EB-1 Extraordinary Ability

First Employment Based Preference/Priority Workers (EB-1 Category) for Persons with Extraordinary Ability-Qualifications, Requirements and Application Procedure

Aliens with extraordinary ability may be eligible to become permanent residents of the United States. These are aliens with "extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and whose achievements have been recognized in the field through extensive documentation." You must be one of "that small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor," to be granted this classification. For example, if you receive a major internationally recognized award, such as a Nobel Prize, you will qualify for an EB-1 classification. Other awards may also qualify if you can document that the award is in the same class as a Nobel Prize. 

The petition must include persuasive documentation in at least three of the following areas:

• Receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence;
• Membership in associations in the filed that demand outstanding achievement of their members, as judged by recognized national or international experts;
• Published material about the alien in professional or major trad publications or other media;
• Evidence that the alien is a judge of the work of others in the field;
• Evidence of the alien's original contributions of major significance to the field;
• Authorship of scholarly articles;
• Display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases;
• Evidence the alien has performed in a leading or critical role for organizations that have a distinguished reputation
• Evidence that the alien commands high remuneration in relation to others in the filed; or
• Evidence of commercial success in the performing arts

If the above criteria do not apply, the regulations allow for other comparable evidence.