The wait time for the Green Card was a whopping 134 years back in September 2023 for more >1 million Indian immigrants (in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories). Though USCIS continues to make it better, only a Congressional reform will reform the green card backlog.

The U.S. government releases only 85,000 H-1B visas every year (where 65,000 are for workers with at least a bachelor's degree and 20,000 are for workers with advanced degrees). This cap has not been changed in over two decades. So inevitably, the demand has crossed the supply. In 2023, 780k people applied for H-1B.

Of the 780k who applied for the H-1B lottery last year, about half of them were multiple applications coming from the same beneficiary. An entire cottage industry has been set up by IT consulting agencies that lure immigrants by promising H-1B visas in exchange for money. (Fortunately, USCIS is acting on this in FY25 by connecting each application to a unique beneficiary via the passport number.)

If you get laid off or quit your job on a temporary visa, you get 60 days after which you will become out of status and need to leave the country. This has devastated immigrants in tech the past two years since mass layoffs began and showed just how precarious the system can be.

As of April 2020, over 250k children were waiting for green cards with their parents in 2020. Of the 250k, over 150k were from India, followed by China. Despite spending their entire life in America, these children would become out of status the moment they turn 21, and need to get their own visas if they want to continue living in the country.

As an immigrant, you don’t have access to health benefits that citizens do. As healthcare costs are skyrocketing ($13,493 per person) in the U.S., you have to depend on employers for health insurance or pay out of pocket.

As the U.S. government decided to raise fees for different categories of visas, tech firms may begin to look for domestic talent and cut costs by not hiring immigrants.

Yes, you can apply for EB1A in parallel with EB2 or EB3. These are different employment- based immigrant visa categories, and there's no restriction against applying for multiple categories simultaneously.

You can include your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 in your EB1A application. They will be eligible for derivative green cards, allowing your family to also become permanent residents in the United States.

Absolutely! You can apply for the EB1A green card from outside the United States. The process involves submitting your petition to the USCIS and attending an interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. Once approved, the authorities will apply a one-time entry stamp on your passport to let you enter the United States as a permanent resident. After you arrive in the US, you are issued the green card within 90 days.

Having a huge number of citations is not the only determining factor. USCIS considers a range of evidence beyond just citations, such as awards, critical role, media coverage, high salary, memberships, and contributions to your field. Quality and impact matter more than sheer quantity, so be sure to highlight the significance of your work.

Absolutely! Your qualifications don't need to be tied to a geographical location. In fact, there is no stipulation on educational qualification when it comes to the EB1A criteria. Your achievements matter more than where you earned your degree.

If you have an employer willing to sponsor your green card, it may be a viable option but then you will be dependent on your employer for your EB1A process. We recommend self-petitioning your EB1A because it provides more control over the EB1A application process. The EB1A self- petition route also saves you from inadvertent delays should the economic priorities of your employer change or if there are layoffs. Not to mention, your employer's legal team may not possess the legal creativity and expertise needed to argue your EB1A petition.

If your I-140 petition is approved, your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are also eligible to apply for admission to the United States in E14 or E15 immigrant status, respectively.

Both EB1B and EB1A visas are employment-based immigrant visas and require extraordinary abilities. Then what makes the EB1A visa different from the EB1B visa? The key differences between EB1A and EB1B visas are based on their target professionals, job offer requirements, and petitioning flexibility. The EB-1A visa targets individuals with extraordinary abilities in science, arts, education, business, and athletics. Conversely, the EB1B visa targets professors and researchers with a minimum of three years of experience in teaching and research. They should also have international recognition. You can self-petition for the EB1A visa, while filing for the EB1B visa requires an employer’s sponsorship.

The EB1A visa gives you the flexibility of self-petitioning, so you don’t require any employer sponsorships. Switching or losing a job does not negatively impact your EB1A petition.

Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence.

Evidence of your membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members.

Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media.

Evidence that you have been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel.

Evidence of your original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field.

Evidence of your authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media.

Evidence that your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases.

Evidence of your performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations.

Evidence that you command a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field.

Evidence of your commercial successes in the performing arts.