We are a team of exceptional attorneys and paralegals with a 99% approval rating for thousands of work visas for over 30+ years. Meet with us for a strategy session for your EB-1A & NIW petition.
Our goal is simple: to help you achieve your American dream. Our knowledgeable attorneys help you choose the best options for you so the path to obtaining a work visa or a green card has reduced delays, controlled costs and is stress free.
To prove that you are extraordinary, you must have either won a top international award (like the Nobel prize) or have 3 out of this list of 10 criteria:
Lesser-known national or international prizes
Membership in associations that only allow outstanding professionals as members
Professional accomplishments showcased in the news or print media
Been a reviewer or a judge of similar works in your industry
Original scientific, scholarly or business-related contributions of major significance in the field
Authorship of scholarly articles
Worked at distinguished organizations and your work has been necessary to the organization
A very high salary
To process EB1A green card petitions, the USCIS often consults with experts in your industry, to decide whether your work is truly extraordinary. Once the individual criteria are met, the USCIS also looks at the petition as a whole to decide if you can be considered extraordinary at your job.
The USCIS maintains a page on EB1A permanent residency where they provide many additional details. You can access the USCIS EB1A webpage here.
While the list looks daunting, our team has helped many clients document their accomplishments to successfully receive green cards through EB-1A.
The Filing Process & Duration of the Green Card
EB-1A petitions can only be filed with the USCIS in the United States.
We first file the I-140 petition and then file the I-485 application when the priority date is current. Read about filing steps, adjustment of status/consular processing and the concept of “priority date here”.
Green cards issued in EB-1A category are usually valid for 10 years and can be extended.
Green card holders also can file for US citizenship 5 years after becoming green cards holders.
Generally, people who qualify for O-1 and J-1 visas (used for temporary stay) also qualify for EB-1A (permanent residence).
For Scientists, Top Talent & International Managers
Whether you are an entrepreneur, researcher, an overseas business owner or working in an elite field, we can help you plan and successfully obtain a green card through the exclusive EB1 category, the speediest work based green card.
Our attorneys strategize with our professionals and Master's degree holders clients self-sponsor their own permanent residency. NIW is ideal for individuals when employer sponsorship does not seem possible.
When your case is straightforward, the process feels routine. When it isn't, you need senior-level strategy, careful preparation, and ethical representation from a team that treats every petition as a priority. With 30+ years of combined immigration experience, award-winning Immigration Desk in Massachusetts, led by Attorney Anu Gupta, guides clients through a complex system with clarity and care.
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Every case gets equal priority We're deliberately smaller so you get direct attention from senior attorneys, not a paralegal working from a cookie-cutter template.
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Personal oversight from day one Attorney Anu Gupta personally screens every case, so risks are caught early and your petition is built on a solid foundation from the start.
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Quality over billable hours We take the time to understand your facts before filing, and we only take cases that meet our criteria.
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Rigorous, collaborative preparation This reduces the RFEs that come from missed red flags, and builds petitions meant to hold up if USCIS revisits your case years later.
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We're immigrants ourselves That lived experience, paired with ethical representation at every step, shapes how we treat every client on this journey.
Meet Your Attorney
Guided by Attorney Anu Gupta
Founder & Managing Attorney, Immigration Desk
Anu Gupta founded Immigration Desk in 1999 and has focused solely on immigration law ever since. She holds a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law, is licensed to practice in New York and Illinois, and has personally advised more than 15,000 individuals and companies, including thousands of EB-1A and NIW self-filed cases.
Ranked among the Top 500 immigration attorneys worldwide by Who's Who Legal
Past Officer and USCIS Committee Liaison, American Immigration Lawyers Association
Inducted into the City of Newton, Massachusetts Hall of Fame
Creating an approvable EB-1A petition is always exciting.
Located in the Northeastern United States, we are in the vicinity of world-class universities and IT, financial, fintech, biotech industries and many entrepreneurial ventures. Many clients from the universities and businesses around us, and from other parts of the country, reach out to us for EB-1A evaluation and, subsequently, filing the EB-1A petition. Since immigration is federal in nature, we also help clients nationwide and from overseas.
Our services include helping scientists, but also recent graduates and business people qualify for EB-1A green cards.
Self-filing an EB-1A petition means preparing and submitting your own case to USCIS without an attorney of record, while still receiving guidance on strategy, evidence selection, and petition structure. This approach can make sense for individuals who meet the extraordinary ability criteria and want more control over the process and their legal costs.
USCIS evaluates EB-1A petitions against a set of regulatory criteria covering areas such as awards, published material, judging the work of others, original contributions of major significance, and high remuneration, among others. A well-organized petition typically addresses multiple criteria with clear, well-documented evidence, and situates that evidence within the context of the petitioner’s field.
Did an exceptionally good job, will recommend to anyone needing immigration help
Thank you!!! I can’t find words to say thanks enough for all the help and support we got from Anu Gupta to get my I-140 green card approval.
You were honest, compassionate, thorough, and very knowledgeable.
I believe that Attorney Anu Gupta did an exceptionally good job in putting together a comprehensive package of application forms with many supporting documents. It is because of her thoroughness and insight into the whole process that everything has gone so smoothly with the immigration authorities.
You're a great communicator, and always kept us up to date on the status. Somehow you managed to keep a positive outlook throughout, and never got discouraged in facing adversity and overcoming obstacles.
I would recommend this firm to anyone needing help or advice with their immigration process.
Attorney Anu kept fighting for my green card until it got a positive reply
I have used Immigration Desk's services for my Green Card. My case was not so straightforward. After getting my I-140 denied, I lost all hope of getting a Green Card. USCIS sent RFE, then a NOID followed by rejection. This was heartbreaking news for me.
Attorney Anu Gupta helped me to get out of this situation by using her knowledge and experience.
I am very much thankful to her for all her effort. I like the way she followed up my case with USCIS and finally got it approved. She kept fighting for my case until it got positive reply.
I have recommended her lawfirm to all my coworkers and friends.
Tremendous Knowledge of Immigration
Anu is a detailed oriented attorney and has a great knowledge of the immigration law. She always chooses the best avenue for her clients. Thank you Anu!
Fantastic Immigration Lawyers – EB1A filed and approved in 3 months
My EB1A (green card in the extra-ordinary ability individual category) was filed and approved in 3 months!
I found Anu Gupta after an exhaustive research online, her reviews stood out to me as they all had a common theme that she pays great attention to details and maps out the winning path.
I filed EB1 in Aug 2021 and got i140 approval in early nov 2021 which included an RFE response.
She is absolutely terrific and has an individualistic approach, that’s how she made it happen. She is truly an expert and works for you for the most positive outcome. With great attention to details, she builds the case from every piece of evidence that can be possibly used and her conviction shows. She is available to discuss the details and for planning at each step.
She is the attorney you need on your side for your immigration to be a smooth sail.
Benefits of the EB-1A Visa
The EB-1A is a highly preferred category. While other employment-sponsored green cards may end up taking over 10 years, the EB-1A is very advantageous because the processing is much faster than other categories, and also because you do not need to depend on an employer to file for you.
To prove that you are extraordinary, you must have either won a top international award (like the Nobel prize) or have 3 out of this list of 10 criteria:
Lesser-known national or international prizes
Membership in associations that only allow outstanding professionals as members
Professional accomplishments showcased in the news or print media
Been a reviewer or a judge of similar works in your industry
Original scientific, scholarly or business-related contributions of major significance in the field
Authorship of scholarly articles
Worked at distinguished organizations and your work has been necessary to the organization
A very high salary
To process EB-1A green card petitions, the USCIS often consults with experts in your industry, to decide whether your work is truly extraordinary. Once the individual criteria are met, the USCIS also looks at the petition as a whole to decide if you can be considered extraordinary at your job.
The USCIS maintains a page on EB-1A permanent residency where they provide many additional details. You can access the USCIS EB-1A webpage here.
While the list looks daunting, our team has helped many clients document their accomplishments to successfully receive green cards through EB-1A.
Proving an EB-1A Case
Proving that our client is at the level of a Nobel Prize winner is a tough ask, and only six Nobel Prizes are awarded each year. Everyone else needs to show they are extraordinary by meeting 3 of the 10 criteria listed above. Here are some of the common issues EB-1A clients face.
EB-1A for New Researchers and Applicants Without a PhD
Many of our clients are scientists already established in their fields, but we also help researchers who are just starting out. The question we ask is how to prove extraordinary work after only a few years on the job. Young scientists rarely have hundreds of publications or many colleagues citing their research, and when a project is still underway, no one can predict its eventual benefits. Most of our clients also work on teams building technologies or doing research, so they are not always the project lead or principal scientist. Many started work right after a master’s degree and do not have a PhD.
EB-1A for Emerging Fields
We also file EB-1As for non-research positions and emerging fields. Information technology, biotechnology, medical devices, and fintech have all expanded rapidly in recent decades, and many of these fields have no single international association or award. Some work also blends two fields of study. Getting these petitions approved takes a thorough understanding of both the legal criteria and the applicant’s work.
EB-1A for Business People and Entrepreneurs
We also file EB-1As for businesspeople and entrepreneurs. Here we need to show that the company is doing very well and that the client’s own contribution is essential to that success. A company does not have to be the next Google or Amazon. Many clients at smaller or newer companies have qualified for green cards through the EB-1A.
EB-1A for Work in a Different Field
Even in an established field, and even for an applicant with worldwide fame, the U.S. job may differ from the career that earned the acclaim. This is especially true of top athletes who retire and coach instead of competing, and of professors who want to teach instead of research.
A successful EB-1A petition takes answers to a lot of questions. At Immigration Desk, we believe every client has the right to live and work in the US, and we take pride in working with our clients to get their EB-1As approved.
Careers That Can Qualify for an EB-1A
The USCIS does not publish a list of careers that automatically qualify for an EB-1A. What counts is what you have achieved. The EB-1A covers extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, and you also have to plan to keep working in your field in the United States. The USCIS Policy Manual points to examples like these:
Scientists and researchers with peer-reviewed publications, citations, and invitations to review other researchers’ work
University professors and senior research staff, since the USCIS recognizes senior faculty or research positions as a leading role
Startup founders whose companies have attracted significant funding from government entities, venture capital funds, or angel investors
Film and television performers whose box office or sales figures show commercial success
Visual artists whose work has been shown at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Athletes, and coaches who earned national or international acclaim as athletes and kept that acclaim going in coaching at a national level
If your career is not on this list, you may still qualify. The USCIS looks at your evidence of achievement, not a list of approved careers. You can read the USCIS Policy Manual on extraordinary ability, or contact us to see where your background fits.
To prove that you are extraordinary, you must have either won a top international award (like the Nobel prize) or have 3 out of this list of 10 criteria:
Lesser-known national or international prizes
Membership in associations that only allow outstanding professionals as members
Professional accomplishments showcased in the news or print media
Been a reviewer or a judge of similar works in your industry
Original scientific, scholarly or business-related contributions of major significance in the field
Authorship of scholarly articles
Worked at distinguished organizations and your work has been necessary to the organization
A very high salary
To process EB-1A green card petitions, the USCIS often consults with experts in your industry, to decide whether your work is truly extraordinary. Once the individual criteria are met, the USCIS also looks at the petition as a whole to decide if you can be considered extraordinary at your job.
The USCIS maintains a page on EB-1A permanent residency where they provide many additional details. You can access the USCIS EB-1A webpage here.
While the list looks daunting, our team has helped many clients document their accomplishments to successfully receive green cards through EB-1A.
The Filing Process & Duration of the Green Card
EB-1A petitions can only be filed with the USCIS in the United States.
We first file the I-140 petition and then file the I-485 application when the priority date is current. Read about filing steps, adjustment of status/consular processing and the concept of “priority date here”.
Green cards issued in EB-1A category are usually valid for 10 years and can be extended.
Green card holders also can file for US citizenship 5 years after becoming green cards holders.
Generally, people who qualify for O-1 and J-1 visas (used for temporary stay) also qualify for EB-1A (permanent residence).
The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a strong option for professionals who cannot count on an employer to file for them. While a regular EB-2 green card needs an employer to sponsor you and a labor certification (PERM) before anything can be filed, the NIW removes both. That makes it a much shorter road.
Here is what sets the NIW apart:
You can sponsor yourself. The USCIS lets you file the I-140 on your own behalf, so you do not need an employer or a job offer.
You do not need PERM. The Department of Labor certification often adds a year or more to a standard EB-2 case, and the NIW waives it.
Premium processing is available. Since January 30, 2023, NIW petitions have been eligible, and the USCIS then acts on the petition within 45 business days. That action may be an approval, a denial, or a request for more evidence.
The USCIS also has a page on the EB-2 category that explains the national interest waiver in more detail. You can read the USCIS EB-2 webpage here.
Proving an EB-2 NIW Case
Showing that your work is in the national interest is not a small ask.
Before the USCIS gets to that question, you first have to qualify for EB-2 itself, which means holding an advanced degree or showing exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. Once you meet that baseline, you have to show three things:
Your proposed work has substantial merit and national importance
You are well positioned to advance that work, based on your education, skills, record of success, and plans
On balance, it benefits the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements
The petition has to describe a specific endeavor, not just your job title or daily duties. Benefits to a single employer are not enough on their own, so the USCIS looks for effects that reach beyond one company or client.
Approval of the petition is not the last step. You still need a visa number, and the wait depends on your country of chargeability, which is usually your country of birth. India and China have the longest EB-2 waits, while Mexico and the Philippines currently share the same date as the rest of the world. The dates change every month, so check the current Visa Bulletin before you plan around a timeline. You can also read more about the eligibility criteria on our EB-2 NIW page.
While the requirements can look daunting, our team has helped many clients document their work and receive green cards through the NIW.
Careers That Can Qualify for an EB-2 NIW
The USCIS does not publish a list of careers that automatically qualify for a national interest waiver. The NIW starts with an advanced degree or exceptional ability. An advanced degree means a master’s or higher, or a bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive experience in the field. After that, the work itself has to meet the national importance test. The USCIS Policy Manual points to examples like these:
Engineers doing research and development, such as work on air and space propulsion systems
STEM professionals with advanced degrees, especially a Ph.D., working in critical and emerging technologies
Medical and pharmaceutical researchers, such as those developing drugs that benefit public health
Engineers and specialists who develop improved manufacturing processes
Entrepreneurs with a specific business plan and evidence behind it, not simply a new consulting firm
Educators whose work has broader implications for a field or region, rather than classroom teaching alone
If your career is not on this list, you may still qualify. The USCIS looks at the work you plan to do, not your job title. Through our own work, we have helped a growing number of IT professionals in AI and data science, and clients in the energy and engineering sectors, self-file their green cards. You can read the USCIS Policy Manual on national interest waivers, or contact us to see where your background fits.
