I.
You file for yourself.
There is no PERM, no employer sponsorship, and no risk that a layoff resets your case.
For engineers
EB-1A Green Card for Engineers
When standard employment-based Green Card pathways feel too slow, the EB-1A can be the fastest legitimate route to permanent U.S. residency. You file for yourself, without an employer, without PERM, and without a lottery. At Manifest Law, our attorneys help engineers package patents, open source projects, conference work, and product development into EB-1A petitions that have a strong narrative.
- Flat fees with payment plans, no hourly surprises
- Ex-USCIS officer review available on every plan
- Live case tracking through the Manifest portal
- Self-petition support, with no employer required
*Representative image — not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Find your path
What the EB-1A is, and why engineers use it
The EB-1A is a Green Card category for people who demonstrate extraordinary ability in their fields. To qualify, engineers need to meet at least three of USCIS’s eligibility criteria, then pass a final merits determination that assesses whether the totality of evidence shows they are at the top of their field.
Why engineers choose the EB-1A
II.
You skip labor certification.
PERM can add anywhere between 2 to 3 years and ties you to one job. EB-1A skips it entirely.
III.
It is faster than EB-2 PERM.
The I-140 can be premium-processed, and many countries have current EB-1 priority dates per the June Visa Bulletin.
/Do you qualify
Do you qualify for the EB-1A as an engineer?
To qualify for the EB-1A Green Card, you must first meet at least three of USCIS’s criteria. Then, USCIS conducts a final merits review to determine whether the totality of your evidence shows you are at the top of your field. For engineers, how the petition is framed matters just as much as the number of items included.
Awards
National or international awards, including internal, industry, or competitive recognition.
Membership in selective organizations
Membership in invited or highly selective professional organizations, or invited program committee roles that required demonstrated achievement.
Published material about you
Coverage in major trade publications or reputable news outlets. The press should be about you or your work, not just press releases your company sent out.
Judging the work of others
Peer review for journals or conferences, grant review, or judging the work of others in a structured, competitive process.
Original contributions of major significance
Contributions such as licensed patents, widely cited papers, documented adoption of open source projects, or novel systems running in production.
Authorship of scholarly articles
Authorship of scholarly articles, such as peer-reviewed conference and journal papers, with citation counts and venue prestige documented.
Critical role at a distinguished organization
Critical role at a distinguished organization, such as senior or specialized engineering roles at organizations with a strong reputation. Leading a product used by millions also counts.
High salary
Total compensation in the top range for your role and metro area, backed by verifiable data.
Commercial success
Products you led or built that generated significant revenue or user adoption, backed by documentation.
How Manifest builds your EB-1A case
I.
Final-merits framing, not box-checking
Many EB-1A denials happen because the petition meets three criteria on paper but the story does not feel like a top-of-field engineer. We frame the petition narrative around impact and recognition, and then we map each criterion into that story.
II.
Citation and adoption data, packaged for an officer
We do the work of pulling clean citation reports, GitHub adoption screenshots, and patent use evidence. We also explain, in plain English, why the numbers matter for your subfield.
III.
Recommenders who actually know your work
We help you identify and approach senior recommenders, including independent experts. We draft letter outlines focused on specific technical contributions, not generic praise.
Meet our experienced attorneys
Our immigration lawyers are more than credentialed. They are personally committed to your outcome. Only 1% of attorney applicants are selected to work with Manifest, and they bring the care, insight, and precision needed to craft complex cases at the highest level.
Jeff Joseph
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
30+ Years of Experience
Gregory Boult
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
25+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Rami Lee
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
18+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Evan J. Law
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
17+ Years of Experience1,300+ Cases Filed*
Ana Senior
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
14+ Years of Experience1,200+ Cases Filed*
Lahaina Araneta McBeth
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
12+ Years of Experience4,800+ Cases Filed*
Avalon L. Paul
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Ana Gabriela Urizar
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience15,000+ Cases Filed*
Amanda Mitchell
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
9+ Years of Experience2,500+ Cases Filed*
Nicole Gunara
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
7+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Rashmi Bishnoi
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
6+ Years of Experience2,500+ Cases Filed*
Henry Lindpere
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience700+ Cases Filed*
Bruna Maciel Soledade
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience1,150+ Cases Filed*
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Our approach
Why clients trust Manifest’s immigration lawyers
Here is what our clients get on every Manifest case.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour. Payment plans are available.
03
Live case tracking
The Manifest portal shows every status update, every document, and your next step in real time.
04
Built for engineers
We have represented software engineers, hardware engineers, ML researchers, and infrastructure leads at startups, scale-ups, and large tech companies across the country.
05
Money-back guarantee
If conditions are met and your visa isn’t approved, you get a refund of all or part of your legal fees.
/Success stories
Helping engineers build their future in the U.S.
From EB-1A self-petitions built on patents and open source to approvals after RFE responses, we’ve helped engineers move from temporary status to permanent residence.
/Testimonials
Client stories
Discover how Manifest has helped clients navigate the visa process and read their success stories.
Very professional, Simon and Dan responded to my clarifications with satisfaction. prepared my case with detailed documentation and got my approval from USCIS. Highly recommended for individuals looking for GC process under employment-based category
Gurinder Singh
I have worked with Dan and Simon directly, and my experience has been like no other. It feels like I'm talking with actual people who care about my case. Any questions I had, they were happy to assist me with in a very short time and make sure everything was clear before moving on to the next thing. I will definitely be working with them again in the future.
Sandra Rocha
I had an amazing experience with Manifest Law from the first intake interview, through a fast and professional process of working on the file, to a straightforward approval of my case. Catlea Bobis is a superstar attorney, and I recommend everyone considering trusting your case to professional support like I had with Catlea and the entire team at Manifest Law.
Irina Batukhtina
*Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
Related Articles
The EB-1A vs. EB-2 NIW: Which Self-Petition Green Card Is Right for You in 2026
Caryl Espinoza Jaen
A Guide to the EB-1A Leading or Critical Role Criteria
Myles Ma
EB-1A Request for Evidence (RFE): What Triggers Them, How to Respond
Nupur Gambhir
EB-1A Judging Criteria: How to Prove Your Expert Status
Myles MaThe EB-1A vs. EB-2 NIW: Which Self-Petition Green Card Is Right for You in 2026
Caryl Espinoza JaenA Guide to the EB-1A Leading or Critical Role Criteria
Myles MaEB-1A Request for Evidence (RFE): What Triggers Them, How to Respond
Nupur GambhirEB-1A Judging Criteria: How to Prove Your Expert Status
Myles MaThe EB-1A vs. EB-2 NIW: Which Self-Petition Green Card Is Right for You in 2026
Caryl Espinoza JaenA Guide to the EB-1A Leading or Critical Role Criteria
Myles MaEB-1A Request for Evidence (RFE): What Triggers Them, How to Respond
Nupur GambhirEB-1A Judging Criteria: How to Prove Your Expert Status
Myles Ma/FAQs
Still have questions about the EB-1A as an engineer?
How is EB-1A different from EB-2 NIW?
Both can be self-petitioned, but EB-1A is the extraordinary-ability Green Card with a higher bar and, for many countries, faster priority dates. EB-2 NIW is built around national interest rather than top-of-field recognition. EB-1A also skips PERM entirely and the I-140 can be premium-processed.
Can I self-petition?
Yes. You file the I-140 yourself, without an employer’s involvement and without PERM labor certification.
What if I do not have patents?
Patents help, but they are not required. Widely adopted open source, peer-reviewed papers, a critical role at a distinguished organization, press coverage, awards, high salary, and commercial success can all support an EB-1A. We start by mapping what you already have to the criteria.
How long before I can file?
You can file as soon as the record supports at least three criteria and a coherent final-merits narrative. A strategy call is the fastest way to map what evidence you have, what still needs packaging, and a realistic timeline.
Can my spouse work?
Once your priority date is current and you file I-485, your spouse can file alongside you and receive an EAD. They can work for any employer while the case is pending.
What happens if I get an RFE?
We respond with targeted evidence and tighter final-merits framing — for example adoption data from named production users and letters from independent researchers. Gold, Platinum, and Diamond plans include the RFE response.
Pay on Approval availability and payment terms are subject to the terms of the selected service plan and engagement agreement.
