The following has been prepared by Colin R. Singer, Attorney At Law, for the intended reference by interested individuals and is not intended to create an attorney-client communication. This writing may be reproduced for the personal non commercial use of interested individuals on the express or implied condition that the contents herein are neither edited, modified nor altered in whole or in part, directly or indirectly without the express written consent of the author herein. ( USA Immigration & Employment )

The U.S. offers persons with exceptional skills or accomplishments a fast track to a green card. The visa category EB-1 includes those with exceptional skills in the U.S. national interests and persons with extraordinary skills. In a nut shell; famous businessmen, world-class scientists and artists qualify. Scientists and artists must demonstrate international recognition in their field. Businessmen make difficult cases. Bill Gates and the like obviously qualify. Things get tougher when the applicant is not a household name.

The primary advantage of this category is that the applicant can be self sponsored. There's no need to have an offer of employment in the U.S. This is the only employment-based category that does not require a job offer. There is also no quota wait.

Due to unfavorable press concerning approvals for chefs and poets nobody heard of, the INS recently raised the standards. To make it simple applicants need to be on the cutting edge of their field of endeavor. And the applicant must demonstrate that his or her activities in the U.S. will have national as opposed to a local impact.