Imagine you’ve spent years building a standout career and now you’re eyeing a permanent life in the United States. For foreign professionals with big dreams, the EB-1 visa category is often seen as a golden ticket. It’s the first preference employment-based green card, reserved for “priority workers”, meaning people at the very top of their fields.

Preparing an EB-1 petition requires extensive documentation to prove you truly stand out in your field. EB-1 isn’t one-size-fits-all, though. It actually comes in three flavors: 

• EB-1A (for individuals with extraordinary ability)
• EB-1B (for outstanding professors and researchers), and
• EB-1C (for multinational managers and executives). 

In this blog, we’ll break down each of these subcategories, explaining who they’re for, what kind of evidence you need, and how they differ from each other. By the end, you should have a clearer picture of whether the EB-1 path fits your long-term goals.

EB-1A: For the “Extraordinary Ability” Achievers

EB-1A is the category people often think of when they hear about the so-called “Einstein” or “genius” visa. It’s designed for individuals with extraordinary ability in fields like science, arts, education, business, or athletics. In other words, these are people at the very pinnacle of their field, with sustained national or international recognition. Who counts as “extraordinary?” Think of someone who’s won major awards or whose work is internationally recognized.

To qualify for EB-1A, you have to prove to U.S. immigration that you really are one of the best. The official rules say you should either have a one-time major award (think a Nobel Prize or an Olympic Gold). Otherwise, you need to meet at least 3 out of 10 specific criteria to prove your achievements. 

In practice, that means assembling evidence of your brilliance. For instance, maybe you have trophies or awards from your industry. Or perhaps there are articles in the press about your work. Maybe you’ve got patents or publications to your name. Even evidence like a high salary or a critical role at a leading organization can count. Anything that shows you’ve risen to the top of your field will strengthen your case. The bar is high, and you’ll need solid documentation to back up every claim. But the payoff is huge: EB-1A lets you apply for a green card without needing any employer to sponsor you or offer you a job. This visa allows you to self-petition, because the idea is that your talent alone is enough reason to let you stay in the U.S. long-term. This freedom to sponsor yourself is a big differentiator between EB-1A and the other EB-1 categories.

Another thing to know is that EB-1A is not easy. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will examine your petition very closely. The criteria for EB-1A actually overlap with those for the O-1 visa (a temporary visa for extraordinary ability, which we’ll discuss later). However, immigration officers apply a higher standard to EB-1A cases, since a green card is for keeps. In other words, meeting the bare minimum won’t cut it. You have to show evidence that you’re among the elite in your field. It’s challenging, but it’s also meant for people who have truly distinguished themselves. If that sounds like you (or the you you’re working to become), EB-1A could be your fast track to living and working permanently in the U.S.

EB-1B: For Outstanding Professors and Researchers

Not everyone changing the world does it on a red carpet or in a boardroom. Many do it in labs and classrooms. EB-1B is tailored for scholars: outstanding professors and researchers who are recognized internationally for their contributions. To qualify, you generally need a permanent job offer from a U.S. employer (like a university or research institution) and a solid record of academic achievement. USCIS will only approve an EB-1B petition if the evidence shows you are “internationally recognized as outstanding” in your academic field. In plain terms, you’re not just a good scientist or teacher. You’re exceptional! Someone whose research or publications are well-known and highly regarded by peers around the world.

There are a few key requirements that set EB-1B apart. First, you must have at least three years of experience in teaching or research in your field. This isn’t for fresh Ph.D. graduates with no track record; it’s for those who have been in the trenches, contributing knowledge over time. Second, you need that job offer for a tenured or tenure-track position (if you’ll be teaching) or a permanent research position in the U.S. A university or research institution essentially has to say, “We want this person because they’re a star in their field.” They need to give you a long-term position to seal the deal. Unlike EB-1A, you can’t self-petition for EB-1B, a U.S. employer has to file the petition on your behalf. That makes sense, because the category assumes you’ll continue your outstanding research or teaching at a U.S. institution.

When it comes to evidence, EB-1B is similar in spirit to EB-1A but a bit more narrowly defined. Instead of 3 out of 10 criteria, you need to meet at least 2 out of 6 specific criteria geared towards academics. What do those look like? Think of major awards or prizes in your academic field. Or membership in exclusive scholarly associations that only accept top experts. Or published material written by other professionals about your work. Maybe you’ve served as a judge or peer reviewer of others’ research. Perhaps you’ve made significant original contributions to the field, or authored scholarly books or articles in respected journals. These are the kinds of accomplishments that prove you’re not just any researcher, but truly outstanding. If you’re a professor or researcher with a strong CV, you might already tick those boxes. Multiple publications? Check. Solid citation counts? Check. Maybe an award or two, or invitations to speak and review others’ work? Those count as well. The idea is to show that you’re not just any researcher, but one of the leading lights in your specialty.

One way to differentiate EB-1B from its EB-1A cousin is to remember context. EB-1B is all about the academic and research context. You need the structure of a university or research lab behind you and the kind of acclaim that is specific to academic circles. You might not have a Nobel Prize (few do!), but maybe you’ve won a well-known award in your discipline, or your papers are widely cited, or you’ve mentored Ph.D. students who themselves achieved great things. It’s less about broad public fame and more about reputation among experts. If that’s where you shine, EB-1B could be your avenue, as long as you have an employer ready to back the case.

EB-1C: For Multinational Managers and Executives

The third EB-1 category, EB-1C, swaps the lab coat for a business suit. EB-1C is the pathway for multinational managers and executives. We’re talking about high-level business people who have been running things at an international company and now want to bring their leadership talents to the U.S. Think of a scenario like this: you’ve been a regional director or executive at a big overseas branch of a company, and now that company (or its U.S. affiliate) needs you to work in the States. If you qualify, EB-1C lets your company sponsor you for a green card so you can continue your career as a manager or executive in America.

To be eligible for EB-1C, there are some firm requirements. You must have worked abroad for at least one year within the last three years for the company (or a related company) that’s petitioning for you. That foreign job must have been in a managerial or executive capacity. This means you had significant responsibility, like overseeing teams, making major decisions, or directing a key function of the business. You have to show you weren’t just a regular employee; you were part of the leadership. Additionally, the U.S. job you’re coming into must also be managerial or executive level, and the company in the U.S. needs to have a qualifying relationship with the overseas company (parent, subsidiary, affiliate, etc.).

One important thing to remember is that you do need an employer to sponsor you for EB-1C. There’s no self-petition here. In fact, the whole category assumes a company is transferring you from an international post to a U.S. post, so an employer’s involvement is baked in.

The kind of evidence that gets an EB-1C approved is quite different from EB-1A or EB-1B. You’re not collecting personal awards or journal articles. Instead, you’re proving your roles and the company’s legitimacy. Typical evidence might include letters from your company describing your duties and confirming that you managed a significant number of employees or a major function of the business. You would also include organizational charts to show your position in the company’s hierarchy. If there are any company reports or press releases that mention you as part of the leadership team, those help too. You would also need to provide proof that the company, both abroad and in the U.S., has been actively and continuously doing business (to show it’s a real, ongoing operation).

The goal here is to paint a picture that you are a big fish in a big pond. You’re a top-level manager who has been important to the company’s success, and you’ll continue that success in the U.S. The good news is EB-1C, like the other EB-1s, doesn’t require the labor certification process. And because it’s in the first preference category, visas in EB-1C are given high priority, which can lead to shorter waiting times compared to other visa categories. The challenge, however, is that companies have to meet certain size and relationship criteria; a tiny startup overseas trying to send its “CEO” (when the whole company is 5 people) might have a tough time. But legitimate multinationals transferring seasoned managers find this to be a very direct route to getting their key people green cards.

In contrast to EB-1A and EB-1B, EB-1C is not about you being famous or acclaimed in the public sense. It’s about your leadership role and the continuity of employment with an international company. You’re proving that you have been (and will be) running significant parts of a business on a global scale. If you’re in that boat, perhaps you’re already in the U.S. on an L-1A visa (the temporary visa for intracompany transferee managers/executives), then EB-1C is the ticket to make your stay permanent. Just remember, you need patience and a cooperative employer, since they’re the ones who have to make the case alongside you.

Charting Your Course and Getting Help

At its heart, the EB-1 path is about recognizing the value of your work and believing it belongs on a global stage. It’s a bold move. The journey can feel complex, even overwhelming at times. But you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

At Casium, we help you make sense of your options, understand where your profile stands, and guide you through the steps ahead. Whether you're exploring EB-1A, EB-1B, or EB-1C, or you're unsure where you fit, we’ll walk you through it with clarity and care. Take the first step, by registering for a free profile evaluation. Our specialists will review your credentials and help you understand what’s possible. Extraordinary talent deserves a clear, confident path forward, and we’re here to help you build it.