
EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa for Entrepreneurs
Immigration Attorneys in Columbus Ohio, Cleveland Ohio, Southfield Michigan and Washington, D.C.
If you are trying to start a business in the US as a foreign national entrepreneur and you have extraordinary ability in your field, you may qualify for the EB-1 extraordinary ability visa for entrepreneurs if you meet certain requirements.
For further information, or if you would like to have a consultation with an attorney about the specific facts and circumstances of your case, contact the experienced attorneys at The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates.
Our lawyers have more than 50 years of combined experience in numerous complex immigration law matters.
To discuss your case with an experienced immigration lawyer, call (888) 915-5057 or contact us online to arrange a confidential consultation.
What Is the EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa?
The EB-1 extraordinary ability category is a visa option for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in their field of expertise. The EB-1 is an immigrant visa meaning that it grants US lawful permanent resident status (green card).
Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 may also obtain permanent residence status as dependents of the EB-1 principal applicant.
How Does the EB-1 Work for Entrepreneurs?
The EB-1 may be an alternative to the H-1B if you don't qualify. The H-1B requires that your area of expertise is in a specialty occupation. The EB-1 visa will grant you permanent residence (green card), while the H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa that does not.
The H-1B can lead to labor certification and an immigrant visa down the road. Let us plan a business strategy that works best for you. We are an innovative firm with proven results.
What Are the EB-1 Requirements?
Requirement 1: You Must Prove that You Possess Extraordinary Ability in Your Field
The classification “extraordinary ability” is a category reserved for that small percentage of people who are considered to have reached the very top of their field of expertise and are coming to the United States in order to continue working in that field.
There are two different methods to establish that you have extraordinary ability. The first method is to prove that you have a major, internationally recognized award, like the Nobel Prize for example.
In order to show that award is of that high caliber, evidence should include some of the following:
- The nature of criteria used to grant the award
- The significance of the award in your field
- The reputation of the organization that granted the award
- Other winners of the award who have achieved international acclaim
- If the award encourages competition from internationally recognized individuals in the field
The second method to prove extraordinary ability is to establish at least 3 of these 8 criteria:
