Understanding Green Cards

EB-1A Green Card Process: Everything You Need to Know

7 min read
Written by Ali Ramezanzadeh

The EB-1A Green Card process offers a direct path to U.S. permanent residency for individuals with extraordinary ability in their field of work. 

Whether you’re an accomplished academic, artist, athlete, or business leader, this immigrant visa option recognizes your impact. And, unlike many other employment-based immigration petition options, the EB-1A allows you to self-petition, giving you the freedom to live and work in the U.S. without going through the employer sponsorship route.

Here’s everything you need to know about the EB-1A Green Card process.

What Is the EB-1A Visa?

The EB-1A is an employment-based Green Card for people who have reached a highly distinguished level in the arts, business, education, science, or athletics. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a successful EB-1A petition must demonstrate the applicant’s extraordinary ability through international awards, acclaim, or global recognition for contribution to their field.

Benefits of the EB-1A Category

While the EB-1A Green Card falls under the employment-based category, it doesn’t require a job offer or sponsorship from a U.S. employer. High achievers who meet the visa requirements can apply for EB-1A through a self-petition (self-sponsorship) process. 

This visa is ideal for people at the top of their field, especially those without a U.S. job offer. It gives you the chance to apply for permanent residency based solely on achievement.

If your EB-1A Green Card gets approved, your spouse and any unmarried children under 21 can also join you in the U.S. by applying for Green Card status under dependent applications.

For individuals born in India and China, the EB-1A Green Card Category has the shortest wait time for adjusting to green card status or applying for the green card abroad. Those who already have an EB-2 or EB-3 approval can greatly reduce their green card wait time with an EB-1A approval.

EB-1A Visa Requirements

The EB-1 visa includes multiple subcategories, so the exact requirements for someone with extraordinary ability (EB-1A) are slightly different from those for outstanding professors or researchers (EB-1B) and multinational managers or executives (EB-1C).

For the EB-1A visa, the eligibility requirements are:

  • Extraordinary ability in a designated field — sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics — and evidence of such skill.
  • Intent to continue working in the same area of expertise in the U.S.
  • The applicant’s skills and contributions must “substantially benefit” the U.S. 
    • Note: There’s no single definition of the benefit. This is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

What Qualifies as “Extraordinary Ability” for EB-1A Visa

USCIS outlines the official criteria for proving “extraordinary ability” for all EB-1A categories. While specific requirements vary by category, all categories require the applicant to provide evidence of the highest level of achievement in their field.

How to Prove Your Extraordinary Ability for EB-1A

You can provide evidence of your extraordinary ability either in the form of a one-time major international award, or by meeting 3 of the 10 criteria set by USCIS:

  1. Nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards
  2. Membership to associations that require outstanding achievement
  3. Published material about you in professional or major media publications
  4. Evidence of judging the work of others by invitation
  5. Evidence of original contributions of major significance to the field
  6. Scholarly articles written by you in professional journals or other major media
  7. Evidence of work displayed at exhibitions or showcases
  8. Documented evidence of critical roles in distinguished organizations
  9. High salary or significantly high remuneration compared with peers
  10. Evidence of commercial success in the performing arts

EB-1A Process Overview

Below is a high-level overview of how to apply for an EB-1 visa and Green Card. The specific supporting evidence needed will vary depending on the exact category of EB-1 applicants submit a petition for. 

1. Filing Form I-140 and Preparing the Petition 

Start by collecting relevant documents for the I-140 form (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker). This includes evidence of extraordinary ability like awards, published media coverage, academic publications, or other significant contributions to the field. 

Alongside this evidence, you may prepare a legal brief that outlines how your provided documentation meets the EB-1A regulatory criteria and how your work in the U.S. will benefit the country. 

2. Waiting for USCIS Approval

USCIS processing times for I-140 forms depend on the EB-1 category you opt for. As an extraordinary ability applicant under EB-1A, you can expect an average processing time of 18 months (as of Nov, 2025).

You can expedite the process by using premium processing to receive adjudication within 15 business days.

3. Apply for a U.S. Green Card

Once the I-140 is approved, you must wait for your priority date to become current in the Visa Bulletin. Your priority date depends on your visa category and country of chargeability. 

When your priority date is current, you can apply for a Green Card by submitting an I-485 adjustment of status form if you’re in the U.S. If you’re outside the U.S., you’ll need to submit a DS-260 form and follow the consular processing steps.

Ellis helps employers avoid common filing errors during the EB-1A visa process — offering expert support with petition drafting, evidence, and legal strategy at every step.

About Priority Dates

Your priority date is established as the date you file your I-140. Think of it as your spot in the queue. You need to wait until your priority date becomes “current” in the U.S. Visa Bulletin before you can move forward with a Green Card adjustment filing.

However, priority dates vary by chargeable country (your country of birth). 

For many nationalities, the EB-1 priority date is current, meaning there’s no backlog. After receiving I-140 approval from USCIS, eligible applicants can file an I-485 if they’re in the U.S., or begin consular processing if abroad. 

If you were born in China or India, you will face longer wait times due to high demand for EB-1 Green Cards by people also born in these countries. Only when your priority date becomes current can you proceed to filing for adjustment of status or completing consular processing.

EB-1A Processing Time

The processing time for EB-1A visa and Green Card applications varies depending on the current USCIS workload and the applicant’s country of chargeability.

In general, you can expect the following rough timeline:

  • Petition preparation: The better the evidence you can provide, the stronger your application will be. The exact duration of this stage will depend on you and the legal counsel you enlist. Ellis can prepare your EB-1A petition in six weeks.
  • I-140 form processing (nonpremium): As per USCIS Case Processing Times, the average processing time for an EB-1A visa is currently 18 months (Nov, 2025).
  • I-140 form processing (premium processing): With premium processing, I-140 forms for EB-1A receive adjudicative action within 15 business days.
  • Priority date: The time it takes for your priority date to become current depends on visa backlogs for your country of birth.
  • I-485 form processing: Employment-based adjustment of status applications currently have a processing time of about 10 months. 
  • DS-260: Consular processing of Green Cards outside of the U.S. varies depending on the workload of the local U.S. consulate. Refer to the Bureau of Consular Affairs for specific information. 

EB-1A Visa Costs

Key costs in applying for an EB-1A visa and Green Card include:

  • Form I-140: $715 — covers the immigrant petition for alien workers.
    • Premium processing (optional): $2,805 — paid on top of the I-140 fee for expedited processing
  • Adjustment of status (form I-485): $1,440 — applicable if the applicant is already in the U.S.
  • Form DS-260: $235 — applicable if the applicant is outside of the U.S. and using consular processing. 

Streamline the EB-1A Application Process With Ellis

A successful EB-1A application demands extensive preparation and documentation — making legal support essential. Ellis offers personalized petition strategy and document review services that help prevent delays and build the strongest possible EB-1A petition.

Navigate your visa applications with speed and clarity. Reach out to Ellis today.

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