EB-1 Visa to the US:
A direct pathway to a green card for extraordinary professionals.

The EB-1 visa is an immigrant program for individuals of extraordinary ability and top professionals, providing a direct route to permanent residence (green card) in the United States in 2025.

The US is one of the most attractive destinations for immigration, offering a strong economy, robust social protections, high-quality education, and advanced healthcare. Under EB-1, talented foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in science, arts, education, business, or athletics, as well as outstanding professors, researchers, and multinational executives, may qualify. This visa category was created for highly skilled professionals and allows permanent residence in the United States without requiring a US labor market test.

The EB-1 immigrant visa provides immediate green card status upon approval. The program is valued for eliminating the complex PERM labor certification process and not requiring a US employer’s sponsorship in some categories.

Applicants must demonstrate internationally recognized achievements: either a major international award or at least three qualifying criteria (such as publications, prizes, memberships, or substantial contributions to the field). Once approved, the applicant and their family members (spouse and children under 21) obtain permanent resident status in the United States.

US immigration law divides the EB-1 visa into three subcategories, each with its own criteria:

• Extraordinary Ability (EB-1A)

The applicant must demonstrate extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, proven through sustained national or international acclaim. This requires either a major international award or meeting at least 3 of 10 USCIS criteria (for example, authorship of scholarly work, membership in prestigious associations, judging competitions, high income, etc.). A major advantage of EB-1A is that no job offer or PERM certification is required — applicants may self-petition.

USCIS criteria for EB-1A include:

• Receipt of nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes.
• Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements.
• Published material about the applicant in professional or major media.
• Participation as a judge of others’ work (peer review, juries, panels).
• Original contributions of major significance in the field.
• Authorship of scholarly articles.
• Display of work at exhibitions or professional showcases.
• Employment in a leading or critical role for distinguished organizations.
• Evidence of high salary compared to peers in the field.
• Commercial success in the arts (box office receipts, sales, etc.).

• Outstanding Professors and Researchers (EB-1B)

Applicants must demonstrate international recognition for academic achievements and have at least 3 years of teaching or research experience. They must receive an offer of employment (typically permanent or tenure-track) from a US university or research institution. At least 2 of 6 USCIS criteria must be met (such as publications, awards, research grants). PERM is not required.

USCIS criteria for EB-1B include:

• Receipt of major national or international academic awards.
• Membership in professional associations requiring outstanding accomplishments.
• Published material about the applicant in professional journals.
• Participation in judging the work of others (peer review, panels).
• Original academic or scientific contributions advancing the field. • Authorship of scholarly books or articles in recognized international journals.

• Multinational Managers and Executives (EB-1C)

The applicant must have worked abroad for at least one year in a managerial or executive capacity and be transferring to a similar position in a US branch of the same company. The petitioning company must have been doing business in both the US and abroad for at least one year. A valid job offer in the US is required, but PERM certification is not.

Each category is codified in US immigration law. When filing Form I-140, it is essential to document achievements comprehensively for the chosen category.

For applicants without a strong public profile, additional PR and case development may be required.