A one-time major award, or three of ten criteria
Awards, membership, press, judging, original contributions, authorship, exhibitions, leading role, high salary, commercial success.
United States — Pathway
EB-1A
A self-petitioned green card for extraordinary ability.
Permanent residence for individuals of extraordinary ability. No employer, no labour certification — you file for yourself. The evidentiary bar is the highest of the talent routes, which is why the file has to be built deliberately.
61%
Typical fit
Indicative — your score is personal
Timeline
8–14 months
Processing
15 days with Premium Processing
Who this is for.
People already meeting several O-1A criteria at a higher level
Researchers with strong citation records
Founders and executives with independent recognition
What it takes.
Sustained acclaim
Evidence that recognition is ongoing rather than a single moment.
Final-merits case
A narrative showing you are among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Independent expert letters
Letters from people with no direct working relationship carry the most weight.
Evidence plan
The file you'll build.
Citation and impact reports
Awards with judging panels and selectivity data
Press and independent coverage
Original contribution evidence: patents, adoption metrics
Independent expert letters
Questions we get.
Do I need a job offer?
No. EB-1A is self-petitioned, which is what makes it the strongest talent route.
Can I go from O-1A to EB-1A?
Very commonly, yes. O-1A buys time while you build the extra evidence EB-1A demands.