In today’s EB1A success story, we’re excited to spotlight Arlena — a financial professional with deep expertise in accounting and financial management — who secured her green card through the EB1A visa without hiring an immigration lawyer. Her story is a powerful example of how determination, strategic planning, and the right guidance can help ordinary professionals achieve “extraordinary ability” status in the eyes of USCIS.
Unlike many applicants who begin their stories after I-140 approval, Arlena waited until the entire process was complete — green card in hand — before sharing her journey in our YouTube channel. Let’s dive into how she made it happen, starting with her background, her decision-making process, and the strategic moves that helped her meet seven EB1A criteria.
From EB2-NIW to EB1A: Navigating the Fork in the Road
Arlena arrived in the U.S. on an F-2 visa as the spouse of an international student. With no initial plans to pursue permanent residency, she began exploring her green card options later on. Like many others, she initially believed the EB1A green card was only for Oscar winners and Nobel laureates.
She considered the EB2-NIW route, but after consulting with several lawyers, the outlook was bleak — one attorney gave her just a 45% chance for EB1A and discouraged even EB2-NIW. In addition, backlogs in the EB2-NIW category and the uncertainty of priority dates pushed Arlena to explore EB1A more seriously.
That’s when she found our course.
Overcoming Self-Doubt: “I Didn’t Think I Was Qualified”
Like many EB1A applicants, Arlena initially struggled with imposter syndrome. But once she began evaluating the 10 criteria for extraordinary ability, she realized she could actually meet more than three. She created an Excel spreadsheet to map her qualifications, ticking off boxes as she went. The process was not just administrative — it was transformative.
The Seven EB1A Criteria She Targeted
Here’s a breakdown of the seven EB1A criteria Arlena strategically addressed:
1. Membership in Professional Associations
Arlena was a certified member of two accounting organizations in Kazakhstan, one of which had international recognition and a headquarters in New York. These memberships weren’t just “paid” memberships — they required professional achievements, which helped strengthen her case.
2. Awards
She had multiple internal company awards and recognition for contributions that impacted her company and even national regulations — including a certificate from the Chairman of the Chamber of Accountants for her contributions to the country’s economic development.
3. Original Contributions of Major Significance
Her role in improving import/export regulations in the aviation industry had far-reaching effects. She secured strong letters of recommendation, including support from Kazakhstan’s National Bank and her company’s CEO, validating the national-level impact of her work.
4. Authorship of Scholarly Articles and a Book
To fill a perceived gap while on maternity leave in the U.S., Arlena published two articles in an international scientific journal and authored a book titled From the Heart of Eurasia to the Sky: A Journey of an Accountant to an Effective Manager — all before filing her petition.
5. Published Material About Her
An article featuring Arlena was published on the website of a professional chamber. She backed this up with web traffic stats and user reach data to validate the publication’s significance.
6. Leading or Critical Role
Arlena provided organizational charts and documented her leadership roles at top companies like Samsung Electronics Central Asia and a major Kazakh airline, both recognized global entities. She showed her critical impact within finance departments at both.
7. High Salary
She included hard data comparing her salary to national industry averages — one of the more objective and straightforward EB1A criteria.
Recommendation Letters: Quality Over Quantity
Unlike some who believe you need 15+ letters, Arlena only submitted five strong recommendation letters, four from people she knew and one from an independent source. For the independent letter, she used networking creatively — reaching out to a conference organizer she had met years earlier.
“It’s not so much about the quantity of letters but about the quality of the letters”
Timeline: From Application to Approval
Here’s a quick overview of Arlena’s EB-1A journey:
January 2024: Purchased EB1A course and began preparing materials
May 2024: Filed I-140 petition (without premium processing)
August 2024: Upgraded to premium; approved in 10 business days
November 2024: Filed I-485 (Adjustment of Status)
March 2025: Green card approved (after minor RFE on medicals)
“I didn’t even realize the approval notice was real at first — I had to double-check with my husband!”
Key Lessons and Advice from Arlena
Looking back, Arlena shared several tips for EB-1A hopefuls:
1. Start With the Criteria
Use the 10 EB1A criteria as a project checklist. Eliminate the irrelevant ones (like artist-specific categories) and focus on what fits your experience. Organize your evidence early.
2. Don’t Underestimate Yourself
Arlena didn’t think she qualified for EB1A — and neither did her lawyers. But once she took inventory of her career, she saw she had more than enough to make a strong case.
3. Use USCIS as Your Main Reference
Always rely on USCIS.gov for the latest forms and requirements. Arlena emphasized that changes can happen suddenly — like when USCIS updated forms without warning in early 2025.
4. Make Your Summary of Qualifications Shine
This is where you can highlight achievements that may not fit neatly into a criterion but still contribute to your narrative. Arlena included school awards and long-term development to show consistency in her excellence.
5. Plan for the Adjustment of Status
Arlena delayed her I-485 thinking it would be easy, but COVID vaccine delays for her child slowed her down. Lesson: don’t procrastinate on AOS preparation.
Final Thoughts: You Can Do It Too
Arlena’s EB1A journey proves that even if you’re not a celebrity, Nobel laureate, or world-famous scientist, you can still meet the extraordinary ability bar with strategic thinking, documentation, and persistence.
“All my life has been about overcoming challenges. This was just another one — and I proved I could do it.”
If you’re on the fence about starting your EB1A journey — start today. Take a hard look at your accomplishments. You might be more “extraordinary” than you think.