If you are an outstanding researcher, international executive, or high-achieving professor exploring options for obtaining a green card in the United States, an EB-1 visa may be a strong option for you. At U.S. Law Center, our empathetic and dedicated Los Angeles EB-1 visa Lawyer team has years of combined experience helping individuals across the region get the documentation that they need to meet their personal and professional goals.
Our Los Angeles law firm has an in-depth understanding of immigration law, including USCIS officers in the area, as well as local processes and the dynamics that impact international professionals here. We leverage a client-focused approach to meet with you, understand your needs, goals, and challenges, and design and implement an optimal legal strategy to help you get where you need to go. Together, we can help you understand your eligibility for an EB-1 visa and explore your options.
One of the most economically dynamic and populous areas in the United States is Los Angeles County, with an estimated 2022 population of over 9.8 million. The workforce in Los Angeles County exceeds 4.4 million people, making LA home to various industry leaders and numerous professionals across sectors like healthcare, entertainment, tech, academia, and international business.
Therefore, LA is an ideal destination for people who qualify for an EB-1 visa under the following subcategories:
The demand for international talent is extremely high in competitive cities such as LA – even more, the employment rate is relatively high at 5.8% according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therefore, there is a need for high-impact professionals who can come in and create jobs, particularly those who meet the stringent requirements of an EB-1 visa.
Compared with other employment-based green card categories, the EB-1 visa comes with many advantages, including no requirement for a PERM labor certification, which is a highly complex document to acquire. Generally, this pathway tends to be a quicker avenue to establishing permanent residency, and those applying for an EB-1A visa have a self-petition option available. Expediting processes may be available as well.
It’s important to note, however, that qualifying for an EB-1 visa demands showing significant evidence of all you have achieved. For an EB-1C visa, you must have experience working abroad in an executive or managerial role and being transferred to a U.S. branch. EB-1B applicants need to show that they have at least three years of research or teaching experience and have international recognition for the work they have done.
Finally, EB-1A applicants need to demonstrate ongoing international or national acclaim through evidence like original contributions, academic publications, media coverage, and major awards.
We understand the complex nuances of the local standards of the industry in Los Angeles, as well as immigration law on the federal level. Whether you are a professor, tech executive, producer, or data scientist, we understand how to present your case in an optimal manner that USCIS will favor, increasing your chances of a positive case outcome.
Specifically, we can support with the following:
As Los Angeles is home to many industries that are likely to attract applicants who are eligible for an EB-1 visa – such as Silicon Beach, Hollywood, multinational corporations, and leading research institutions – we are particularly ready to advocate on behalf of our clients who are within these fields.
To qualify for an EB-1A visa for individuals with extraordinary ability, it’s important to show that you have a continuing national or international acclaim and meet at least 3 out of 10 of the USCIS criteria. Examples include making original contributions that have a major significance, receiving major awards, and publishing academic articles. A skilled attorney from our firm can help you understand whether you are eligible.
An EB-1 visa is different from an O-1 visa in that the EB-1 is a green card for permanent residency, and an O-1 visa is a temporary non-immigrant visa. The EB-1 visa doesn’t require having a job offer for some subcategories; the application process moves directly into access to a green card. By working with a dedicated immigration attorney, you can understand which type of visa may be right for you.
Whether you need a job offer for the EB-1 visa depends on various factors, including the subcategory for which you are applying. Those applying for the extraordinary ability category, or EB-1A, are not required to have a job offer. On the other hand, outstanding professors/researchers (or EB-1B visa applicants) and international executives or managers (or EB-1C applicants) typically need to have employer sponsorship.
Common EB-1 fields that are seen frequently in Los Angeles include those in biomedical research, athletics, academia, tech, and entertainment. As the city is internationally known for higher education, film, and innovation, it serves as an attractive hub for many professionals who are eligible according to the USCIS criteria. EB-1 petitioners come from all different kinds of backgrounds.
With nearly 10 million people and an internationally connected economy, Los Angeles serves as a robust hub for some of the world’s leading professionals to get permanent residency in the United States. Reach out to an experienced EB-1 visa attorney from U.S. Law Center today to schedule a free consultation. We can determine your eligibility and discuss your options.