by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. Background: The petitioner seeks classification as an employment-based immigrant pursuant to section 203(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act), 8 U.S.C. s 1153(b)(1)(A), as an alien of extraordinary ability. The director determined that the petitioner had not established the sustained national or international acclaim required for classification as an alien of extraordinary ability. USCIS Decision: The director determined the petitioner had Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. Congress has made green cards easily available for certain businesspeople, professors and researchers, and people with special talents. Foreign persons qualifying in this category don't need to show that no U.S. workers are available to do the job. Petitioners under EB1 category do not need labor certification before they do I-140 petition and therefore skip the cumbersome process. In addition, all EB-1 visas are current so foreign beneficiaries in this preference Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. Petitioners of EB1, like petitioners in other immigrant categories, need to submit a petition letter and related evidence to support the claims in the petition letter to the USCIS. There is no specific format required. However, petitioners are suggested to follow attentively the requirements specified in law and the USCIS rules. Many applicants seeking to apply to EB-1 and EB-2 are concerned about the new two-step approach of analysis used by the USCIS now. This Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released statistics on approval and denial rates for employment-based Form I-140 petitions involving EB1-A Aliens of Extraordinary Ability and EB1-B Outstanding Professors/Researchers on 02/28/2011. EB1-A Alien of Extraordinary ability and EB1-B Outstanding Professors or Researchers are two of the subgroups of first preference employment-based immigrant visa, they are also called “priority workers.“ No labor certification Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. Background: The petitioner is involved in the performing arts. It seeks to classify the beneficiary as an employment-based immigrant pursuant to section 203(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as an alien of extraordinary ability in the arts. Specifically, the petitioner seeks to classify the beneficiary as an alien with extraordinary ability as a choreographer. USCIS Decision: The director determined the petitioner had not established that the beneficiary Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. A petition letter plays an essential role in EB1-A application. A good petition letter which displays supporting evidence in a clear and convincing way will save the time and energy of adjudicating officers, which in turn, will substantially enhance your chance of approval in a fast manner. The following are two tips of presenting evidence in your EB1-A petition letter. 1. Providing Basis of Comparison One way to address USCIS questions about whether you “are Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. In my previous article, I discussed whom you should turn to for a recommendation letter for your I-140 Immigrant Worker Petition. In this article, I will lay out what should be included in a recommendation letter. Qualifications of the Recommender A recommendation letter needs to include the description of the drafter. An introduction of the employer should be made if a job has been offered. If the drafter comments on the foreign person's achievements or research, Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. Federal regulations define “extraordinary ability “ as a level of expertise indicating the individual is one of a small percentage who has risen to the very top of a particular field in the sciences, arts, education, business, and athletics. Why Apply under the Category of EB1-A? There are primarily two advantages of applying immigration benefits under the category of EB1-A. A. No Labor Certification or Employer Sponsor is Required Among the many advantages Read more [...]

by Victoria Chen, Esq., J.D. Background: The petitioner seeks classification as an employment-based immigrant pursuant to section 203(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act), 8 U.S.C. s 1153(b)(1)(A), as an alien of extraordinary ability in the sciences. This petition seeks to classify the petitioner as an alien with extraordinary ability an inventor. USCIS Decision: The director of Texas Service Center determined the petitioner had not established that the beneficiary qualifies Read more [...]