The EB-1 green card: extraordinary ability, researchers and executives

What is the EB-1 green card and who is it for?

EB-1 is the first preference employment-based green card category. It is meant for people at the top of their field and for senior leaders of multinational companies. Because it skips PERM labor certification, a well-documented EB-1 case can move faster than EB-2 or EB-3, and as of the November 2026 Visa Bulletin it is current for applicants born outside China and India. There are three subcategories, each with its own test:

• EB-1A, extraordinary ability: for people who have risen to the very top of their field in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. You may file for yourself, with no job offer.
• EB-1B, outstanding professors and researchers: for academics and researchers recognized internationally. A qualifying employer must petition.
• EB-1C, multinational executives and managers: for managers and executives transferring within a company group. The U.S. employer petitions.

EB-1A: extraordinary ability

The ten evidence criteria

You can qualify with a one-time achievement that is a major, internationally recognized award (think of a Nobel Prize or Olympic medal). Without one, you must meet at least three of these ten criteria from the regulations:

1. Lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in your field.
2. Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement, judged by recognized experts.
3. Published material about you and your work in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
4. Serving as a judge of others' work, alone or on a panel (for example, peer review for journals or judging competitions).
5. Original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic or business contributions of major significance.
6. Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major media.
7. Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
8. A leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation.
9. A high salary or other significantly high pay compared with others in the field.
10. Commercial success in the performing arts, shown by box office receipts or sales.

If a criterion does not readily apply to your occupation, you may submit comparable evidence instead, with an explanation of why the standard criterion does not fit.

The final merits determination

Meeting three criteria is only the first step. USCIS then looks at all the evidence together and asks whether you have sustained national or international acclaim and are among the small percentage at the very top of your field. This two-step approach comes from the Ninth Circuit's 2010 Kazarian decision and is built into the USCIS Policy Manual. Many denials happen at this stage, often because the evidence shows solid professional success rather than standing at the top.

You must also show you will continue working in your area of expertise in the U.S. A job offer is not required; evidence such as contracts, letters from prospective employers or a statement of plans can help.

EB-1B: outstanding professors and researchers

EB-1B requires international recognition as outstanding in a specific academic area, at least three years of teaching or research experience in that area, and a qualifying job offer. The offer must be a tenured or tenure-track teaching position, or a comparable permanent research position, at a university or institution of higher education, or a permanent research position with a private employer that employs at least three full-time researchers and has documented research accomplishments.

You must meet at least two of six criteria:

• Major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement.
• Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement.
• Published material by others about your work.
• Participation as a judge of others' work in the field.
• Original scientific or scholarly research contributions.
• Authorship of scholarly books or articles in journals with international circulation.

As with EB-1A, USCIS then weighs all the evidence in a final merits review, and comparable evidence may be accepted when a criterion does not fit. Experience gained while earning a degree may count only in limited circumstances, such as when you taught or had full responsibility for the research.

EB-1C: multinational executives and managers

EB-1C is often the green card path for L-1A managers and executives. The core requirements are:

• In the three years before the petition (or before you entered the U.S. as a nonimmigrant to work for the same employer), you worked at least one continuous year abroad for a related company in a managerial or executive capacity.
• The U.S. employer and the foreign employer are the same company or a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate.
• The U.S. employer has been doing business for at least one year.
• You will work in the U.S. in a managerial or executive role.

"Managerial" and "executive" have specific meanings. A manager generally manages an organization, department or essential function, or supervises professional staff. An executive directs the management of the organization and sets broad goals with wide discretion. First-line supervisors of non-professional workers do not qualify. Organizational charts, staffing details and job descriptions showing who actually does the day-to-day work are central evidence. Learn more about the related temporary visa in our L-1 guide.

Building strong evidence

• Independent expert letters carry more weight than letters only from colleagues. They should explain specifically what you did and why it mattered, not just praise you.
• Citation data works best in context: compare your citations with field norms, and show who cited your work and how they used it.
• Media coverage should be about you, in publications with documented circulation or reach.
• Salary evidence should be compared with reliable wage data for your field and location.
• Judging evidence includes invitations and confirmation that you completed the reviews.

Since August 5, 2026, USCIS policy (Policy Alert PA-2026-05) gives officers more room to deny incomplete filings without first issuing a request for evidence, and to set shorter response deadlines. Filing a complete, organized petition matters more than ever.

The process, step by step

How much does an EB-1 green card cost?

As of October 2026, USCIS fees include:

• Form I-140: $715.
• Asylum Program Fee: $600 for most employer petitioners, $300 for EB-1A self-petitioners and for small employers with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees, and $0 for nonprofits.
• Premium processing (optional): $2,965, effective March 1, 2026.
• Form I-485, if filing in the U.S.: $1,440 for most adults.

Attorney fees are separate and vary widely. Check the USCIS fee guide or the fee calculator before filing.

How long does EB-1 take? Visa Bulletin timing

Under the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-1 Final Action Dates are current for All Chargeability, Mexico and the Philippines, 01AUG23 for China and 01FEB23 for India. Dates for Filing are current for most countries and 01JUL24 for China and India. Follow monthly changes with our Visa Bulletin tracker. People born in India or China may still wait years after approval, although an approved EB-1 often shortens the wait compared with EB-2 or EB-3.

Common EB-1 problems

• Counting criteria without showing top-of-field acclaim in the final merits review.
• Generic recommendation letters that could describe anyone.
• For EB-1C, job descriptions that read like hands-on work rather than management, or U.S. offices too small to support a true manager.
• For EB-1B, offers that are temporary or not truly comparable to tenure-track.

Alternatives

If EB-1 looks like a stretch, consider the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, a traditional PERM-based case, or the temporary O-1 visa, which uses a similar but separate standard.

What to ask an attorney

• Which three or more criteria are my strongest, and how will my record look in the final merits review?
• Should I file EB-1A and EB-2 NIW at the same time?
• Is premium processing worth it given my country's Visa Bulletin wait?
• For EB-1C: does our U.S. structure support a managerial or executive role?

If you would like to be connected with an immigration attorney who advertises with us, send us a lawyer request.