United States · Talent schemes
United States EB-1A Extraordinary ability
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (self-petition)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
EB-1A Extraordinary ability is a talent schemes route for United States. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $715 · $300
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$715 · $300
- $715Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online).
- $300Asylum programme fee for a self-petitioner.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years as a permanent resident
Naturalisation needs 5 years as a lawful permanent resident (3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen). Conditional residents generally cannot apply until the conditions are removed.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply from abroad through consular processing, or from inside the U.S. by adjusting status if you are eligible.
Presence rulesAbsence limits
A green card can be treated as abandoned after a long stay outside the U.S. A re-entry permit obtained before leaving, or a returning resident visa from abroad, helps show the absence is temporary.
What you'll need
Who can apply5
- The applicant shows sustained national or international acclaim.
- Acclaim is shown by a one-time major award or at least 3 of 10 criteria.
- The criteria are awards, memberships, published material, judging, original contributions, scholarly articles, exhibitions, a leading role, high salary and commercial success.
- The person will continue working in the area of expertise.
- The applicant may file for themselves.
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of $715 · Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online).
- A fee of $300 · Asylum programme fee for a self-petitioner.
When you become tax resident
How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 31 days in the current calendar yearMinimum days of presence in the current year.
- At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- Foreign-source income
U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
All tax rules for United States Tax records checked
Full official text
First-preference green card for persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics who can file Form I-140 for themselves without an employer or labor certification. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $715 · Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online). 2
- A fee of $300 · Asylum programme fee for a self-petitioner. 2
Requirements
- The applicant shows sustained national or international acclaim. 1
- Acclaim is shown by a one-time major award or at least 3 of 10 criteria. 1
- The criteria are awards, memberships, published material, judging, original contributions, scholarly articles, exhibitions, a leading role, high salary and commercial success. 1
- The person will continue working in the area of expertise. 1
- The applicant may file for themselves. 1
Stay
- Immigrant visa leading to lawful permanent residence.
Nationality
No nationality restriction; per-country limits apply to visa availability.
Work
Permanent resident work rights.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 (E-14, E-15).
Official sources
- Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1 · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Consular Processing (USCIS Immigrant Fee) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Maintaining permanent residence · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
EB-1A Extraordinary ability and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1A Extraordinary ability | – | – | – |
| EB-2 National Interest Waiver | – | – | – |
| Internationalisation visa V Colombia | – | 2 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the EB-1A Extraordinary ability?
A fee of $715. Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online). A fee of $300. Asylum programme fee for a self-petitioner.
How long can I stay on the EB-1A Extraordinary ability?
Immigrant visa leading to lawful permanent residence.
Can I work on the EB-1A Extraordinary ability?
Permanent resident work rights.
Can I bring my family on the EB-1A Extraordinary ability?
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 (E-14, E-15).
How are EB-1A Extraordinary ability holders taxed in United States?
No special regime in our records is tied to the EB-1A Extraordinary ability. The standard rules apply: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
More in United States
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1 · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Consular Processing (USCIS Immigrant Fee) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Maintaining permanent residence · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.