EB-1A Green Card: Criteria and How It Compares to O-1
The EB-1A green card for extraordinary ability: the ten criteria, who can self-petition, how it differs from the O-1, and when people use the O-1 first.
Page reviewed October 8, 2026.
Quick answer. The EB-1A is an employment-based green card for people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. You show sustained national or international acclaim, either through a one-time major internationally recognized award or by meeting at least three of ten criteria. It needs no job offer and no labor certification, and you can file the petition yourself. The O-1 is a temporary work visa with a related standard. Lando prepares O-1 petitions. This page explains the EB-1A so you can compare.
The ten EB-1A criteria
You need a one-time major internationally recognized award, or evidence of at least three of these ten:
- Nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field
- Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement of their members
- Published material about you in professional or major trade publications or major media
- Judging the work of others in the field
- Original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic or business-related contributions of major significance
- Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or major media
- Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases
- A leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation
- A high salary or other remuneration compared with others in the field
- Commercial success in the performing arts
Two steps, not one
USCIS first checks whether you meet the criteria. It then looks at all the evidence together to decide whether you have sustained national or international acclaim and are among the small percentage at the very top of the field. Meeting three criteria does not decide the case on its own.
EB-1A and O-1 side by side
| Item | O-1 | EB-1A |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Temporary work visa | Employment-based green card |
| Who files | A U.S. employer or a U.S. agent | You can file for yourself |
| Job offer | A U.S. petitioner is required | Not required, but you must intend to continue work in your field in the U.S. |
| Criteria | Three of eight (O-1A) or three of six (O-1B, arts) | Three of ten |
| Standard | O-1A: sustained national or international acclaim, one of the small percentage at the very top of the field. O-1B (arts): distinction | Sustained national or international acclaim, one of the small percentage at the very top of the field |
| Annual limits | No cap and no lottery | Immigrant visa numbers are limited each year, so waiting times can apply depending on your country of birth. Check the current Visa Bulletin |
| Length | Up to three years, extendable in increments of up to one year | Permanent residence |
How the O-1 and the EB-1A relate
- The O-1A and the EB-1A use similar criteria and the same wording for the standard: sustained national or international acclaim, and being among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
- The O-1 is temporary, needs a U.S. petitioner and can be extended while the work continues. The EB-1A leads to permanent residence and can be filed by you.
- Many criteria overlap, so evidence gathered for one can often support the other.
- They are separate decisions. USCIS treats a prior O-1 approval as relevant but not determinative for an EB-1A.
Common questions
What is the EB-1A?
An employment-based green card for people with extraordinary ability. You show sustained national or international acclaim, through a major internationally recognized award or at least three of ten criteria.
Do I need a job offer for the EB-1A?
No job offer or labor certification is required, and you can file the petition yourself. You do need to intend to continue working in your field in the United States.
How many criteria do I need for the EB-1A?
At least three of ten, or a one-time major internationally recognized award. USCIS then weighs all the evidence to decide whether you are among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Are the O-1 and EB-1A standards the same?
The O-1A and the EB-1A use similar criteria and the same wording for the standard. They are separate decisions, and USCIS says a prior O-1 approval is relevant but not determinative for an EB-1A. The O-1B for the arts has its own standard, distinction.
Does Lando prepare EB-1A petitions?
Lando prepares O-1 petitions. This page explains the EB-1A so you can compare the two. Ask about your situation on the free call.
Does Lando guarantee approval?
No. USCIS decides every petition, and Lando does not promise an outcome. Lando is not a law firm. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.
Sources
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part F, Chapter 2 (extraordinary ability)
- U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin
- USCIS: Employment-based immigration, first preference EB-1
- USCIS: O-1 visa, individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement
- 8 CFR 204.5(h), extraordinary ability petitions
Checked October 2026.
Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.