EB1 visa for Irish citizens

An Irish citizen with an extraordinary ability/skill

Irish citizens who would like to apply for an EB-1A immigrant visa under this category have to be able to demonstrate their ‘extraordinary ability.’

Essentially, the applicant has to demonstrate that they are in the top one per cent of expertise in their chosen field and have received national or international acclaim.

You should provide evidence of accepting a major internationally recognized award (for example an Oscar or Olympic medal) or you need to submit at least three of the following:

• Substantial evidence that you have received lesser national and/or international awards for excellence within your field of expertise
• Substantial evidence that you are a member of associations that bring together members with leading figures within your field of expertise
• Substantial evidence of published material/s about you and/or your achievements within your field of expertise
• Substantial evidence of you having been asked to evaluate the work of others within your chosen field of expertise
• Substantial evidence of your contributions towards your chosen field of expertise
• Substantial evidence of written scholarly articles by yourself that have been featured in major media
• Substantial evidence of your work having been displayed at artistic exhibitions
• Substantial evidence of holding a leading role within renowned organizations related to your area of expertise
• Substantial evidence of receiving a high salary, particularly more extensive than those salaries of others within the same field of your expertise
• Substantial evidence of your personal commercial successes in the field of arts (ie: (box office receipts, sales records, major media evidence, etc)

It’s also required to show evidence that you will continue to work in their area of expertise in the United States.

An Irish citizen that is a specific multinational executive or multinational manager

If you are an Irish citizen who is a multinational manager or director of a company, you will have to be able to prove that you have been employed at a company in Ireland (or another country) that is not in the US for at least one year, and within the three years preceding your EB1 Visa application. If you are already employed in the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa, you must also have worked at least 1 year abroad before working in the United States.

You must provide a legitimate job offer and the employer who is petitioning on your behalf, must prove they:

• Have been in business for a minimum of one year.
• Have a qualifying relationship, ie: as an affiliate or subsidiary of the same company to where you worked abroad
• Intend and to hire you in either a managerial or executive capacity.

Unlike the majority of other business immigrant visas, the EB1 visa does not require a significant investment for applicants that are a specific multinational executive or multinational manager.

An Irish citizen that is an outstanding professor or researcher

If you are an Irish citizen who is an outstanding professor or researcher, you will need to demonstrate your outstanding achievements within your academic field and that you have received international acclaim.

You must have a minimum of three years of experience in either teaching or conducting research within your chosen field of expertise. Alongside a job offer, you will need to be able to provide evidence of at least two of the following:

• Substantial evidence that you have received major awards for your achievements within your field of expertise
• Substantial evidence that you are a member of associations that only accept members with outstanding achievements within your field of expertise
• Substantial evidence of others having published material about your personal work and personal achievements
• Substantial evidence of original scientific and/or scholarly research contributions within your field of expertise
• Substantial evidence that you have been involved in the evaluation of the work of other professionals within your field of expertise
• Substantial evidence that you have published scholarly articles or books in journals distributed in Ireland that are within your field of expertise

In addition to meeting these requirements, you must demonstrate that while in the United States you will pursue tenure or tenure track teaching or a related research position at a university, an institution of higher learning, or a private employer.

All of the options do not require PERM Labor Certification – which is often a lengthy and costly process.

Applying for the EB1 Visa as a person with an extraordinary ability:

If you are applying for an EB1 Visa as an Irish citizen with extraordinary ability, you do not require an employer to petition on your behalf. You can petition for yourself by filling out and completing Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. You will not need to have a current job offer from a US employer to qualify for the application, nor will you need to obtain a PERM Labor Certification.

Applying for the EB1 Visa as an outstanding professor or researcher:

If you are applying for an EB1 Visa as an outstanding professor or researcher, your potential US employer will have to file Form I-140 (Petition for Alien Worker) on your behalf to start the process.

They will need to prove their continuing ability to be able to pay your salary once you arrive in the US and start working for them exclusively.

This category does not require PERM labour certification, but you will need to hold a job offer in the US at the time of applying for the EB1 Visa.

Applying for the EB1 Visa as a multinational manager or executive:

If you are applying for an EB1 Visa as a multinational manager or executive, your potential US employer will have to file Form I-140 (Petition for Alien Worker) on your behalf to start the process. They will need to be able to provide substantial proof that you will be employed within their company in a managerial or executive capacity upon your arrival in the US. This job offer is the key factor for your EB1 Visa application.