- Who it's for
- Individuals at the top of their field (self-petition)
- Employer required
- No
- Labor certification
- Not required
- I-140 Government Processing Time
- 15 business days premium; 6–12 months regular
- Priority date wait
- Usually current except for India and China
- Gale fee
- $9,000 I-140 · $4,000 AOS
Who qualifies for the EB-1A
- A one-time major international award, or evidence for at least 3 of 10 criteria (the O-1A criteria plus exhibitions and commercial success).
- A final merits determination that you have sustained acclaim and are among the small percentage at the top of the field.
- Intent to continue working in the area of extraordinary ability in the U.S.
EB-1A timeline
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Evidence strategy and gap analysis | 1 week |
| Expert recommendation letters | 2 weeks |
| Petition drafting and attorney review | 1 week |
| I-140 adjudication | 15 business days (premium) or 6–12 months |
| Adjustment of status (if priority date current) | 8–14 months |
EB-1A cost: Gale and government fees
Gale charges a flat fee (platform fee plus attorney legal fee) for the initial EB-1A filing, and RFE responses are usually included. Government fees are paid directly to the agency at cost. See the full fee schedule or estimate your total with the visa cost calculator.
| Filing | Gale price (platform + legal fee) |
|---|---|
| I-140 petition | $9,000 |
| AOS | $4,000 |
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-140 | $715 | |
| Asylum Program Fee | $300 | Self-petitioned I-140 |
| Premium processing (optional) | $2,965 | 15-business-day decision |
| Form I-485 (adjustment of status) | $1,440 | Per applicant aged 14+ |
| Form I-765 / I-131 with a pending I-485 | $260 / $630 | Work permit and travel document |
Documents you'll need
- CV and evidence for each criterion claimed
- Independent expert recommendation letters
- Citation data, press coverage, award documentation
- Statement of future work plans in the U.S.
- Civil documents for adjustment of status
How Gale handles the EB-1A
Gale's software handles intake, document collection, drafting and tracking. An experienced network attorney owns strategy, legal judgment and final sign-off on every petition.
- Intake on the Gale platformHR starts the case in minutes; the employee completes a guided questionnaire and uploads documents to a checklist built for the visa type.
- Attorney strategy reviewA network attorney assesses whether the record clears both the criteria and the final merits standard, or whether an EB-2 NIW or O-1A is safer first.
- Petition preparationGale builds the exhibit set and expert-letter drafts, and tracks evidence gaps against the ten criteria.
- Attorney sign-off and filingThe attorney writes the petition brief, files the I-140 (often concurrently with the I-485) and manages any RFE.
- Tracking and responseGale tracks the USCIS receipt and status in one dashboard. If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence, the attorney prepares the response, usually included in the flat fee.
Related visa information pages
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a self-petitioned green card for professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose work benefits the United States.
Read more O-1AExtraordinary AbilityThe O-1A is a U.S.
Read more EB-1CMultinational Manager or Executive Green CardThe EB-1C is an employer-sponsored green card for managers and executives of multinational companies, typically people already in the U.S.
Read moreReady to start a EB-1A case?
Talk with our team about timing, strategy and cost.
Frequently asked questions
EB-1A vs. EB-2 NIW: which should I file?
EB-1A has a higher evidence bar but usually a shorter priority-date wait. EB-2 NIW has a lower bar (an advanced degree or exceptional ability plus national interest). Many applicants file both.
Can I file EB-1A while on an H-1B or O-1?
Yes. Both allow dual intent, and you can keep working while the green card is pending.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and processing times change frequently. Confirm current details with USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney.