EB1 Green Card vs. O1 Visa

B) By documentation of at least three of the following accomplishments:

1. Services, performed and to be performed, as a lead or starring participant in productions or events which have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by critical reviews, advertisements, publicity releases, publications, contracts, or endorsements; [More Info]

2. National or international recognition for achievements evidenced by critical reviews of other published materials by or about the individual in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines, or other publications; [More Info]

3. Performance in a lead, starring, or critical role for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation as shown by articles in newspapers, trade journals, publications, or testimonials; [More Info]

4. A record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes, as evidenced by such indicators as title, rating, or standing in the field, box office receipts, credit for original research or product development, motion picture or television ratings, and other occupational achievements reported in trade journals, major newspapers, or other publications; [More Info]

5. Significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies or other recognized experts in the field in which the alien is engaged. Such testimonials must be in a form that clearly indicates the author’s authority, expertise, and knowledge of the alien’s achievements; [More Info]

6. A high salary or other substantial remuneration for services in relation to others in the field, in the past or the future, evidenced by contracts or other reliable evidence; [More Info]

The EB1  Green Card:

EB1 Visas / Green Cards: Documenting your achievements in this way should not be a challenge since documentation is the cornerstone of all academic work.

The EB1 is actually a green card. For the EB1 green card you do not need a sponsor, you can sponsor yourself. Whereas for the O1 visa you will need a sponsor, or agent – with at least one job booked. The EB1 green card works on the principle of Extraordinary Ability but has its own slightly different checklist. For this checklist you need to be able to satisfy unequivocally at least three from the list. Again, ideally we like to only take on clients who can satisfy at least four even if the fourth or fifth are quite a stretch.

The EB1 green card takes about 12-14 months to process through USCIS and takes us about 90 days to put together if the client is efficient in providing the evidence we need. As in O1 visa applications, with the EB1 my essential role will be to guide you through the evidence collection process and help you shape the evidence just right to nail the satisfaction of the specific requirements. The EB1 green card is actually a green card. For the EB1 green card you do not need a sponsor, you can sponsor yourself. Whereas for the O1 visa you will need a sponsor, or agent – with at least one job booked. The EB1 green card works on the principle of Extraordinary Ability but has its own slightly different checklist. For this checklist you need to be able to satisfy unequivocally at least three from the list. Again, ideally we like to only take on clients who can satisfy at least four even if the fourth or fifth are quite a stretch.

EB1 Green Card Check List:

Evidence of Eligibility: 8 C.F.R. 204.5(h) (3)

Initial evidence: – A petition for an alien of extraordinary ability must be accompanied by evidence that the alien has sustained national or international acclaim and that his or her achievements have been recognized in the field of expertise. Such evidence shall include evidence of a one-time achievement (that is, a major, internationally recognized award), or at least three of the following or the worker may submit “other comparable evidence” if the following criteria do not apply:

One Time International Award [More Info] or three from the following: -

(i) National Award – Documentation of the alien’s receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor; [More Info]

(ii) Invited Membership – Documentation of the alien’s membership in associations in the field for which classification is sought, which require outstanding achievements of their members, as judge by recognized national or international experts in their disciplines or fields; [More Info]

(iii) Published Material About You – Published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media, relating the alien’s work in the field for which classification is sought. Such evidence shall include the title, date, and author of the material, and any necessary translation; [More Info]

(iv) Judging – Evidence of the alien’s participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of work of others in the same or an allied field of specialization for which classification is sought; [More Info]

(v) Innovation – Evidence of the alien’s original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field; [More Info]

(v) Scholarly Articles – Evidence of the alien’s authorship of scholarly articles in the field, in professional or major trade publications or other major media; [More Info]

(vii) Exhibitions or Showcases – Evidence of the display of the alien’s work in the field at artistic exhibitions or showcases; [More Info]

(viii) Leading /Critical Role – Evidence that the alien has performed in a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation; [More Info]

(ix) High Salary – Evidence that the alien has commanded a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, in relation to others in the field; or [More Info]

(x) Commercial Success – Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts, as shown by box office receipts or record, cassette, compact disk, or video sales. [More Info]

By Chris M. Ingram, LL.M., ESQ.
Attorney at Law

-EB1 Home Page
- EB1 Green Card Checklist
- EB1 Testimonial – Client Video
- EB1 Testimonial – Helen
- EB1 Testimonial – Christina
- EB1 Testimonial – Paul
- EB1 Green Card vs. O1 Visa
- EB1 Green and O1 Visa Guide
- Hollywood Connections (Contacts Directory)