top of page
EB-1A Just Got a Game-Changing Boost: The "Final Merits" Roadblock Is Crumbling
Picture this: you're at the peak of your field–publications stacking up, awards in hand, peers seeking your judgment. You've crushed at least three (often five or more) of the EB-1A criteria. Yet USCIS still slams the door with a vague "not quite extraordinary enough" in the final merits step. That frustrating extra hurdle? A federal judge in Nebraska just called it out as questionable.
In the Jan 28, 2026 ruling in Mukherji v. Miller, the federal appeals court didn't mince
Brian Lisonbee
Feb 232 min read
"Why Aren't You Using All of the Evidence I Gave You?" Reasons Why Some Evidence May Be Left Out of Your EB-1A Petition
When preparing an EB-1A petition, it's natural to want every achievement and document included in your case. However, our legal team makes careful choices about what evidence to submit. Here are some of the reasons why we may not include all of the evidence a client provides us.
Relevance to EB-1A Criteria
Evidence needs to map directly to the EB-1A regulatory criteria, such as major awards, published work, or a lasting impact in your field. Submitting documents that don't
Brian Lisonbee
Nov 5, 20254 min read
10 Common Pitfalls That Occur During the EB-1A Petition Process (and What You Can Do to Fix Them)
Filing an EB-1A petition is a critical step for individuals with extraordinary ability seeking permanent residency in the U.S., and it requires far more than simply showcasing professional accomplishments. You must provide compelling, well-documented evidence that clearly demonstrates sustained national or international acclaim, and positions you at the top of your field. With denial rates trending upward [1], even minor oversights can lead to significant setbacks–wasting tim
Brian Lisonbee
Oct 30, 20254 min read
AI: Friend or Foe in your EB-1A Petition Journey?
Your lawyer says you’ll need to write a personal statement for your petition. There’s an outline provided, but when your entire career has been focused on technical writing, how do you write something personal?
So, you open ChatGPT, type in instructions for what you need to write, answer a couple of clarifying questions, and within seconds it produces a document filled with technical brilliance that clearly explains all the work you’ve done. Voilà!
But does it actually sou
Brian Lisonbee
Oct 24, 20254 min read
STAY IN THE KNOW
bottom of page
