Houston EB-1A Visa Lawyer
Employment-based immigration visas are divided up into five different categories of preference. The first preference, EB-1, is further broken down into three different categories. EB-1A is the employment-based, first-preference visa for noncitizens of extraordinary ability. If you are a Texas employer looking to hire a foreign worker through this visa, or if you are a person of extraordinary ability wishing to self-petition for admission to the United States, the immigration attorneys at BBA Immigration can help you put together a strong application that clearly and persuasively demonstrates your qualifications and eligibility in this detailed and complex area. Contact our experienced Houston EB-1A Visa lawyers today.
Eligibility for an EB-1A Visa
The EB-1A preference category is for priority workers of “extraordinary ability” in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim. Applicants don’t have to show an offer of employment to obtain an EB-1A visa, and employers don’t have to first obtain labor certification before petitioning for an EB-1A worker.
There are several ways to demonstrate the extraordinary ability that meets the criteria for the EB-1A visa. One way is to provide evidence of a one-time achievement that reflects mastery in the field, such as a Pulitzer Price, Nobel Prize, Oscar award, or Olympic Medal. Otherwise, you must provide evidence showing that you meet at least three out of the ten following criteria:
- Receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence
- Membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members
- Material has been published about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media
- You have been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel
- Original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field
- Authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media
- Your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases
- Performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations
- You command a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field
- Commercial successes in the performing arts
Help With the EB-1A Application Process
As noted earlier, EB-1A applicants can self-petition for a visa without having an employer sponsor them or showing that they have an offer of employment in hand. This applies only to the EB-1A, employees of extraordinary ability. For other workers in the EB-1 preference category, such as outstanding professors and researchers or multinational managers or executives, the employer must first file Form I-140 Petition for Alien Worker with USCIS. This petition requires demonstrating a continuing ability to pay the offered wage. After that petition has been approved, the employee can then apply for the EB-1 visa. Spouses of visa holders and their unmarried children under 21 years old can also apply for admission to the United States through E-14 or E-15 immigrant status.
At BBA Immigration, we excel in the amount and quality of research we do into a person’s abilities to demonstrate their value to the organization and their fit with the EB-1A visa preference category. We don’t just sit back and ask for a general description; we know what questions to ask that will be relevant to the application, and we conduct our own independent research where necessary to ensure a complete, accurate and persuasive application. We know that your needs are critical and time-sensitive, and we want you to be successful the first time you apply.
Contact BBA Immigration Today
The U.S. immigration attorneys at BBA Immigration help employers with critical employment needs and workers throughout the state of Texas find a job and home here, including immigration for persons of extraordinary ability. Call our experienced Houston EB-1A lawyers today for a quick consultation to let us know about your needs and find out how we can help.
