Professionals of the highest category immigrate to the USA on the EB-1 visa. Those are talented scientists and professors, famous representatives of the creative professions and sports, businessmen and top managers of international corporations. In order to obtain this visa, you should prove your professional merits, and in the case of business immigration, you should work in or own a company that meets a number of criteria.
The great bonus of the EB-1 program is that in some cases, the applicant does not even need to look for an American employer in advance. Many other American work visas do not offer this option. The holder of EB-1 is issued a green card (permanent residence) immediately upon arrival, and five years later they can apply for the US citizenship.
The official website of the program
More than 40 thousand foreigners apply for the American immigration work visa EB-1 and leave for the United States every year . The program is suitable for various professionals: representatives of art and sports, science and top management, as well as international businessmen. Since the requirements for professionals from different fields are quite specific, the EB-1 has three categories:
The applicants for EB-1A and EB-1B should prove their outstanding professional merits: membership in professional associations, publications in the media, you should meet at least three of them (two on EB-1B). If we are talking about a top manager, then a number of special requirements are imposed primarily not on his candidacy, but on the company.
The second point is that when selecting extraordinary professionals (EB-1A and EB-1B visas), national interest is also taken into account. That is, the United States should be interested in the services of this specialist. For example, applicants may include an engineer who is developing the latest in cardiac equipment. In the United States, mortality from diseases of the cardiovascular system is high, so a specialist is valuable for the country.
The second point is that when selecting extraordinary professionals (EB-1A and EB-1B visas), national interest is also taken into account. The United States should be interested in the services of this specialist. For example, applicants may include an engineer who is developing the latest cardiological equipment. Mortality from diseases of the cardiovascular system is very high in the United States, so this kind of specialist is valuable for the country.
The third point is that professors and managers need to prove that there is a specific institution (university) or company in the USA which they are going to work in. In case of a businessman, the issue of having an employer is solved very simply: it is enough to have a large branch or your own company in the USA. For EB-1A (outstanding artists, businessmen or sportsmen) visa applicants, this requirement is optional.
It is strategically important to consider the processing time of the application when submitting the documents for the EB-1. It depends on the country of the applicant. For example, citizens of China or India wait for up to three- five years for their documents to be reviewed. And citizens of Russia or Kazakhstan undergo the procedure in about a year. Around the world, on average, it takes 8-12 months from the date of the application to the final approval of the case.
The EB-1 visa allows you to apply for a green card (permanent residence permit) for the applicant and his family immediately after entering the United States. If you live in the States for five years in the status of a permanent resident and do not break the law, you will be able to obtain a local passport.
- The applicants for EB-1A visa may not search for an American employer in advance. The main thing is to be engaged in the same activities in the United States in which they have achieved recognition.
- Most often EB-1C visa is obtained by managers on the basis of a valid L-1A visa, and EB-1A or EB-1B visas are issued by extraordinary professionals on the basis of a valid O-1 visa in some cases. At the same time, it is not prohibited to immediately apply for any EB-1 visa category.
- The ten criteria of extraordinariness do not apply for the EB-1C visa applicants, but the applicant (like the business) should meet a number of requirements.
Employer
- The company is international (There are two or more offices in different countries).
- The employer has been actively conducting business in the United States for at least a year through an American office, branch, parent company or subsidiary.
- The US division is required to have an appropriate relationship with the overseas company in which the beneficiary operates (parent company, branch, subsidiary or affiliate).
- The American office (or the entire company) may also belong to the beneficiary or be the place of his work, and it should also have a multi-level management system.
- If the trip is related to opening of a new office, then the company should provide suitable premises in advance, hire ten employees, there should be a three-stage management system, and it should also prove the economic necessity of the project.
Manager
- The applicant is not a US citizen.
- The applicant has valuable knowledge about the company.
- The applicant holds a managerial position ( has broad powers, does not need supervision, has the right to hire and fire employees, manages large projects and / or groups of specialists and managers).
- The applicant has worked at least a year in the last three years in a foreign division of his company in a managerial position.
- The applicant is transferred to the American division of the company for a managerial position.
Scientist
Professors and scientists who have been engaged in teaching or research activities at the international level for at least three years can apply for this visa. The purpose of entry is scientific activity in one of the American universities (an invitation from the university is required).
The applicant should meet at least two of the six criteria for extraordinariness.
Extraordinary specialist
In order to get this visa, you should prove your merits and meet at least three of the ten criteria.
Along with the holder of an EB-1 visa, his spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible to move to the United States.
If the applicant is abroad and submits documents through the consulate: the consular fee for filing an online application is $318.
If the applicant is already in the United States: $700 is a standard fee for processing an I-140 petition with USCIS; $1,440 is for the Fast Track Process (15 days).
Registration of a green card (permanent residence permit) after obtaining a visa (entry into the United States): a petition for the issuance of a green card (I-485) and processing of biometric data - from $750 for each family member; $220 - for issuing a green card.
The services of a lawyer who will accompany the process cost from $3,000-5,000. Additionally, you may need assistance in registering a legal entity and preparing a business plan if you only plan to launch a new office in the United States.
In most cases, all costs for obtaining the visa are covered by the employer.
The rights
The obligations
Fill the form that will be passed to immigration advisors and partners of Prian.info
Fill the form