EB-2 NIW and EB-1A: green cards based on achievement

• Evidence for each EB-1A criterion: award rules and winners, membership rules, articles about you (title, date, author), judging invitations, publications with citation data
• Letters from independent people in your field that describe specific contributions and their impact
• For NIW: a clear description of the proposed endeavor, a business or research plan, and evidence of national importance (funding, adoption, interest from government agencies)
• Diplomas and transcripts; for NIW, proof of the advanced degree or of exceptional ability
• Pay records compared with wage data for your field and location
• Certified English translations of Turkish documents, including press coverage and diplomas
• Passport and birth certificate; for family members, marriage and birth certificates

• Evidence that meets 3 criteria on paper but, read together, does not show sustained acclaim at the final merits step.
• Published material that mentions you only in passing.
• An NIW endeavor described only by job title, or with benefits only for one employer.
• General statements that a profession or an industry matters, without evidence for your own endeavor.
• Letters that praise without specifics or independent support.
• For adjustment of status, USCIS memo PM-602-0199 of 21 May 2026 tells officers that adjustment is discretionary and extraordinary relief, so status history matters; holding a dual-intent status is not by itself inconsistent with filing.

• Your recognition is still building: an O-1 or H-1B may come first.
• An employer will sponsor you for a specific job: EB-2 or EB-3 through PERM labor certification may be an option.
• A Turkish investor with a business plan rather than a research or innovation endeavor: compare E-2 and EB-5.

Who this is for

• Researchers, scientists, founders, athletes and artists with a strong record of achievement.
• Advanced-degree holders and professionals whose proposed work has national importance, for NIW.
• People who want to petition on their own, without a U.S. employer.

Key requirements

• EB-1A: evidence of a one-time major, internationally recognized award, or of at least 3 of 10 criteria. Comparable evidence is allowed if a criterion does not readily apply.
• The ten EB-1A criteria: lesser national or international prizes; membership in associations that require outstanding achievement; published material about you; judging others' work; original contributions of major significance; scholarly articles; display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases; a lead or critical role for distinguished organizations; a high salary compared with others in the field; commercial success in the performing arts.
• Final merits determination: USCIS then reviews all the evidence together and decides whether you have sustained national or international acclaim and are among the small percentage at the very highest level of the field.
• You must also show you will continue to work in your field and that your work will substantially benefit the U.S.
• EB-2 NIW: an advanced degree or exceptional ability, and the three Dhanasar prongs: the endeavor has substantial merit and national importance; you are well positioned to advance it; and on balance, waiving the job offer and labor certification benefits the U.S.
• Both start with Form I-140. The green card follows by adjustment of status or an immigrant visa when your priority date is current.

What to check with an attorney

• Which criteria are met, and whether the record holds up at the final merits step.
• Whether the NIW endeavor is specific, with evidence of national importance beyond one employer.
• Visa Bulletin dates for your country of birth; China- and India-born applicants wait longer.
• Whether an O-1 or another status should cover the waiting time.

Fees and rules reviewed 16 Oct 2026. Sources below.

Official sources:

1. USCIS: Employment-Based Immigration, First Preference EB-1
2. USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 6, Part F, Ch. 2: Extraordinary Ability
3. USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 6, Part F, Ch. 5: Advanced Degree and NIW
4. 8 CFR 204.5
5. USCIS: Fee Schedule, Form G-1055 (edition 10/16/26)
6. USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing?
7. USCIS: When to file adjustment applications, October 2026
8. 22 CFR 22.1: State Department visa fees
9. USCIS policy memo PM-602-0199 (21 May 2026)

What changed: listed the ten EB-1A criteria and the final merits step as USCIS describes them today, the Dhanasar test, 2026 fees, premium-processing times, October 2026 Visa Bulletin dates and the May 2026 adjustment memo.