EB-1 Attorney in Dallas
Secure your green card on the fastest employment-based track — with no PERM, and for EB-1A, no employer required. We help top researchers, founders, and executives prove they belong among the best in their field.
What Is the EB-1 Green Card?
What this means for you
The EB-1 is the fastest employment-based green card — and it skips PERM entirely. If you are at the top of your field or a senior multinational manager, it can put permanent residency within reach far sooner than EB-2 or EB-3.
EB-1 is the first-preference employment-based category, reserved for what the law calls priority workers. Because it sits at the top of the system, immigrant visa numbers are often more readily available and the overall wait can be shorter.
None of the three EB-1 subcategories requires PERM labor certification, removing the lengthy Department of Labor recruitment step that EB-2 and EB-3 demand. The trade-off is a demanding evidentiary standard — EB-1 is for people genuinely at or near the top of their field, or senior multinational managers and executives.
The Atlas advantage
Work directly with your attorney
Same-day response guarantee
Flat fees, no surprises
The Three EB-1 Subcategories
EB-1 is not a single test — it is three distinct subcategories, each with its own standard. You need to qualify under just one:
EB-1A — Extraordinary Ability
For individuals with sustained national or international acclaim. The only EB-1 path that lets you self-petition.
- A one-time major internationally recognized award, or
- At least 3 of 10 regulatory criteria — awards, press, judging, original contributions, scholarly authorship, and more.
- No employer or job offer required.
EB-1B — Outstanding Professors & Researchers
For internationally recognized academics. Requires an employer, but no PERM.
- International recognition in your academic field.
- At least 2 of 6 regulatory criteria.
- A permanent or tenure-track role at a university or research employer.
- At least three years of teaching or research experience.
EB-1C — Multinational Managers & Executives
For managers and executives transferred to a U.S. company — the permanent counterpart to the L-1A visa.
- One year of employment abroad (within the last three) in a managerial or executive role.
- A qualifying U.S. employer (parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch).
- Coming to work in a similar managerial or executive capacity.
Not sure which EB-1 subcategory fits you? We'll assess your record and tell you honestly.
Evidence and the Two-Step Adjudication
For extraordinary-ability and outstanding-researcher cases, USCIS applies a two-step analysis from the Kazarian decision. Meeting the criteria on paper is only the start — here is how we build a petition that actually persuades:
Step One — Counting the Criteria
First, USCIS checks whether you meet the minimum number of regulatory criteria — three of ten for EB-1A, two of six for EB-1B.
How we help: We map your achievements to each criterion and document them the way adjudicators actually expect to see them — so you clear this threshold cleanly.
Step Two — The Final Merits Determination
Next, the officer weighs all of the evidence together to decide whether you truly show sustained acclaim and a place among the small percentage at the top of your field.
How we help: This is where cases are won or lost. We build the evidence and the legal argument to persuade in this holistic review — not just check boxes.
Letters & Corroborating Evidence
Expert letters carry the most weight when paired with independent, objective proof — citations, evidence others rely on your work, media coverage, and the selectivity of your awards.
How we help: We identify the right recommenders, shape letters that address the legal standard, and assemble objective evidence — or comparable evidence where the standard criteria don't fit your field.
The EB-1 Process Step by Step
Although every case differs, EB-1 petitions tend to move through a familiar sequence:
- 1
Subcategory & Eligibility Assessment
We determine which subcategory fits and assess candidly whether your evidence is likely to satisfy the final-merits review — before you invest in a petition.
- 2
Evidence Gathering & Drafting
We collect documentation, coordinate recommendation letters, and draft the petition and legal brief, tying each exhibit to the criteria and the two-step analysis.
- 3
Filing Form I-140
We file Form I-140 with the complete record. Premium processing is frequently available for EB-1 and can significantly speed adjudication.
- 4
Final Green Card Step
After approval, and once a visa number is available for your priority date, you finish through adjustment of status in the U.S. or consular processing abroad.
Why Trust Atlas Immigration Law with Your Future?
EB-1 is the most demanding employment-based category, and a petition that merely meets the minimum can still be denied. We focus on the holistic argument that wins these cases. Our team removes the guesswork:
Work directly with your attorney
No call centers, no handoffs — the lawyer building your case is the one you talk to.
Flat fees, known up front
You agree on the full cost before we start. No hourly billing, no surprises.
Same-day response
Questions during your case get a reply the same business day.
We never fabricate accomplishments or guarantee a result — we present your real achievements accurately and persuasively, and respond fully to any Request for Evidence.
Common EB-1 Mistakes — and How We Avoid Them
The most common misstep is treating EB-1 like a checklist — gathering three criteria and assuming approval will follow. Because the final-merits review is holistic, a bare-minimum petition can still be denied. Other frequent problems include:
- Recommendation letters that are vague or interchangeable.
- Evidence that shows activity without demonstrating impact or recognition.
- EB-1C petitions describing a manager who actually performs mostly operational, not managerial, duties.
- Filing in the wrong subcategory — a researcher with a qualifying employer may be stronger under EB-1B, while a founder may fit EB-1A.
We address each of these risks directly in how we build and argue your case.
EB-1 vs. EB-2 NIW and EB-3
EB-1 vs. EB-2 NIW
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver also allows self-petition without an employer or PERM, but its standard is generally lower than EB-1A's. Applicants who do not yet meet the extraordinary-ability bar often qualify for a NIW — and some strong candidates pursue both at once.
EB-1 vs. EB-3
EB-3 covers skilled workers and professionals but requires an employer sponsor and PERM. It is accessible to a broader range of applicants but typically involves a longer overall process. EB-1 trades that breadth for a higher standard and the advantage of skipping PERM entirely.
Comparing categories? See our employment-based green card overview covering EB-1, EB-2 NIW, and EB-3.
Common Questions
EB-1 FAQs
Yes. EB-1A (extraordinary ability) allows self-petition — you do not need an employer sponsor or a job offer, as long as you intend to continue working in your field of extraordinary ability in the U.S.
Do you qualify for EB-1?
Let's evaluate your achievements and map the fastest green card path. It's completely free.