EB 1 Extraordinary Ability visa is available to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in the sciences, business, education, arts, or athletics. This extraordinary ability is measured by sustained recognition at the highest levels by renown authorities in the same field. Unlike other employment based visas, this category does not require an offer of employment to be granted. This visa does require, however, extensive proof of success at the very highest levels.

In order to prove extraordinary ability, this visa requires at least 3 of the following criteria:

Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence

Evidence of your membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members

Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Evidence that you have been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel

Evidence of your original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field

Evidence of your authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Evidence that your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Evidence of your performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations

Evidence that you command a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field

Evidence of your commercial successes in the performing arts

This type of visa can also be given to extraordinary researchers or professors. Again, it is essential to demonstrate success at the very highest levels. For researchers or professors specifically, it is required that you have at least 3 years of teaching or research experience and that you enter the United States in order to pursue tenure or comparable research positions. Extraordinary ability as a professor or researcher can be demonstrated by at least 2 of the following criteria:

Evidence of receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement

Evidence of membership in associations that require their members to demonstrate outstanding achievement

Evidence of published material in professional publications written by others about the alien’s work in the academic field

Evidence of participation, either on a panel or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied academic field

Evidence of original scientific or scholarly research contributions in the field

Evidence of authorship of scholarly books or articles (in scholarly journals with international circulation) in the field

Finally, multinational managers and executives can also be eligible for the employment based category when employed at least 1 year within the past 3 by a firm or corporation and are looking to continue that work in the United States. The employment prior to coming to the United States must have been in an executive or managerial capacity.