The US EB-1 Green Card Explained: Eligibility and Three Main Categories [2026 Guide]

United States EB-1 green card:

Eligibility and rules [2025/2026 Update]

US EB-1 Green Card Explained: Eligibility and Main Categories

The US EB-1 visa is a highly sought-after employment-based immigrant visa, often referred to as the "gold standard" for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in the United States. It falls under the "First Preference" category, indicating that it is reserved for "priority workers" who demonstrate exceptional abilities or are highly accomplished in their fields. The ultimate goal of this visa is to obtain a US EB-1 green card, which grants individuals the right to live and work permanently in the U.S. without the need for a sponsoring employer in all subcategories, and without the often lengthy PERM labor certification process required for other employment-based green cards.

Table of Contents:

a) EB-1 Categories: EB-1A | EB-1B | EB-1C 📊

b) Total Number of EB-1 Green Cards per Year #️

c) The Benefits of EB-1 Green Cards 🪪

d) EB-1 Green Card Processing Time ⌛

e) How Citations Help To Get an EB-1 Green Card 💡

f) How many citations are needed for an EB-1 Green Card? 💯

Frequently Asked Questions about EB-1 Eligibility and Rules ❓

US Green Card EB-1 Eligibility: Three Main Categories *2025/2026 Update

1) EB-1A: Individuals with Extraordinary Ability

This category is for foreign nationals who possess extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim, with their achievements recognized in their field through extensive documentation. A significant advantage of the EB-1A is that it allows for "self-petitioning," meaning you do not need a U.S. employer to sponsor your petition. Evidence for this category typically includes:

● Receipt of a major, internationally recognized award (e.g., Nobel Prize, Oscar, Olympic Medal).

Failing that, applicants must meet at least three of the following ten criteria:

EB-1A Criterion	Description of Evidence Required
1-Awards & Prizes	Documentation of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence.
2-Memberships	Evidence of membership in associations which demand outstanding achievement of their members.
3-Published Material	Published material about you in professional/major trade publications or major media.
4-Judging & Peer Review	Evidence that you have been asked to judge the work of others (Peer Review) in your field.
5-Original Contributions	Evidence of original scientific or scholarly contributions of major significance to the field.
6-Scholarly Articles	Evidence of your authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications.
7-Exhibitions	Evidence that your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
8-Leading/Critical Role	Evidence that you have performed in a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations.
9-High Salary	Evidence that you command a high salary in relation to others in the field.
10-Commercial Success	Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts (box office or media sales).

2) EB-1B: Outstanding Professors and Researchers

This category is for professors and researchers who are internationally recognized as outstanding in a specific academic field. Unlike the EB-1A, EB-1B category generally requires a U.S. employer to file the petition on behalf of the foreign national. The US EB1 visa requirements for this group include:

● International recognition for outstanding achievements in a particular academic field.

● At least three years of experience in teaching or research in that academic area (experience gained while pursuing an advanced degree may count if the degree was received and the teaching/research was recognized as outstanding).

● A job offer for a tenured or tenure-track teaching position or a comparable permanent research position from a U.S. university or institution of higher education, or a private employer with at least three full-time researchers and documented research accomplishments.

Applicants must also meet at least two of the following six criteria:

EB-1B Criterion	Description of Evidence Required
1-Academic Awards	Evidence of receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field.
2-Association Memberships	Evidence of membership in associations that require their members to demonstrate outstanding achievements.
3-Published Material	Evidence of published material in professional publications written by others about your work in the academic field.
4-Judging & Peer Review	Evidence of participation, either on a panel or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied academic field.
5-Original Research	Evidence of original scientific or scholarly research contributions in the academic field.
6-Scholarly Books or Articles	Evidence of authorship of scholarly books or articles (in scholarly journals with international circulation) in the academic field.

3) EB-1C: Multinational Managers or Executives

This category is for multinational executives and managers who are transferred to the U.S. by their foreign employer. The employer must have a qualifying relationship (parent, subsidiary, affiliate) with the U.S. entity and must intend to employ the individual in a managerial or executive capacity. The applicant must have been employed outside the U.S. for at least one year in the preceding three years by the qualifying organization in a managerial or executive capacity.

Total number of EB-1 green cards per year   

The U.S. immigration system allocates approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas annually, with the EB-1 category receiving roughly 40,040 of these visas, plus any unused visas from lower preference categories. While this allocation generally keeps the EB-1 category current for most countries, high-demand countries like India and China may experience "retrogression," leading to longer wait times for their nationals. In summary, the US EB-1 green card offers a direct and often faster path to permanent residency for individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ability or exceptional accomplishments in their fields. Meeting the specific US green card EB1 eligibility criteria and navigating the application process efficiently are key to securing this highly desirable immigrant visa.

What are the benefits of the EB-1 green cards?

The EB-1 Employment-Based Green Card offers permanent residency in the United States to individuals who can demonstrate that they have extraordinary ability in the arts, athletics, business, education or the sciences; outstanding researchers and professors with international recognition in a specific field; or certain multinational executives or managers.

Certain types of evidence must be provided for an applicant to prove that he or she has extraordinary ability or is an outstanding researcher or professor. Examples may include major awards for achievement, citations in professional or scholarly publications, etc.

If approved for an EB-1 Employment-Based Green Card, a skilled foreign worker and his or her spouse and unmarried dependent children under 21 years of age can enjoy many benefits such as:

Benefit	Description & Strategic Advantage
No Labor Certification (PERM)	Unlike EB-2 or EB-3, you skip the Department of Labor (PERM) process, saving 6–12 months of waiting time and significant costs.
Self-Sponsorship Ability	EB-1A applicants do not need a job offer or a U.S. employer to sponsor them; you can file the petition yourself.
Current Priority Dates	The EB-1 category usually has "Current" status on the Visa Bulletin, allowing you to file for your Green Card immediately without years of backlogs.
Expedited Processing	Premium Processing is available for EB-1A and EB-1B, which guarantees a USCIS decision in 15 to 45 business days.
Family Green Cards	Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 are included in your petition and receive their own Green Cards at the same time.
Direct Path to Citizenship	The EB-1 is a permanent residency path; after 5 years of Green Card status, you are eligible to apply for full U.S. Naturalization.
Professional Freedom	Once approved, you are not tied to a specific employer (especially in EB-1A), giving you the freedom to move companies or start your own business.

How Long Does EB-1 Green Card Take? Processing Times and Annual Limits

Understanding how long does it take to get EB-1 green card approval is crucial for applicants. The process typically involves two main steps: the Immigrant Petition (Form I-140) and the Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) if applying from within the U.S., or Consular Processing if applying from abroad.

The processing time for the Form I-140, the initial petition, can vary significantly depending on the USCIS service center and whether premium processing is utilized. With premium processing, an I-140 decision can be expedited to 15 calendar days for an additional fee. Without premium processing, average processing times for I-140 can range from several months to over a year, depending on the specific EB-1 subcategory and service center caseloads.

One of the significant advantages of the US EB1 green card is that visa numbers are generally "current" for most countries, meaning there is typically no long wait for a visa to become available after the I-140 is approved. This allows for concurrent filing of the I-140 and I-485 petitions for many applicants. Once the I-140 is approved and a visa number is available, the I-485 (Adjustment of Status) process, which includes biometrics appointments and a potential interview, usually takes several more months, often averaging 6-9 months. However, delays can occur due to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or other factors. For applicants undergoing consular processing abroad, the timeline depends on embassy/consulate availability and efficiency.

How can citations help you to get the EB-1 Green Card?

There are different criteria that EB-1 Green Card applicants can use to demonstrate that they have extraordinary ability or to show that they are an outstanding researcher or professor, including by providing citations. Citations may include, for example, content that an EB-1 Green Card applicant had written and published in scholarly, scientific, trade, or professional media or publications, such as books or journals. A citation could also include, for example, content written and published about the EB-1 Green Card applicant by others, discussing their extraordinary ability or outstanding academic contribution in scholarly, scientific, trade, or professional media or publications.

How many citations are needed for an EB-1 Green Card?

There's no specific minimum number of citations mandated by USCIS for green card applications, particularly for the EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) and EB-1B (Outstanding Professor or Researcher) categories; instead, citations serve as a crucial piece of evidence evaluated as part of a broader set of criteria to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim. While more citations generally strengthen an application, particularly for competitive fields where 100-300 citations are often seen as robust, the quality and impact of those citations—such as their source in prestigious journals, their high impact factor, or how they demonstrate major significance of your work—are often more important than sheer quantity, with USCIS also considering field-specific norms and allowing for comparable evidence if your discipline doesn't typically generate high citation counts. For EB-1A, applicants must meet at least three out of ten distinct criteria, where citations can directly support demonstrating authorship of scholarly articles or original contributions of major significance, alongside other evidence like awards, judging the work of others, or leading roles in distinguished organizations. Ultimately, the strength of your overall profile, supported by compelling documentation and often guided by experienced immigration legal counsel, determines the success of your green card petition.

You can use our services to increase citations of your published articles. 

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about EB-1 Eligibility and Rules

What are the primary EB-1 categories for U.S. immigration?

The three main eb-1 categories are EB-1A for Extraordinary Ability, EB-1B for Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and EB-1C for Multinational Managers. This eb-1 visa is considered the "gold standard" for professionals because it offers a direct path to permanent residency without the lengthy PERM labor certification process required by other visas.

What are the main EB-1 visa requirements for eligibility?

Eligibility depends on proving you have reached the top of your professional field through sustained national or international acclaim. To obtain an eb-1 green card, you must submit extensive documentation—such as major awards, memberships, or original research—that satisfies the general eb-1 requirements and the specific eb-1 criteria USCIS has established for priority workers.

Which EB-1 criteria must be met for the Extraordinary Ability (EB-1A) category?

Applicants must typically meet at least three out of ten specific criteria, such as receiving recognized prizes or authoring scholarly articles in major publications. These eb-1 visa requirements ensure that only those with a significant impact on their field can successfully complete an eb-1 application and prove their status as an individual of extraordinary ability.

Can I submit an EB-1 application without a U.S. employer or job offer?

Yes, you can self-petition for an eb-1 green card under the EB-1A subcategory, which does not require a job offer or a sponsoring employer. While other eb-1 categories like EB-1B and EB-1C require employer sponsorship, the EB-1A path allows individuals who meet the high eb-1 requirements to sponsor themselves for permanent residency.

What is the current EB-1 approval rate for qualified professionals?

The eb-1 approval rate is historically high for well-documented petitions, with recent data showing success rates around 84% for qualified applicants. Because the eb-1 process is strictly evidence-based, applicants who carefully align their professional achievements with the specific eb-1 criteria stand the best chance of receiving a fast approval.

Written by the CitePal Editorial Team, specializing in academic metrics and USCIS citation standards for EB-1A, EB-1B, NIW petitions, and citation boosting services. Our data is derived from 500+ successful applicant profiles.