✅ EB-1A: approval
A story of filing for an EB-1A visa without a lawyer, with a focus on case structure and evidence. The author satisfied 8 criteria and received approval about a year after starting the process.
Case parameters
Filing: 30 May 2023
Decision: 9 June 2023
Criteria claimed: 8
Attorney: none
Timeline: ~1 year
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✓Membership in associations
Joined the Union of Architects association
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✓Publications
Wrote several academic articles
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✓Awards
Participated in exhibitions and competitions and received awards
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✓Media interviews
Gave interviews to the media
How it all went
I’m telling my story, as promised
#success #approval eb1a
We arrived in the USA with my husband on a B1/B2 visa on December 9, 2022. We filed I-140 and I-907 on May 30, 2023. I received approval on June 9, 2023 electronically. I-797 confirmation on June 17. I-693 (medical exam) — all documents were received on June 25 in hand (envelopes). I-485, I-765, I-131 were sent on June 28. Fingerprints were taken on October 13. On December 12 the Green Card arrived. The other documents never arrived at all; they sorted them out after they sent us the Green Card. 
oh well. The whole process ~ one year.
So, I’m telling about the case. I filed myself, without an attorney. I saw only a few examples of petitions from Muvert, from Andrey Solovyov, I think, and a couple more available online. I did not consult. I watched all the videos on YouTube, and when I realized watching them made me feel sick — I stopped. Because “all these DIYers in 99% of cases get denials, it’s generally stupid to do it yourself, etc.” Almost all visa videos contain no information, only intimidation that you must consult a lawyer, and specifically their company, they know everything. I consulted with a couple of people and decided I definitely would not hire a lawyer.
I started writing the case in February and finished in May. I am an architect. I applied as an architectural designer, because to work here as an architect you need to get a license.
I satisfied 8 criteria. Where I started: analyzing other petitions, developing a strategy and case structure. So that it would be logical. Honestly, I didn’t like any of the structures I saw. I made my own. You can find it via the link to my micro-site with resources. I figured out what I lacked to meet the criteria. I joined the Union of Architects association, wrote several academic articles in addition to those I already had, at the same time we submitted our works to exhibitions and competitions with a company, where we won awards, and I gave an interview to the media. The rest I collected from what I already had.
My main focus was the structure. So that for every claim “that I’m special” there was evidence. If I say I received an increased scholarship, I attach a certificate. The most important thing is to maintain the logic of the evidence. Like in geometry, you can see the angle is 90°, but you need to prove it. Therefore my text had a lot of cross-references to appendices by name. I think that played a role in its persuasiveness.
Honestly, I don’t know what else to say; I’ll attach a link to my YouTube and website, you can look there — I made it from the heart. In my opinion the main thing is simply your gift of persuasion, the case structure and the correct evidence. Try to make everything as clear as possible for the officer. Watch fewer lawyers, because they just get on your nerves. And everything will work out! I wish everyone good luck!
Update: I didn’t have an offer. Not a single one. And I wrote my plans very vaguely: that I was negotiating with companies, that I plan to get a bunch of certificates and that I need a lot of time to study.
Main insight
“The main focus was on case structure and the logic of the evidence. It's important that everything be as clear as possible to the officer.”
Hanna Sam (@hanna_sams)
2022-12-09
Arrival in the USA on a B1/B2 visa
2023-05-30
Filing I-140 and I-907
2023-06-09
I-140 approval
2023-06-17
Received I-797
2023-06-28
Sent I-485, I-765, I-131
2023-10-13
Biometrics/fingerprints
2023-12-12
Received Green Card
Author of the story
Hanna Sam (@hanna_sams), from the chat @talentvisahelp. Original message in the chat.
Useful on the topic
All information about O-1 / EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
More success and denial stories: channel @o1eb1