The EB-1A Standard: What "Extraordinary Ability" Actually Means The EB-1A visa is a first-preference employment-based green card reserved for individuals who have risen to the very top of their field. Critically, it does not require a job offer or an employer sponsor, you petition on your own behalf as a self-petitioner, which makes it uniquely powerful for independent content creators. Under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(2), extraordinary ability means "a level of expertise indicating
