accountant — the equivalent of a CPA. This makes her uniquely positioned to understand the immigration needs of her business clients in the broader context of their corporate objectives.

Sweta is actively involved with immigration issues and immigrant communities in various capacities. She has assumed key roles at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), both at the local and national level. She has been a past chair at the Santa Clara Valley Chapter at AILA and has also been involved in various practice area committees at AILA National. Sweta has addressed multiple conferences/forums in the United States and worldwide on immigration and business issues.