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EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)

This becomes the best natural transition of O-1A since the criteria are quite the same.

Key features:

• No employer sponsor required
• Self-petition allowed
• Must show sustained national or international acclaim
• The evidentiary standard is greater than that of O-1A.

Although the requirements are stricter than the O-1A, much of the documentation—awards, publications, judging experience, high salary, original contributions—can be reused and strengthened.

Timeline:

• I-140 can be premium processed
• For applicants born outside India or China, the full process may take around 12–18 months if visa numbers are current
• For Indian and Chinese applicants, backlogs can extend timelines by several years

EB-1A has usually been granted the fastest overall time frame, as it falls in the first preference category under employment-based groups.

EB-1B (Outstanding Researcher/Professor)

This is an option for O-1A holders in academic or research roles.

Key differences:

• Requires employer sponsorship
• Must have a permanent research or tenure-track position
• No self-petition

The timeline is similar to EB-1A in terms of visa category, but it depends on employer readiness.

EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)

Few O-1A holders consider EB-2 NIW.

Key differences:

• Lower standard than EB-1A
• Must show work has national importance
• Self-petition allowed

EB-2, however, has very long visa backlog than EB-1.

In general, EB-1A is the most direct and rapid green card route for O-1A visa holders, as it has a similar set of criteria and is assigned the first preference in visa distribution.