Self Petition
No Job Offer
No PERM
Apply for a U.S. green card on your own if you can show sustained national or international acclaim in your field. We help you map your evidence to the EB-1A criteria, with review by a network attorney.*
* Not legal advice. Beyond Border is not a law firm. Legal services are provided by independent attorneys in its network.
WHY THE EB-1A
The EB-1A is the first preference green card category for people with extraordinary ability. You can file on your own, with no job offer and no PERM labor certification.
You can file Form I-140 yourself, with no employer sponsor.
The category does not require a permanent job offer or a labor certification.
EB-1 is the first employment based preference. In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, most countries have no EB-1 cut off date, so visa availability can be better than in EB-2.
Eligible EB-1A I-140 petitions can use premium processing for USCIS action within 15 business days.
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may get derivative status.
Many O-1 clients already hold much of the evidence an EB-1A petition needs.
98%
Our firmwide approval rate across more than 4,000 Beyond Border cases. We vet network attorneys on extraordinary ability experience and approval rates.
4,000+
Our focus on extraordinary ability cases gives us pattern knowledge across industries.
1 Month
Apply with speed, backed by our refund guarantee. *After document collection is complete
OUR NETWORK
Every EB-1A petition is reviewed by a handpicked U.S. immigration attorney who is an immigrant.
Fadi Minawi
Managing attorney · 20+ yrs
Lena Nevsky
Extraordinary-talent attorney · 25+ yrs
Uche Nwaneri
Business & immigration law · 25+ yrs
Junoetia Salonga
Extraordinary-talent attorney · 15+ yrs
WHO WE HELP
People with sustained acclaim in their field and the evidence to show it.
Qin En
Founder
Evidence organization for leading or critical roles, press, high compensation and commercial results.
Marvin Tan
Scientist
Mapping of publications, citations, peer review and original contributions to the EB-1A criteria.
Kelvin Ngoc
Engineer
Narratives for patents, open source adoption, product impact and judging roles.
Mark Parcevel
Artist
Evidence of exhibitions, showcases, critical reviews and commercial success.
Caetano Altafin
Athlete
Awards, rankings, selections and press that show sustained national or international acclaim.
Angel Song
Executive
A clear path from your O-1 evidence to an EB-1A petition.
IN THEIR WORDS
Short video testimonials from professionals who secured their green cards with our help.
Founder
Founding Team Member
Founding Engineer
Senior Backend Engineer
EB-1A GUIDE
Pick a topic to jump straight to the answer.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The EB-1A is a green card category for people with sustained national or international acclaim in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. You can self petition. No job offer or PERM labor certification is required. You need a major one time award, or evidence that meets at least three of ten criteria. USCIS then reviews all the evidence together in a final merits determination.
EB-1A is the extraordinary ability category within the first preference employment based green card. It is for people who are among the small percentage at the top of their field. USCIS first checks whether your evidence meets the initial standard, then decides whether the record as a whole shows sustained acclaim.
Beyond Border helps you map your achievements to the EB-1A criteria and build a structured petition, with support from its network of U.S. immigration attorneys.
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You need evidence that meets at least three of the ten criteria below, unless you have a major one time international award.
Nobel, Fields Medal, industry awards relevant to your industry, Forbes 30 Under 30.
Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement, as judged by recognized experts.
Press that mentions you. TechCrunch, Wired, Bloomberg, locally prominent press outlets, podcasts with large audiences.
Conference reviewer, panel, committee of professional bodies relevant to you, competition judge, technical interview committees.
Patents, commercial or product traction with millions of users or major industry adoption, or published research cited by others with 300+ citations.
Peer-reviewed publications, white papers, keynote presentations at major industry conferences.
Founding team, department lead, key executive at an institutional-backed company, past or present.
Offer letter, tax returns, salary surveys showing top 5-10% in your field, past or present.
Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Commercial success in the performing arts, shown by box office or sales.
Meeting three criteria does not guarantee approval. USCIS evaluates the petition as a whole, so an EB-1A should never be treated as a checklist.
01
A free, tailored 30 minute consultation with our immigration advisor.
02
We map your background against the ten criteria and invite you to a case strategy session with an extraordinary ability attorney.
03
We guide document collection, expert letters and ethical profile building, then prepare the petition draft within 30 days of receiving all documents.
04
Your assigned attorney reviews the petition and evidence before filing Form I-140, with your choice of premium or regular USCIS processing.
05
USCIS may approve, issue a Request for Evidence, or deny the petition. Standard I-140 processing times vary by category and service center. Check the USCIS processing times page for the current range.
06
An approved I-140 needs an available visa number before you file Form I-485 in the U.S. or apply through consular processing.
EB-1 has annual numerical limits. In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-1 Final Action Date for most countries is Current, which means no cut off date applies. China and India have separate dates, so check the current Visa Bulletin for your country.
Current, with no cut off date
India: February 1, 2023. China: July 1, 2023. Check the current Visa Bulletin for updates.
Premium processing for eligible EB-1A I-140 petitions costs US$2,965 and has a 15 business day timeframe. It covers USCIS action on the I-140 only, not the full green card process.
Beyond Border focuses on the self petitioned EB-1A. EB-1B and EB-1C are shown for comparison.
Extraordinary ability. Self petition allowed. No employer sponsor needed.
Outstanding professors and researchers. Needs a permanent offer from a qualifying employer and international recognition.
Multinational managers and executives. Needs a qualifying U.S. employer and a qualifying relationship with the foreign company.
Not legal advice. Beyond Border is not a law firm. Legal services are provided by vetted attorneys in its network.
Many clients start with an O-1 and later move to an EB-1A. The two categories use overlapping evidence, such as awards, published material, judging and a critical role. Evidence gathered for your O-1 can support an EB-1A petition, although the standards differ and approval of one does not guarantee the other.
Read The O-1 Guide
PRICING
Total cost depends on your situation, filing strategy and whether you need adjustment of status or other applications.
US$8,000 To 10,000
Attorney arrangements are set out in your engagement agreement.
US$715
For Form I-140 (US$665 online), plus the Asylum Program Fee: US$300 for self-petitioners and small employers, US$600 for other employers and US$0 for nonprofits. Check the USCIS fee calculator before filing.
US$2,965
Optional for eligible EB-1A I-140 petitions, with a 15 business day timeframe.
Case coordination, expert letter coordination and drafting, petition strategy, evidence organization, filing support and response support per your package.
Fees for adjustment of status or immigrant visa processing may apply later.
Standard 50% money back guarantee. Terms are set out in your engagement agreement. Beyond Border cannot guarantee a USCIS decision.
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FAQ
What is the EB-1A?
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The EB-1A is a first preference employment based green card category for people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. You can file the petition yourself.
Do I need a job offer or an employer?
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No. The EB-1A lets you self petition without a job offer, employer sponsor or PERM labor certification.
How many criteria do I need?
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You generally need evidence that meets at least three of the ten criteria, or a major one time international award. USCIS then reviews all the evidence together to decide whether you have sustained national or international acclaim.
Is there an EB-1A lottery?
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No. There is no lottery for the EB-1A. EB-1 does have annual numerical limits, so your priority date and your country's Final Action Date can affect when you receive a green card.
Can I apply if I hold an O-1?
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Yes, many EB-1A applicants hold an O-1. The two categories have different standards, so an O-1 approval does not guarantee an EB-1A approval.
How much does Beyond Border charge?
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Our service fee is US$8,000 to 10,000, depending on case complexity. USCIS filing fees and premium processing are separate. Attorney arrangements are set out in your engagement agreement.
Tell us about your background and achievements. We will review how your record maps to the EB-1A criteria and what may support your petition.
Request A Consultation
Address: 4 W 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States
Email: info@beyondborderglobal.com