EB-1 Visa Requirements: Complete Guide for 2026

What is the EB-1 Visa?

The EB-1 is an employment-based first preference visa for permanent residency. It has three subcategories: EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability), EB-1B (Outstanding Professor/Researcher), and EB-1C (Multinational Manager).

EB-1A: Extraordinary Ability

Requires meeting at least 3 of 10 criteria:

• National or international awards
• Membership in prestigious organizations
• Published material about you
• Original scientific or scholarly contributions
• Authorship of scholarly articles
• High salary compared to peers

EB-1B: Outstanding Professor or Researcher

Requires:

• International recognition in your field
• At least 3 years of experience
• A job offer from a U.S. employer
• At least 2 of 6 documented criteria

EB-1C: Multinational Executive or Manager

Requires:

• Employment outside the U.S. for at least 1 year in the past 3 years
• A qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign employer

Processing Times

EB-1 visas are currently faster than other employment-based categories. Check our [visa guide](/visa-guide) for latest processing times.