Pt. 3 - Let’s Talk Details - How to Prepare & File an EB-1A Petition

Missed our previous posts in this-6 part series? No worries, find them below!

• Pt. 1 - An Ambitious Solution to the Dreaded Green Card Backlog - the EB-1A Green Card

• Pt. 2 - Demystifying the EB-1A for Professionals—With Success Stories

Part 3

Now that we know the EB-1A can be a great option to speed up your Green Card process for a wide variety of qualified professionals, what are the steps for an EB-1A case? And how long does it take?

Let’s be clear: the EB-1A is a document-intensive process. It does take time and real effort on the part of you, the applicant. But the payoff in getting ahead of the Visa Backlog (TVB) is worth it. Below, we’ll outline the steps and timelines of a typical EB-1A case filed by ImmiPartner’s experienced legal team.

Step 1: Case Initiation—2 weeks

After we’ve evaluated and initiated an EB-1A case, the applicant provides their immigration documents as well as a current CV/resume. In addition, we ask for an extensive biography that outlines your experience and ties your expertise together in a narrative that will help us build your EB-1A case. Finally, with the guidance of your legal team, you will identify 5-7 individuals who can sign detailed letters of reference.

Step 2: Letters of Recommendation and Supporting Evidence—4-6 weeks, approximately

This phase is perhaps the most crucial. Along with uploading evidence of how you meet the various EB-1A criteria, you will work with your legal team to generate and polish up letters of recommendation that demonstrate your significant contributions to your field of expertise and your critical part in projects at the various companies/organizations that you have worked for in the past. Note that the time of this phase can vary, depending on how long it may take you to: (1) provide tangible evidence, (2) your recommenders to review and sign their respective support statements, and (3) just generally how much back-and-forth there is on the finalization of these to crucial elements.

Step 3: Drafting and Filing the Petition—3-4 weeks

Once the ImmiPartner team has all of your evidence and all the signed letters, we draft a detailed legal support brief, as well as your I-140 forms, and put it together with your evidence into a convincing EB-1A petition.

Conclusions

That’s it. While there is no downplaying the intense documentation needed for an EB-1A case, the steps are straightforward, and if you opt for Premium Processing—to receive a decision on your I-140 case in 15 calendar days—you could have a decision on your EB-1A case in just over 4 months.

Naturally, timelines of individual cases vary and you should consult with a member of the ImmiPartner team as to the specifics of your case, but in general, the average time to prepare and file an EB-1A case is about 3-4 months. Just consider how much faster you might obtain your Green Card.

Next Up: Part 4 - Breaking Down the EB-1A Criteria for Private Sector Employees

Want to see if you might qualify for the EB-1A? Schedule a consultation with an ImmiPartner attorney below!