Basics about EB-1 Visa: Eligibility, formalities, and more!

If you are having trouble understanding immigration laws, requirements, rules, and visa categories, you are not alone. There’s no denying that immigration matters are inherently complex, and sometimes, even with many options, you may not know what’s right for you. In this post, we are discussing EB-1 Visa, which is an employment-based visa, where ‘1’ stands for first preference. If you want to know whether or not you can apply for this type of visa, your best bet is to contact a known EB-1 Visa Lawyer in Dallas, who can guide further. 

Who qualifies for the EB-1 category?

EB-1 category is reserved for individuals who have either showed extraordinary abilities in their respective fields, and selected multinational managers and executives. If you are applying for an EB-1 visa, you don’t need an employer or a job offer. The visa is available to “persons of extraordinary ability”. This may refer to someone with published scholarly work, original scientific discoveries, athletic accomplishments, peer-reviewed articles – to name a few. Individuals, who can prove their mettle, in fields of science, business, arts, education, and athletics because of their accomplished within or outside US, may qualify for this kind of visa. 

What are the advantages of EB-1 visa?

First and foremost, people with EB-1 don’t necessary need someone to petition for them. You can file a petition on your own, and yes, you don’t need ‘labor certification’. Also, it is not mandatory to have a permanent job offer from an employer in the US. If you are eventually interested in getting a Green Card, EB-1 visa may make things simpler and faster for you. 

Consult an attorney

While getting the EB-1 visa is easier, provided you fulfil necessary requirements, it makes sense to consult an attorney to know everything about the immigration process. They can guide on your rights, steps to be followed, and associated costs. You need to file the Form I-140, for which there is a filing fee of $700, and you must also pay a processing fee of $345 to the Department of State visa. Your lawyer will also advice on the documents that are needed to prove your eligibility and handle the paperwork, which expectedly can be overwhelming at times. 

Once you have completed the EB-1 visa formalities, you will be sent a notice for biometrics appointment, and may have to go for an interview. During the interview, the immigration official will want to know more about your work profile. Your visa lawyer will prep you to handle all that.