Map the criteria
Awards, membership, press, judging, original contributions, scholarly articles, exhibitions, critical roles, high remuneration and commercial success are mapped to the criteria that actually apply.
Back to the three routes
UNITED STATES · PATHWAY 02
EB-1A
Extraordinary ability
For people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, and sustained national or international acclaim. You may self-petition. A permanent job offer and a labor certification are not required.
Start an eligibility read01 PROFILE
People who already have a sustained professional reputation
Scientists, researchers, physicians, engineers and technical specialists
Founders, senior managers, investors and people building in industry
Artists, designers, architects, and people in film, music and culture
Educators, athletes and other professionals with independent recognition
02 FRAMEWORK
Meeting the evidentiary threshold is not the end of the review
The usual path is one major internationally recognised award, or at least three of the ten regulatory criteria. Meeting a count does not by itself mean approval. USCIS also weighs whether the acclaim is sustained and whether you are among the small percentage at the top.
Quality of proof
Show why the evidence is selective, authoritative and independent, so it proves standing rather than mere participation.
Final merits
Connect the individual items into one conclusion about sustained acclaim, significant impact and a position at the top, rather than stopping at three criteria.
03 EVIDENCE
Evidence that can be organised into the petition
More paper is not better evidence. Each item needs a source, a reason to trust it, a link to you, and a reason it meets the criterion.
01
National or international awards, with the reputation of the prize, its field and its selectivity
02
Major or professional media about you and your work
03
Judging, peer review, competition juries, journal review or other selection roles
04
Original contributions of field-wide importance: patents, research, products, methods or models
05
Independent proof of a leading or critical role at a distinguished organisation or on a distinguished project
06
High remuneration, commercial success, display of work, scholarly articles, and comparable evidence where it fits
04 DELIVERY
What GEA Talent prepares
An EB-1A feasibility and risk read
A map of the ten criteria and a final-merits narrative
A recommender plan, including independent letters
English drafts of the statement, letters and evidence captions
Exhibit numbering, an index and cross-references
Document support alongside a US immigration attorney you instruct
Rules checked: August 2026 Read the USCIS guidance
PERSONAL ASSESSMENT
A checklist cannot score a career. The record has to be read as a case.
Attach a CV, the target route, your current country and visa status, and your timing. We start by mapping what you have and what is missing.
Send materials for an initial readThis page is general information. It is not legal advice and it is not a guarantee of approval. Rules, decision practice and the facts of a case change. Use the official rules in force when you apply, and a licensed professional where you need one.
RELATED GUIDES
Compare the routes, then sort the evidence
Use the comparison to see what each route actually asks for, then use the checklist to see what you already have. Every document should trace back to a real result and an independent source.
UK Global Talent Visa application planning →
Fields, endorsement routes and evidence for the UK Global Talent Visa. GEA Talent helps with positioning, an evidence matrix, an English CV, statements and recommendation letters.
US EB-2 NIW national interest waiver planning →
EB-2 eligibility, the proposed endeavor and the evidence frame for a US NIW. GEA Talent helps shape the endeavor, the matrix, letters and English documents.
How to choose between UK GTV, US EB-1A and NIW →
Compare who the UK Global Talent Visa, US EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are for, what evidence each one weighs, who files, and what to plan first.
GTV, EB-1A and NIW evidence checklist →
A working inventory for the UK Global Talent Visa, US EB-1A and EB-2 NIW: the shared factual base, what each route weighs, recommenders, and a consistency check before filing.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
US EB-1A: common questions
Does EB-1A have to be filed by a US employer?
The extraordinary ability category allows a person to file Form I-140 on their own, without a specific job offer. You still need to show that you will continue to work in the field of extraordinary ability in the United States.
Official source: USCIS · EB-1 ↗Is EB-1A only for researchers?
No. Extraordinary ability covers the sciences, arts, education, business and athletics. The record has to show sustained national or international acclaim and recognition in the field. The shape of the evidence depends on the occupation.
Official source: USCIS · EB-1 ↗What should I send for an EB-1A initial read?
A CV, the professional thread, a timeline of the main results, and whatever you already have: awards, press, judging, project contributions, papers or other records that can be checked. The read identifies the base and the gaps. Scope is agreed afterwards.
See how an assessment starts →