Similar to the O Visa, the EB-1 visa is an employment-based visa granted to individuals with exceptional skills who are at the top of their fields. The program was created by the Immigration Act of 1990.
EB-1 visa applicants must meet one of three categories: have extraordinary ability with “sustained national or international acclaim;” be outstanding professors and researchers; or hold a multinational manager or executive position. Nicknamed the “Einstein visa,” recipients are often Pulitzer prize winners, Olympic medalists, or celebrated academics. Successful applicants receive a green card allowing them to permanently live and work in the United States. Requirements for the visa differ by applicant category, but include criteria such as evidence of receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence, evidence of original scientific or scholarly research contributions of major significance, or evidence of commercial success in the performing arts.
