EB-1 green card documents come in two packages. The first is Form I-140 with evidence for your subcategory: EB-1A (extraordinary ability), EB-1B (outstanding professors and researchers) or EB-1C (multinational executives and managers). The second is the green card application itself, usually Form I-485 filed inside the U.S., with your civil records and medical exam. Only EB-1A lets you file without an employer. Every foreign-language page in either package needs a certified English translation.
Last updated: November 11, 2026
Key Takeaways
- EB-1 green card documents split into the I-140 petition and the I-485 stage.
- Only EB-1A can be self-petitioned; EB-1B and EB-1C need a U.S. employer.
- Missing initial evidence can now mean a denial without an RFE.
- Jumpstart Immigration helps founders build EB-1 petitions, with a 98% approval rate and a methodology trained directly on USCIS adjudicator decisions.
EB-1 Green Card Documents Checklist
Start by picking your subcategory. The core Form I-140 package for EB-1 green card documents looks like this:
- Form I-140, with the right EB-1 subcategory selected
- The filing fee and the Asylum Program Fee
- Evidence for your subcategory (see the sections below)
- A petition letter that maps each exhibit to a requirement
- Certified English translations of foreign documents
- Form I-907, if you want premium processing
Which checklist applies to you
Who files and what each EB-1 subcategory needs
| Subcategory | Who files | Core evidence |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1A | You, or anyone for you | Major award or 3 of 10 criteria |
| EB-1B | U.S. employer | Job offer, 3 years of experience, 2 of 6 criteria |
| EB-1C | U.S. employer | 1 year as a manager abroad, corporate link |
Source: the federal regulation on employment-based petitions. For the bigger picture, see the USCIS EB-1 page.
I-140 fees in 2026
Form I-140 costs $715 on paper or $665 online, according to the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055). The Asylum Program Fee is $600 for regular petitioners, $300 for small employers and self-petitioners, and $0 for nonprofits. Premium processing costs $2,965 since March 1, 2026 (Federal Register).
EB-1A Documents: Building the Extraordinary Ability Exhibits
Under the federal regulation on employment-based petitions, “An alien, or any person on behalf of the alien, may file” an EB-1A petition. You need a “one-time achievement (that is, a major, international recognized award)” or evidence for at least three of ten criteria.
EB-1A exhibits, criteria 1 to 5
What to include for each EB-1A criterion (1 to 5)
| Criterion | What to include |
|---|---|
| Awards | Certificate, selection rules, number of winners |
| Membership | Bylaws showing experts judge admission |
| Published material about you | Full article with title, date and author |
| Judging | Invitation plus proof the review was done |
| Original contributions | Proof of adoption, citations, expert letters |
EB-1A exhibits, criteria 6 to 10
What to include for each EB-1A criterion (6 to 10)
| Criterion | What to include |
|---|---|
| Scholarly articles | Full article and journal details |
| Artistic exhibitions | Catalogs, venue reputation |
| Leading or critical role | Letters on duties, organization reputation |
| High salary | Pay records and wage data to compare |
| Commercial success (performing arts) | Box office, sales or streaming data |
Comparable evidence and deeper guides
If a criterion does not readily apply to your occupation, the regulation allows comparable evidence. For depth, see EB-1 Green Card Evidence Requirements and EB-1 Green Card Recommendation Letters.
Proof you will continue your work
The federal regulation on employment-based petitions asks for “clear evidence that the alien is coming to the United States to continue work in the area of expertise.” It lists “letter(s) from prospective employer(s), evidence of prearranged commitments such as contracts, or a statement from the beneficiary detailing plans.”
EB-1B Documents: What the Employer Must Produce
For EB-1B, a U.S. employer files Form I-140. Under the federal regulation on employment-based petitions, the package includes:
- A letter offering a tenured or tenure-track teaching job, or a permanent research job
- Letters proving at least 3 years of teaching or research
- Evidence for at least two of six criteria
- Proof the employer can pay the offered wage
What the experience letters must say
The regulation says experience letters “shall include the name, address, and title of the writer, and a specific description of the duties performed by the alien.” Experience during a graduate degree counts only if you earned the degree and had full responsibility for the class, or your research was recognized as outstanding.
Extra proof for private employers
A private employer must show that its department, division or institute “employs at least three persons full-time in research positions” and “has achieved documented accomplishments in an academic field.” “Permanent” means tenured, tenure-track or of indefinite duration, with an expectation of continued employment.
EB-1C Documents: The Corporate Paper Trail
For EB-1C, a U.S. employer files. Under the federal regulation on employment-based petitions, a statement from an authorized official of the U.S. employer must show:
- At least 1 year as a manager or executive abroad in the 3 years before filing
- The U.S. employer is the same company, a subsidiary or an affiliate
- The U.S. employer has been doing business for at least 1 year
- A job offer that clearly describes the managerial or executive duties
Corporate records that back the statement
Most EB-1C files also include ownership records such as stock certificates or operating agreements, organizational charts for both companies, payroll records and tax returns. These show the corporate link, who reports to you and that the U.S. company is really operating.
Where EB-1C files fall short
The regulation says “A first-line supervisor is not considered to be acting in a managerial capacity merely by virtue of the supervisor’s supervisory duties unless the employees supervised are professional.” Staffing is weighed against the company’s “stage of development.” See EB-1C Green Card for Startup Executives.
Ability to Pay: Proof for Employer-Sponsored EB-1
Any petition that needs a job offer, which means EB-1B and EB-1C, must prove the employer can pay the wage from the priority date until the green card. The federal regulation on employment-based petitions asks for “copies of annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements.”
An employer with 100 or more workers may use a statement from a financial officer.
Green Card Stage: EB-1 Green Card Documents for Form I-485
You can file Form I-485 with the I-140 or later, once your priority date is current on the chart USCIS designates. For November 2026, USCIS uses the Dates for Filing chart: EB-1 is current for most countries and July 1, 2024 for China and India (Visa Bulletin).
The I-485 package
- Form I-485 ($1,440 on paper or $1,390 online)
- Birth certificate
- Two passport-style photos
- Passport and Form I-94
- Form I-693 medical exam
- I-140 receipt or approval notice, if filed earlier
- Certified court records for any arrest
- Optional: Form I-765 and Form I-131
The medical exam
A USCIS-designated civil surgeon completes Form I-693. Since December 2, 2024, USCIS has required most applicants to submit it with Form I-485. USCIS charges no fee for Form I-693, but the civil surgeon sets their own price.
Affidavit of support and Supplement J
Most EB-1 applicants do not need Form I-864. The State Department requires it only when a U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative filed the petition or owns 5% or more of the petitioning company. EB-1B and EB-1C applicants also confirm the job offer with Form I-485 Supplement J.
Translations, Copies and Missing Records
Certified translations
Under the federal regulation on filing evidence, every foreign-language document needs “a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate,” plus the translator’s statement that they are competent to translate. Summaries and partial translations do not meet this rule.
When a record does not exist
The same regulation says a missing document “creates a presumption of ineligibility.” You then submit secondary evidence. If none exists, you need “two or more affidavits” from people who are not parties to the petition. Where a record never existed, you need an original written statement from the relevant authority.
Copies or originals
Follow each form’s instructions on whether to send originals or photocopies. USCIS can ask to see an original at any time, so keep your originals organized and ready.
The Gaps That Trigger RFEs or Denials
Under USCIS’s August 5, 2026 Policy Alert on Evidence, Requests for Evidence, and Notices of Intent to Deny, officers can deny without first sending a Request for Evidence (RFE) when required initial evidence is missing. RFE deadlines can also be shorter than 12 weeks.
Gaps to close before filing
- Articles missing the title, date or author
- Judging invitations with no proof the review happened
- EB-1B experience letters without the writer’s title or your duties
- EB-1C job descriptions that read like first-line supervision
- No ability-to-pay records
- Partial or uncertified translations
You must be eligible “at the time of filing,” under the federal regulation, so evidence created later may not fix a gap. See EB-1 Green Card Denial Reasons.
Collection Sequencing: What to Gather First
Collecting EB-1 green card documents is usually the slowest step you control. We suggest this order:
- Confirm your subcategory and who will file
- Order civil records and translations
- Ask experts and employers for letters
- Pull corporate and financial records (EB-1B and EB-1C)
- Book the civil surgeon if you will file Form I-485
- Index every exhibit and file
Delegating to your team
Founders can hand parts of the EB-1 green card documents list to others. Finance pulls tax returns and payroll. Operations builds the organizational charts. You keep the evidence that only you can gather, such as press, awards and expert contacts.
Can I File EB-1 on My Own?
Only in EB-1A. The federal regulation on employment-based petitions says “any person on behalf of the alien” may file, including you. For EB-1B and EB-1C, it says a “United States employer” files. See How to Self-Petition for an EB-1A Green Card.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card After EB-1?
USCIS completed 80% of EB-1A Form I-140 petitions within 32.5 months, and 80% of employment-based Form I-485 applications within 9.5 months, according to its processing times page as of October 16, 2026. See EB-1 Visa Timeline 2026.
Premium processing and the Visa Bulletin
Premium processing gets an I-140 action within 15 business days for EB-1A and EB-1B, and 45 for EB-1C, under the federal regulation. In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-1 final action dates are current for most countries, February 1, 2023 for India and August 1, 2023 for China.
EB-1 vs. EB-2: Which Is Faster and Which Fits?
EB-1 is usually faster to a green card. In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-2 final action for most countries is April 1, 2025, while EB-1 is current. EB-2 NIW lets you self-petition too, with an advanced degree or exceptional ability, but its premium processing takes 45 business days. See EB-2 NIW Green Card Guide.
Is EB-1 Difficult to Get?
Yes, and harder in 2026. USCIS approved 32.2% of decided EB-1A petitions in FY2026 Q3 (April to June 2026), down from 74.7% in FY2025 Q1 (October to December 2024), based on its Form I-140 data. Complete EB-1 green card documents matter more than ever. See EB-1 Visa Approval Rates.
How Jumpstart Immigration Helps
Jumpstart Immigration helps founders and executives assemble EB-1 green card documents, using a methodology trained on USCIS adjudicator decisions. Petitions are typically ready in about three weeks, and if the petition is denied, the fee is refunded. Legal services are performed by independent licensed attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file EB-1 on my own?
Only in EB-1A. The federal regulation on employment-based petitions lets “any person on behalf of the alien” file, including you. EB-1B and EB-1C need a U.S. employer as the petitioner.
How long does it take to get a Green Card after EB-1?
USCIS completed 80% of EB-1A Form I-140 petitions within 32.5 months and 80% of employment-based I-485s within 9.5 months as of October 16, 2026 (processing times). Premium processing cuts the I-140 to 15 business days for EB-1A.
What are the requirements for obtaining an EB-1C visa?
At least 1 year as a manager or executive abroad in the 3 years before filing, a U.S. employer related to that company, at least 1 year of U.S. business, and a job offer for a managerial or executive role, under the federal regulation on employment-based petitions.
Is EB-1 difficult to get?
Yes. USCIS approved 32.2% of decided EB-1A petitions in FY2026 Q3, based on its Form I-140 data. Complete EB-1 green card documents reduce the risk of a denial without an RFE.
Which visa is faster, EB-1 or EB-2?
Usually EB-1. In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-1 is current for most countries, while EB-2 final action is April 1, 2025. EB-1A premium processing takes 15 business days, against 45 for EB-2 NIW.
What is the success rate of EB-1?
For EB-1A, USCIS approved 32.2% of decided petitions in FY2026 Q3 (April to June 2026), down from 74.7% in FY2025 Q1, according to its Form I-140 data.
Which one is better, EB-1 or EB-2?
It depends on your record. EB-1A has a higher bar but a faster visa line. EB-2 NIW asks for an advanced degree or exceptional ability and a national interest case. Both let you self-petition.
Do my EB-1 documents need to be translated?
Yes. Every foreign-language document needs a full English translation certified as complete and accurate, with the translator’s statement of competence, under the federal regulation.
When can I file Form I-485 with my EB-1 petition?
When your priority date is current on the chart USCIS designates. For November 2026, EB-1 is current for most countries under the Dates for Filing chart, so most applicants can file both together.
Why do EB-1 petitions get an RFE or a denial?
Common reasons are articles missing title, date or author, unproven judging, weak experience letters and no ability-to-pay records. Since the August 5, 2026 Policy Alert, USCIS can deny without an RFE when initial evidence is missing.
Conclusion: Gather Your EB-1 Green Card Documents in the Right Order
Pick the subcategory, build the I-140 exhibits, then prepare the I-485 package and translations. With USCIS able to deny without an RFE, complete EB-1 green card documents at filing are your main protection.
Jumpstart Immigration helps founders build that file, with a 98% approval rate and a methodology trained directly on USCIS adjudicator decisions.
*Jumpstart is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. All legal services are performed by independent licensed attorneys.
