The American dream.
For many people in other parts of the world, our way of life in the United States is the inspiration that drives them from the time they first start school until they make it to a U.S. college for an undergraduate or post-graduate degree. After succeeding there, they are even more determined to work and live here on a more permanent basis. To obtain legal status from the U.S. government, immigrant workers must go through a complex visa application and approval process. It is not easy, and some folks give up partway through as there are more than
20 temporary and five permanent worker visa classifications overseen by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
One of the more difficult work visas to obtain is the EB-1A visa. The USCIS reserves the EB-1A visa for those who prove extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Applicants must prove that they will continue to work in their field and demonstrate that their work will substantially benefit the United States. Further, they must show that they possess “achievements that have been recognized in their field of expertise.”
Extraordinary ability can be proved either by realizing a one-time accomplishment at the caliber of a Nobel prize or an Olympic medal or by fulfilling specific USCIS criteria that demonstrate an individual’s expertise and renown in their industry. One of these requirements is to show published scholarly articles in major trade publications or professional journals or to highlight widely disseminated materials about the individual in other reputable media. Only 3,854 First Preference EB-1A visas were issued in 2018 and 2,223 in 2019. In 2020, the approval numbers dropped significantly to 1,280, likely in part due to the present global pandemic situation with COVID-19.
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