Guides library

Focused answers to the questions we hear most from professionals building an EB-1A, O-1A or EB-2 NIW profile. Each guide covers one question in depth. For the full picture, start with the main guides to the EB-1A, O-1 visas, EB-2 NIW and H-1B founders.

These guides are general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change, so confirm the details with USCIS and a licensed immigration attorney.

• EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW: which green card fits your profile?

  EB-1A and EB-2 NIW compared side by side: who qualifies, what USCIS looks for, how evidence differs, wait times, and when it makes sense to file both.

• O-1A vs EB-1A: differences, overlap and when to do both

  How the O-1A work visa and the EB-1A green card compare: who files, the criteria, the standard of proof, and how professionals use the O-1A as a step toward the EB-1A.

• EB-1A without a PhD: how professionals qualify

  The EB-1A has no degree requirement. How engineers, founders, product leaders, designers and other professionals without a PhD build a strong extraordinary ability case.

• EB-1A judging criterion: how to earn and prove judging experience

  What counts as judging the work of others for the EB-1A and O-1A, honest ways professionals in any field earn judging experience, and how to document it so it holds up.

• Original contributions of major significance: what evidence works

  How USCIS reads the EB-1A and O-1A original contributions criterion, what 'major significance' means in practice, and the evidence that proves impact in science, technology, business, medicine and the arts.

• Leading or critical role: how to prove it for EB-1A and O-1A

  What USCIS means by a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation, how it applies to teams inside large companies and to startups, and the evidence that proves it.

• High salary criterion: how to compare your pay for EB-1A and O-1A

  How USCIS evaluates a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for the EB-1A and O-1A, which comparison data to use, how equity and bonus count, and common mistakes.

• EB-1A for software engineers and tech leads

  How software engineers, ML engineers and tech leads build an EB-1A case: which criteria fit industry work, what evidence proves impact at scale, and when the O-1A or EB-2 NIW fits better.

• EB-1A and EB-2 NIW for doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals

  How physicians, researchers, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals approach the EB-1A and EB-2 NIW: criteria that fit clinical and research work, evidence, and special routes to know about.

• EB-1A and O-1A for founders and business leaders

  How startup founders, executives and business leaders build an EB-1A, O-1A or EB-2 NIW case: business contributions, critical roles, media, judging, and how your own company can sponsor you.