United States
Immigrant visa, Green card

US EB-1A Visa Guide

Everything you need to know about eligibility, criteria, evidence, and visa application process

Overall Turnaround time
From process start to Green Card – 6-18 months
Government fees
  • I-140 filing – $715
  • Asylum Program Fee – $300 (small employer) or $600 (large employer)
  • Optional premium processing – $2,805
  • Adjustment of status (inside U.S.) – $1,440
  • Or, if applying abroad: Immigrant Visa Application – $345, USCIS Immigrant Fee – $235
  • Immigration medical exam – $100–500
Path to green card and citizenship
  • Green Card is issued a few weeks to months after EB-1A approval (via adjustment of status or consular processing).
  • After 5 years as a Green Card holder (meeting residence and presence rules), you can apply for U.S. citizenship.

What Is the EB-1 Visa Category?

The EB-1 visa is a U.S. immigration option for people at the top of their field. It gives you a faster path to a Green Card without the extra labor certification step. It’s meant for those who can show they are leaders or top achievers in their profession.

There are three tracks
  • EB-1A – Extraordinary Ability (our main focus): For people at the very top of their field in science, arts, business, education, or sports. You can apply on your own without needing a U.S. job offer.

  • EB-1B – Outstanding Professors and Researchers: For professors or researchers with international recognition and at least 3 years of experience, who have a permanent job offer from a U.S. university or research institution

  • EB-1C – Multinational Managers and Executives: For senior managers or executives who worked abroad for a qualifying company and are being transferred to its U.S. branch, subsidiary, or affiliate.

Key Benefit of EB-1: Unlike many other employment visas, EB-1 does not require labor certification, is processed faster, and usually has no backlog – meaning Green Cards are often available immediately.

Our main focus is the EB-1A track, and this guide is dedicated to that specific path.

Basic Requirements for EB-1A

You can apply for an EB-1A green card if you have extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. This means you've achieved sustained national or international recognition in your field, and your work has been well-documented.

Basic Eligibility for EB‑1A checklist

To qualify, you need to show three things:

You have extraordinary ability with sustained acclaim
You plan to continue working in your field in the United States
Your presence in the U.S. will substantially benefit the country

Good news: You don't need a job offer. You can file the petition yourself (called self-petitioning), or someone else can file on your behalf. However, you still need to demonstrate your intention to continue work in your area of expertise and that this work will benefit the United States.

Sustained National or International Acclaim

Each word is important and will be evaluated.

Acclaim – your public recognition

Recognition from credible, independent sources showing your work is noticed and valued by the field.

  • Typical proof: major awards or finalist lists, substantial press about you, invitations to judge or keynote, leadership in respected orgs, high citations or product adoption, top-tier compensation.

  • Focus on quality and independence – the more selective and reputable the source, the stronger the acclaim.

National or international – how wide the recognition is

Evidence should show your impact reaches across your country or across multiple countries.

  • Awards: national academies, government-level prizes, global competitions.

  • Media: coverage in nationally circulated outlets or internationally read journals.

  • Adoption: users, customers, citations, or performances across regions or countries.

Sustained – kept up over time

USCIS looks for a continuing pattern, not a one-off spike. There’s no fixed timeframe and no age limit.

  • Show a timeline of recognition that continues to the present – e.g., awards/press 3–5 years ago and recent judging, leadership, publications, or commercial results.

  • If there are gaps, show how recent achievements meet or exceed your earlier level.

Continuing to Work in Your Field

Core rule – You must plan to keep working in the same field of extraordinary ability (for example AI, cybersecurity, devtools, fintech, product growth science). EB-1A does not require a job offer, but USCIS expects credible proof you will continue in that area.

What counts as the “same area” – Roles can evolve, but they should draw on the same specialized expertise that earned your acclaim:

  • Engineer → Tech lead/CTO/product-tech hybrid – usually within the same area if you remain responsible for high-level technical direction, research, or product architecture.

  • Researcher → Applied AI founder or principal scientist – within the area if your new work applies the same research to products at scale.

  • Founder/operator → Founder again, head of product, or venture studio building in the same technical domain – typically within the area if your leadership is rooted in your specialized know-how.

  • Founder/operator → Full-time investor – may be outside the area unless you show recent, national-level recognition as an investor or clear evidence that your investing role is functionally an extension of your technical leadership.

Edge-case logic USCIS applies – Officers look at the totality of evidence: if your earlier acclaim was as, say, an ML engineer, but your next role is product leadership in an ML platform, that can still be within your area. If you pivoted far from the specialty, you should show recent, comparable-level acclaim in the new but related role.

If time has passed – When you have had years to build a reputation in the new role, officers may give greater weight to recent achievements in that role. Keep your record current and comparable in level to your earlier recognition.

How to prove intent to continue – Provide concrete, near-term plans tied to your specialty:

  • Offer letters, founder agreements, advisory or board contracts citing your specialty.

  • Product roadmaps, research statements, grant or R&D plans, patents in progress.

  • Accelerator acceptances, funded term sheets, or customer LOIs referencing your domain.

  • Speaking invites, peer-review duties, standards-body work, or open-source leadership that continue your track record.

Quick self-test – Does the next role clearly rely on the same specialized expertise that drove your acclaim, and do you have current evidence showing you are continuing at that level. If yes, you are likely “continuing to work in the area of expertise.”

Benefiting the United States

Your entry must substantially benefit the United States. This requirement is interpreted broadly and depends on your specific circumstances. There's no single rule about what counts as a substantial benefit, and officers evaluate this on a case-by-case basis.

Core requirement – Your planned work in the U.S. should deliver a clear, forward-looking benefit.

What can qualify as “substantial benefit” – It’s broad and case-by-case. Common signals:

  • Innovation & IP – Commercializing breakthrough AI, infra, cybersecurity, devtools; patents licensed to U.S. companies.

  • Economic impact – U.S. hiring plans, job creation, revenue from U.S. customers, exports, supplier ecosystems.

  • National interest – Security, privacy, critical infrastructure, healthcare, education, climate, defense-adjacent R&D.

  • Ecosystem effects – Open-source widely adopted by U.S. orgs, standards leadership (IETF, W3C, Linux Foundation), mentoring and upskilling U.S. teams.

  • Public good – Deployments that measurably improve outcomes for U.S. users or institutions.

How to prove it – Pair a short narrative with concrete exhibits:

  • Role or founder docs tied to U.S. projects; accelerator admits; grants or research partnerships.

  • Traction proof – signed LOIs, pilot MOUs, contracts, ARR from U.S. clients, active-use metrics, case studies.

  • Market validation – U.S. investor term sheets, expert letters, reputable U.S. press or awards.

  • Impact evidence – hiring plans with locations, economic models, security risk-reduction metrics, cost-saving estimates, adoption stats.

If it’s not obvious – Officers may ask for more detail (RFE). Pre-empt by making the U.S. beneficiaries, timeline, and measurable outcomes explicit.

Do not forget to demonstrate your acclaim, your intention to continue working in your field in the U.S., and the value you will bring to the country. This should be demonstrated throughout your application, with supporting evidence included in the relevant sections and, if helpful, further explained in a cover letter

Common mistake

A common mistake is when applicants focus only on the 10 criteria (discussed later in this guide) to prove extraordinary ability but overlook the bigger picture: showing sustained acclaim, proving they will continue working in their field in the U.S., and demonstrating the value they will bring to the country. These elements are just as important as meeting the criteria.

How USCIS Analyses EB-1A Cases

Bottom line: You must show you are among the small percentage at the very top of your field.

To determine this, USCIS follows a two-step review process

Step 1 – Regulatory criteria check
  • USCIS checks whether your documents fit the official categories: either one major internationally recognized award or at least 3 of the 10 criteria.

  • At this stage, officers aren't yet deciding if you're truly extraordinary. They're simply checking whether your evidence objectively fits the requirements.

Step 2 – Final merits determination
  • Officers look at everything together to determine whether you're truly "one of that small percentage who have risen to the very top" of your field.

  • This is where they assess whether you genuinely have sustained national or international acclaim.

Criteria

To qualify for the EB-1A visa, you need to provide evidence that you meet at least three out of ten criteria. Also note that for EB-1A in digital technology, typically only eight of the ten are suitable – see the checklist below to see if you might be a fit.

EB‑1A Criteria Checklist

To qualify, you need to meet at least three criteria.

Nationally or internationally recognized awards
Memberships in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Published material about you in major media or trade journals
Judging the work of others (peer review, competitions)
Original contributions of major significance in the field
Authorship of scholarly articles
Leading or critical role for distinguished organizations
High salary or remuneration compared to peers

Criterion 1 – Prizes or Awards

What counts

You received a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award for excellence in your field. Team awards can count if you are a named recipient. The focus is on your award, not your employer’s.

Examples

  • National or international tech awards – e.g., government innovation prizes, respected industry awards, major startup or product awards.

  • Top conference awards – best paper, best demo, best startup or product at recognized conferences or summits.

  • Elite accelerator or grant honors – highly selective accelerator prizes, national research or innovation grants recognizing excellence.

How officers evaluate

  • Excellence basis – clear criteria showing the award recognizes outstanding achievement in your field.

  • Recognition scope – national or international standing of the granting body and the award’s reputation.

  • Selectivity – number of recipients, acceptance or win rates, and who can compete.

  • Competitor limits – Is the competition limited to a certain age, gender, or ethnicity group that would substantially narrow the competitive field?

Tips to strengthen: Provide the award’s criteria, selection stats (win rate, number of entrants), and who was eligible. Show the prestige of the granting organization and any media coverage. If it was a team award, document your specific role and why you were named.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Pitch competitions / hackathons without broad recognition – Startup contests or hackathons are often local or niche, and USCIS may reject them as lacking national or international prestige.
  • Accelerator admission treated as an award – Programs like Y Combinator or Techstars are selective, but admission itself is not an “award” under Criterion 1 (though it may support other criteria).
  • Company-internal awards – “Best Employee,” “Top Engineer,” or similar employer-based recognitions are not seen as nationally/internationally recognized.
  • Certificates of participation or completion – Finishing a program, bootcamp, or training (even elite ones) does not count as an award.
  • Media features misused as awards – Press mentions or interviews belong under the “published material” criterion, not the awards criterion.
  • Grants or funding without competitive prestige – Investment, stipends, or government grants don’t qualify unless they are part of a well-recognized, competitive prize program.

Criterion 2 – Memberships Requiring Outstanding Achievement

What counts

Membership or fellowship in a professional association that admits only candidates with outstanding achievements, as judged by recognized experts. General, pay-to-join, or credentials-only memberships do not qualify.

Examples

  • IEEE Fellow – awarded by peer nomination and rigorous review, limited to ≤0.1% of IEEE members annually for extraordinary technical achievements.

  • ACM Fellow – conferred on <1% of ACM members, requiring proven outstanding contributions to computing and peer-elected recognition.

  • National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Member – elected by current members based on documented, exceptional engineering accomplishments.

  • AAAS Fellow (American Association for the Advancement of Science) – elected by peers in recognition of scientifically or socially distinguished achievements in the field.

How officers evaluate

  • Selection criteria – Does the organization explicitly require outstanding achievements in your field.

  • Who decides – Are nominees reviewed and approved by national or international experts (for example, a council of fellows).

  • Selectivity & scope – Acceptance rates, nominee pool, and the organization’s national or international standing.

  • Your level – Your specific grade (for example, Fellow vs. Member) must be the one that carries the rigorous standard.

Tips to strengthen. This about the following factors: Selection criteria – Does the organization explicitly require outstanding achievements in your field. Who decides – Are nominees reviewed and approved by national or international experts (for example, a council of fellows). Selectivity & scope – Acceptance rates, nominee pool, and the organization’s national or international standing. Your level – Your specific grade (for example, Fellow vs. Member) must be the one that carries the rigorous standard.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Membership based mainly on fees, years of experience, education, employer affiliation, or access to publications.
  • General networking clubs, alumni groups, or invite-only communities without expert evaluation of achievements.

Criterion 3 – Published Material About You in Major/Professional Media

What counts

Coverage that is about you in the context of your work in your field of talent, appearing in professional or major trade publications or other major media. It can be print, online, audio, or video. Marketing or paid placements generally do not qualify.

Examples

  • In-depth interview or podcast with a recognized tech publication focused on your product, research, or open-source leadership.

  • Feature or profile on you or your work in a top industry outlet or major newspaper/magazine.

  • Conference or product launch coverage that substantively discusses your role and contributions (not merely mentioning your name).

How officers evaluate

  • About you, not just your company – The piece should focus on your work or include substantial discussion linking you to the achievements.

  • Publication stature – Professional or major trade outlet for the field, or widely read mainstream media. Indicators include target audience, circulation, readership, viewership, domain reputation, and editorial standards.

  • Independence – Not paid or promotional content. Press releases, advertorials, or pay-to-publish items usually do not count.

  • Substance – Depth of analysis, originality, and clear connection to your specific contributions.

Tips to strengthen: Provide full citations and PDFs/links, plus readership or viewership metrics. Add context on outlet prestige – awards, rankings, or recognized influence in tech.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Company-centric pieces that barely mention you or only quote you as a spokesperson.
  • Press releases, sponsored posts, paid native ads, or pay-to-publish articles – typically not valid.
  • Light mentions or listicles with no substantive discussion of your work.
  • Personal blog posts, Medium posts, or company blog content without independent editorial control.
  • Local or niche newsletters with minimal audience or unclear editorial standards.
  • Uncredited podcasts or videos where you are not identified by name and role.
  • Team articles that omit your contribution and no separate evidence tying you to the achievement.

Criterion 4 – Judging the Work of Others

What counts

You have formally evaluated others’ work in your field or a closely related field, and you actually performed the review. Invitations alone are not enough.

Examples

  • Journal or conference peer review – completed reviews for reputable CS/AI/SE journals or program committees, with proof of assignments completed.

  • Grant or accelerator selection – reviewer or panelist for government R&D programs, venture funds, or top accelerators where you assess technical merit.

  • Standards or open-source governance – maintainer or committee member evaluating proposals, RFCs, or significant PRs for widely used projects or standards bodies.

  • Competition judging – judge for respected hackathons or tech awards with published criteria and competitive selection.

How officers evaluate

  • Same or allied field – the work you judged aligns with your expertise.

  • Actual participation – evidence you completed reviews or judging, not just invitations.

  • Selectivity & stature – reputation of the journal, conference, program, or competition and the rigor of its process.

  • Scope & frequency – multiple completed reviews or service across notable venues strengthens the case.

Tips to strengthen: Provide both invitations and proofs of actual participation. Include details – acceptance rates, impact factors, ranking, size of applicant pool, or governance role descriptions. Map each judging activity to your specific expertise and briefly note the evaluation criteria you applied.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Invites without proof of completed reviews.
  • Informal mentoring or advising without a formal evaluative role.
  • Company-internal performance reviews or hiring interviews that are not part of a recognized external process.
  • Low-credibility venues with unclear standards or pay-to-participate events.
  • Judging outside your expertise with no clear link to your field.

Criterion 5 – Original Contributions of Major Significance

What counts

You created something original in your field and it is of major significance – meaning it measurably moved the field, market, or practice forward (not just “new,” but important).

Examples

  • Widely adopted technology – OSS projects with substantial external adoption; libraries/frameworks powering notable products; inclusion in major distributions or platforms.

  • Breakthrough product or system – step-change performance, cost, safety, or security used by recognized companies or institutions.

  • Influential research – papers or preprints with high field-relative citations, best-paper awards, or replication and extension by other teams.

  • Patents with real uptake – licensed by third parties, embedded in shipped products, or generating revenue.

  • Standards & protocols – contributions that became part of a widely used standard or de-facto industry practice.

  • Security & reliability impact – CVE attributions, frameworks reducing incidents at scale, proven availability or latency improvements across many users.

How officers evaluate

  • Originality – you conceived or led the core idea or method, documented with technical artifacts.

  • Major significance – independent field-level impact, shown by external adoption, citations, licensing, benchmark leadership, standards inclusion, prominent deployments, or expert commentary. Funding, a patent filing, or publication alone is not enough without proof of impact.

Tips to strengthen: Pair proof of originality (design docs, commits, patents, PI role) with proof of impact (adoption stats, customers, citations, downloads, benchmarks, revenue, cost savings, incident reduction). Provide independent corroboration – third-party press, user testimonials from recognized orgs, standards minutes, marketplace stats. Use field-relative metrics – compare to peers: percentile citations, acceptance rates, performance deltas, market share. Include expert letters that are specific: what you built, why it was hard, how others now rely on it, concrete outcomes; include writer credentials and how they know your work. If a patent is pending, add detailed letters and evidence of adoption or pilots to show significance now.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Confusing novelty with significance – new but little uptake or influence.
  • Relying only on funding, a patent grant, or a publication without external impact evidence.
  • Generic praise letters with no specifics, metrics, or field context.
  • Internal-only usage with no independent validation or recognizable external users.
  • Claiming a team achievement without clear proof of your lead role.
  • Using vanity metrics that do not reflect field impact.

Criterion 6 – Authorship of Scholarly Articles

What counts

You wrote scholarly articles in your field, published in professional or major trade publications or other major media. Scholarly means work aimed at learned readers that reports original research, experimentation, or rigorous technical analysis, typically with citations and peer review.

Examples

  • Papers in peer-reviewed computing journals or top conferences with proceedings.

  • Industry research articles in respected professional outlets.

  • Published conference presentations at nationally or internationally recognized events.

How officers evaluate

  • USCIS checks that you authored scholarly articles in the field. They confirm you are the author and that the work is scholarly in nature, meaning original research, experimentation, or rigorous discourse written by an expert and generally peer reviewed; in non-academic settings, it should be written for learned readers with profound, study-based knowledge.

  • USCIS checks the publication venue. They determine whether it is a professional publication, major trade publication, or major media, and assess the intended audience and the outlet’s circulation or readership relative to others in the field.

Tips to strengthen: Provide the full citation, link or PDF, and venue details – peer review process, acceptance rate, impact metrics, audience size. Add context of influence – citations, downloads, implementations, or follow-on work by independent teams. Include a short contribution summary per article explaining what is new, why it matters, and your role.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Marketing content – whitepapers, solution briefs, or company blog posts without scholarly rigor.
  • Non-reviewed posts on Medium, Substack, or personal blogs presented as “articles.”
  • Listicles or news bites without methods, data, or references.
  • Being mentioned in others’ articles rather than being an author.
  • Submissions or preprints with no evidence of acceptance when relying solely on publication (preprints can support impact, but peer-reviewed or professional publication is stronger).

Criterion 7 – Work shown at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Usually not relevant for tech professionals.

Criterion 8 – Leading or Critical Role for Distinguished Organizations

What counts

You served in a leading role (you directed people, strategy, or outcomes) or a critical role (your work was essential to key results) for an organization, division, or team with a distinguished reputation.

Examples

  • Founder or co-founder at a company with a distinguished reputation.

  • CTO, Chief Architect, Engineering Director, or Head of Engineering at a company with a strong reputation.

  • AI researcher or AI engineer who played a critical role in developing a novel model, algorithm, or method within a distinguished organization.

  • Head of Product or Product Manager leading development of a flagship product at a distinguished company.

How officers evaluate

  • Role assessment – leading or critical. USCIS looks for proof you led people, strategy, or major deliverables (leading) or that your work was essential to key outcomes (critical). Titles help only if duties match; performance and impact matter most, and a support title can still be critical.

  • Organization assessment – distinguished reputation. Show the org or division is recognized for excellence – market leadership, marquee customers, notable press, competitive grants. Size or age is not decisive. For startups, stage-appropriate VC or government funding is a positive factor.

Tips to strengthen: Provide role proofs – job descriptions, org charts, OKRs, board minutes, offer letters, equity or founder docs, PI records. Show outcomes – metrics and artifacts tying your work to impact: users, uptime, revenue, cost savings, security risk reduction, benchmark wins, standards adoption. Document reputation – investor cap tables and round sizes, customer logos, audited revenue ranges, recognized rankings, major media,  awards or grants. Include detailed expert letters from leaders with firsthand knowledge explaining how your role was leading or critical and why the org is distinguished. If your impact was within a division, prove the division’s distinction separately from the parent company.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Relying on title alone without evidence of direction-setting or outcome-critical work.
  • Describing a well-known company but failing to prove your specific unit is distinguished.
  • Listing routine responsibilities with no measurable results or independent validation.
  • Letters that are generic, lack author credentials, or do not detail how your role changed outcomes.
  • Startups with minimal traction or funding and no third-party signals of excellence.

Criterion 9 – High Salary or Remuneration

What counts

Your cash or total compensation is significantly higher than peers in your field/level/location. Prospective comp can qualify if supported by a credible offer or contract.

Examples

  • Base salary, bonus, RSUs/options grant value, retention awards, sign-on bonuses.

  • Consulting day rates or retainers well above market.

  • Advisory equity with meaningful grant size or premium vesting terms.

  • Founder/exec comp set by a board with market benching.

How officers evaluate

  • Relative comparison – role, level, specialty, and location-adjusted market data.

  • Source quality – reputable compensation surveys or audited company ranges.

  • Apples-to-apples – same currency, time period, and pay basis (annual vs hourly/day rate), with conversions shown.

  • Credibility for offers – for startups, funding and investor quality support the offer’s reliability.

Tips to strengthen: Provide pay proofs – pay stubs, W-2/1099 or equivalents, equity grant notices, contracts. Attach market data matched to your role/level/location and explain the percentile. Convert non-annual pay to an annualized equivalent and show your math. For equity, show grant value at grant date and, if relevant, realizations to date. For founders, include board comp policy, cap table or round details to support market-rate pay.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Using broad or mismatched surveys (wrong role, industry, or geography).
  • Relying on anonymous, low-sample user reports with no methodology.
  • Currency conversions without local market comparison.
  • Claiming “high” comp with no third-party benchmark or without separating base, bonus, and equity.
  • Offers from unfunded startups without corroboration of ability to pay.

Criterion 10 – Commercial successes in the performing arts

Usually not relevant for tech professionals.

Comparable evidence

If a standard criterion does not readily fit your role, you may submit comparable evidence of similar weight. Explain clearly why the listed criterion is hard to apply in your occupation, then provide alternative proof that shows equivalent significance and supports sustained national or international acclaim. USCIS first decides whether the regular criterion is not easily applicable, then assesses whether your substitute evidence is truly comparable.

Meeting a listed criterion or its comparable counterpart satisfies Step 1 only. USCIS then conducts Step 2 – final merits, asking whether the total record shows you are among the small percentage at the very top with sustained national or international acclaim.

Final Merit Determination

What it is

USCIS takes a step back and reviews everything together to decide if you are among the small percentage at the very top of your field with sustained national or international acclaim. The standard is more likely than not based on the total record.

What USCIS looks for

  • Clear pattern of independent, ongoing recognition

  • Evidence that your impact is field-level, not just company-level

  • Quality over volume – a few strong exhibits beat many weak ones

Strong signals

  • Publications or conference papers in high-ranked venues, with meaningful authorship

  • High field-relative citations or broad adoption of your work

  • Roles at distinguished companies, labs, or programs, or funded R&D as named PI

  • Unsolicited invitations to speak at recognized conferences or industry forums

  • Standards, open-source, or platform adoption demonstrating wide influence

Add context for each exhibit: selectivity, audience, metrics, who uses it, why it matters. Tie evidence to outcomes: users, revenue, performance, security, citations, benchmarks. Map items to criteria, then explain how the totality shows top-of-field and sustained acclaim. If something is missing – USCIS cannot deny solely for lack of a specific item if others meet the rules; if you get an RFE, respond with targeted, persuasive proof. Bottom line – strengths may vary, but the full package must show you are top of your field and your acclaim continues.

Common non-qualifiers

  • Company-level, not field-level impact – evidence shows success inside one org, but little independent recognition across the field.
  • Stale acclaim – big spike years ago with no recent, comparable achievements or recognition.
  • Quantity over quality – many weak exhibits instead of a few selective, high-prestige items.
  • Paid or biased coverage – press releases, sponsored posts, or house blogs presented as “major media.”
  • Thin authorship – publications in low-tier venues, minimal contribution, or no expert readership.
  • Awards without selectivity – local, internal, or low-bar prizes framed as nationally significant.
  • Judging without substance – invitations only, or trivial venues; no proof of completed, expert evaluations.
  • Memberships without rigor – pay-to-join or credential-only associations masquerading as elite fellowships.
  • Patents without uptake – filings or grants cited as “major significance” with no licensing, adoption, or product use.
  • Open-source without adoption – repos with stars but no enterprise use, downstream dependencies, or standards impact.
  • Leadership in title only – fancy role names with no evidence of direction-setting or outcome-critical work.
  • High pay claims without context – comp not benchmarked to role, level, and location or equity value unsupported.
  • U.S. value unclear – no forward-looking story tying your ongoing work to benefit for the United States.

Bottom line – Final merits looks for a coherent narrative of sustained, independent, field-level acclaim. If any item is weak, add context and third-party validation so the total record clearly shows top-of-field standing.

Your Petition Has Been Approved! What's Next?

An approved I-140 is not a Green Card – the approval notice does not give you the right to live, work, or travel in the U.S.

If you applied inside the U.S., your next step is typically to file an Adjustment of Status application:

  • Book and attend a civil surgeon exam.

  • At this stage you can add dependents – your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can file their own application as derivatives.

  • Processing can take a few to several months; you must not leave the U.S. unless you have Advance Parole.

  • If you need to work or travel sooner, you can file application for Employment Authorisation and Advance Parole – in practice, many cases get the Green Card faster than the combo card.

  • Once approved, you receive a Welcome Notice and your Green Card by mail.

If you applied outside the U.S., you would go through the Consular Processing route:

  • After your petition is approved, your approval is uploaded to the State Department system and your case becomes active.

  • You pay the required fees and submit your online immigrant visa application and civil documents.

  • You schedule a medical exam with an approved physician.

  • When your file is complete and an interview slot opens, you receive an appointment date – often set about 2–3 months ahead, timing varies by embassy or consulate.

  • You attend the interview; if approved, your passport with the immigrant visa is usually returned within 1–2 weeks.

  • You pay the immigrant fee to the U.S. immigration agency so your Green Card can be produced, then travel to the United States and become a permanent resident upon entry.

  • Your physical Green Card typically arrives by mail in several weeks to a couple of months.

  • Dependents – spouse and unmarried children under 21 – follow the same steps and may accompany you or follow to join.

Why Work With CSMPLT

EB-1A is not just a compilation of evidence – it is a strategic submission that must prove your extraordinary ability, show that you are among the very small percentage at the top of your field, demonstrate that you not only meet the regulatory criteria but also satisfy the two-step assessment, establish national or international acclaim, and clearly show your value to the U.S.

How CSMPLT Can Help:

  • Gap Analysis & Evidence Sourcing – We analyze your materials, identify what's missing, and actively research third-party evidence from public sources to corroborate your achievements and meet specific criteria.

  • Professional Documentation – We structure, label, and format all exhibits with explanatory captions, build comprehensive evidence indexes with cross-references, and arrange certified translations when required.

  • Continuous Case Refinement – We track remaining gaps, request additional materials as needed, and adjust strategy as new information arrives to strengthen your position.

  • Independent Quality Control – Beyond your dedicated case team, at least two senior professionals independently review your entire case to catch inconsistencies, errors, or missed opportunities.

  • Proactive Weakness Management – We anticipate potential questions or objections evaluators might raise and address them directly in your application before submission.

  • Full-Service Case Management – We handle every administrative detail from document preparation to translation coordination, so you focus on your work while we manage the complex logistics.

The CSMPLT Difference:

  • Strategic Positioning – We map your unique achievements against evaluation criteria to find your strongest competitive angle and craft your narrative around it

  • Narrative Mastery – we craft a compelling arc that connects your past achievements to future potential

  • Evidence Curation – we build as strong a case as it can be using data, metrics, and third-party validation

  • We Drive the Process – from strategic brainstorming sessions and stakeholder coordination to deadline management and final approvals. You focus on your work while we ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

  • Risk Mitigation – we stress-test your application against common failure points

Over the years, we've handled this process multiple times and have gathered proven best practices and refined approaches. We've witnessed numerous successful cases, rejections, and rejections that were ultimately turned into successes through strategic appeals or subsequent applications.

We bring deep expertise, specialized know-how, and established best practices that help avoid common pitfalls while maximizing your chances of building the strongest possible case.

We invest 300-600 person-hours from multiple team members on each project – time that we save you from spending on learning the intricacies of this complex process and going through this hardly pleasant journey alone.

This is a painful process. While we cannot alleviate the related pain completely (e.g., you probably won't allow us to search your computer archive for that document you remembered you have), we do everything humanly possible and are ready to take on all related assignments to make it easier for you (e.g., researching, analyzing, and compiling evidence from publicly available materials). Simply put: if any aspect of this process can be delegated, delegate it to us. We'll handle everything we possibly can so you can focus on what only you can do.

Finally, this is our job – we work full-time on your case while you work full-time on your job. The result: higher quality outcomes, delivered much faster.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I qualify if I don’t meet all 10 criteria?

You must meet at least three criteria and pass an overall assessment showing that you are among the very small percentage at the top of your field, are recognized at the national or international level, and that your presence will benefit the U.S.

Do I need a U.S. job offer?

You do not need a job offer – however, you must show how you will continue working in your field in the U.S. and how your presence will benefit the country. In short, even without a job offer, you still need to address these points clearly.

What’s the difference between EB‑1A and O‑1A?

EB-1A leads to a Green Card (permanent residency). O-1A is a temporary work visa. O-1A can be a stepping stone, but EB-1A is the end goal for a long-term U.S. stay.

While the criteria look similar, the threshold is higher for EB-1A, so previous approval of O-1A – while a good signal – does not guarantee EB-1A approval.

How long does the EB‑1A process take?

The EB-1A process, from filing the petition to receiving a Green Card, can take from 6 months with premium processing and up to 18 months or more with regular processing.

Ready to go?
Choose your speed

Whether you want full hands-on support, guided independence, or just to check if you qualify – we’ve got a path for you.

Full Assistance

Starting at £3500

Co-Pilot

£35 per month

Check My case

$350 per consultation

Trusted by People Like You

Dyma Budorin
Co-Founder and CEO, Hacken
"They cared to understand the Web3 cybersecurity to deliver a winning case"

"At Hacken, we do a lot across Web3 cybersecurity – both product and service work. The CSMPLT team took the time to deeply understand our business model, services, and industry specifics. Despite our dual structure, they expertly positioned my achievements to meet the “product-led” requirement of the UK Global Talent visa. As someone who works in professional services myself, I value true professionalism – and CSMPLT delivered exactly that. I’ve already recommended them to several colleagues."

UK GTV
Swaroop Poudel
Web 3 Entrepreneur | Lawyer | Startup Mentor, Berkeley SkyDeck
"Moved from the US to the UK on Global Talent thanks to CSMPLT"

"They deeply understand the Global Talent criteria and know exactly how to extract the most relevant aspects of your background to meet them. What truly impressed me was how much time they invested in understanding my work — far beyond what I expected. That’s what sets them apart. They genuinely care about your field and aren’t afraid to dig deep to uncover the golden nuggets that make your case truly stand out. Highly recommended."

UK GTV
Andrew Will Skrypnyk
Founder and CEO, Promova
"They translated abstract CEO work into criteria-matching proof"

"My biggest challenge with the UK Global Talent visa was understanding what evidence they actually want from a CEO like me. I don’t write code or docs — I lead people, drive ideas, and get results. CSMPLT helped translate that into evidence that met the strict criteria. Their process was intense — they asked deep, almost painfully detailed questions — but it brought real clarity. Together we found the right angles, the right proof, and I got endorsed on the first try. Visas are painful, but CSMPLT made it as smooth as possible."

UK GTV
Yeva Koldovska
General Manager, Nibble
"I focused on my startup, they delivered the endorsement"

"The CSMPLT team took full ownership of the process and guided me every step of the way. They helped me understand the requirements, identify strong evidence, choose the right recommenders, and craft a compelling strategy. While I focused on growing Nibble, they handled everything — from positioning to paperwork. I’m a strong believer in specialisation and delegating to experts, and this was a perfect example. Thanks to their work, we achieved a positive Global Talent outcome without it becoming a distraction. Huge thanks to the team for making it seamless."

UK GTV
Anton Pavlovsky
Founder and CEO, Headway Inc
"They understand mobile apps business — and know how to package it for GTV"

"As Headway expanded internationally with new offices in London and Madrid, I turned to the CSMPLT team to help secure my UK residency permit. While I had a strong public profile, meeting the other Global Talent criteria was tricky. I wasn’t sure what evidence to use, but the team expertly guided me through it. Their understanding of the mobile apps business was outstanding — I didn’t need to explain a thing. They asked precise, metric-driven questions, making the process seamless. We secured the endorsement, and I literally spent no more than a couple of hours on all of this."

UK GTV
Vital Laptenok
GP, Flyer One Ventures | Co-Founder, Genesis
"CSMPLT delivered winning strategy tailored for tricky VC profile"

"With a broad and varied career, it was challenging to decide what to highlight for the GTV criteria. The CSMPLT team helped craft a sharp case strategy, focusing on what mattered and cutting what didn’t. Investor profiles are tricky, but the team knew exactly how to position mine for Tech Nation. They handled everything end-to-end – from positioning to execution – saving me at least 100 hours. I received a positive endorsement and couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Highly recommend them for anyone navigating this process."

UK GTV
Pavlo Pedenko
Co-Founder Mathema.me | ex-Wise, -Preply
"Reworked my case, secured endorsement, halved ILR timeline"

"After a rejected Global Talent application, I turned to CSMPLT team — and soon received my endorsement. They completely reworked my case, taking time to understand my work and distill it into a clear, compelling narrative. They guided me in identifying strong evidence and helped shape it into a coherent, criteria-aligned package. Their strategic insight and end-to-end support made all the difference. Moving from a Skilled Worker visa to Global Talent has now cut my ILR timeline dramatically. I highly recommend Ivan and his team."

UK GTV
Nazar
Tech Founder | San Francisco Community Leader
"Approved for US and UK in record time with CSMPLT"

"I was referred to CSMPLT by Vital Laptenok at Burning Man, during a moment of reflection about my next steps. Once back in real life, I reached out and decided to pursue options in both the UK and US. The timeline was extremely tight, but CSMPLT accomplished what others said was impossible – in just one month everything was prepared and submitted, and two weeks later we had approval in the US. Shortly after, we filed in the UK and received another approval. Exceptional speed, flawless execution. Highly recommended."

US,UK
Not sure which route is right for you?

Take our short quiz – or talk to us. We’ll help you choose the smartest path for your background and goals.

Dyma Budorin

"They cared to understand the Web3 cybersecurity to deliver a winning case"

Swaroop Poudel

"Moved from US to UK on Global Talent thanks to CSMPLT"

Vital Laptenok

“Delivered winning strategy tailored for tricky VC profile”

Pavlo Pedenko

"Cut time to ILR by switching to Global Talent"

Nazar

"Approved for US and UK in record time with CSMPLT"

Anton Pavlovsky

"They understand mobile apps — and how to package it for visa"

Yeva Koldovska

"I focused on my startup, they delivered visa approval"

Andrew Will Skrypnyk

"Translated abstract CEO work into criteria-matching proof"

Dyma Budorin

"They cared to understand the Web3 cybersecurity to deliver a winning case"

Swaroop Poudel

"Moved from US to UK on Global Talent thanks to CSMPLT"

Vital Laptenok

“Delivered winning strategy tailored for tricky VC profile”

Pavlo Pedenko

"Cut time to ILR by switching to Global Talent"

Nazar

"Approved for US and UK in record time with CSMPLT"

Anton Pavlovsky

"They understand mobile apps — and how to package it for visa"

Yeva Koldovska

"I focused on my startup, they delivered visa approval"

Andrew Will Skrypnyk

"Translated abstract CEO work into criteria-matching proof"