The United States remains open arms to having the world’s best and brightest add to the nation’s fabric through the EB-1 Visa process. However, there are several misconceptions about who may be eligible and how the process works.
That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced immigration employment attorney that can tailor your application and overcome government obstacles. At the Law Offices of Paul H. Lee, our team of EB-1 Visa professionals can help create an application that overcomes those hurdles.
Who Can Qualify For An EB-1 Visa?
Many people believe that the EB-1 Visa is reserved for academics and artists only. While top professors and researchers can utilize this pathway into the United States, the process has been much more broadly defined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The federal agency outlines three key brightest and best groups. These include:
- Extraordinary Ability: People who demonstrate an extraordinary aptitude in “sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim.” Achievements must be thoroughly documented and recognized in your field.
- Outstanding Professors and Researchers: This group is generally limited to academics. Applicants must have three years of experience, outstanding international recognition and must be pursuing tenured professorship or a similar position. Achievements must be documented and recognized in your field.
- Multinational Manager or Executive: This business track is open to people with a minimum of three years of experience in the position they plan to continue once in the United States. This employer-based application must be made in conjunction with an entity already doing business inside the United States.
There are two major challenges that extraordinary ability applicants face. First, developing a concise packet of information that documents your unique expertise and abilities must be tailored to meet bureaucratic expectations. Although the guidelines may be relatively clear, the actual methods and practices used by reviewers may be more difficult that you expect. In any field, there tends to be a gap between theory and practice and the U.S. government is no exception.
The second challenge EB-1 applicants face is negotiating the intricate bureaucracy and its demands. Agencies tend to complex and slow moving. An experienced employment immigration attorney can significantly streamline the process by utilizing professional relationships and experience.
Although misconception about the EB-1 Visa exist to the contrary, many high-level professionals may be eligible to establish themselves in America’s business sector through this application process.
EB-1 Can Be A Pathway To U.S. Citizenship
One of the key benefits of obtaining an EB-1 Visa is that it provides a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship. Once established in the country for five years, you may become eligible for naturalization. The process can be very extensive, complicated and difficult to navigate. Many people who attempt to go forward on their own encounter bureaucratic and procedural setbacks. But with a determined legal team behind you, missteps and unnecessary delays can be avoided.
Contact An Experienced Immigration Employment Attorney
It’s important to understand that the “brightest and the best” includes professional business people as well as academics and artists. We help corporate leaders in technology, banking, financial technology, analytics, clinical research and innovations used by Fortune 500 companies among others obtain EB-1 Visas. If you bring exceptional industry skills and knowledge to the table, contact the Law Offices of Paul H. Lee in New York City for a consultation.