You have built a career

others study.

A permanent place in the United States—a green card forged on your extraordinary ability, and nothing else.

No

Employer sponsor required

No

Labor certification needed

Self

Petition—filed in your name

15 Days*

Premium processing (estimated)

You do not have to be famous

to be extraordinary.

The EB-1A is a pathway designed for individuals who have demonstrably, verifiably risen to the top of their field. That bar is high—but it is reachable. And we know exactly how to present your case.

Actors, Directors & Screen Artists

Actors, Directors & Screen Artists Film and television actors with significant lead or supporting credits, internationally recognized directors, and screen artists with documented critical recognition—including those who have worked on major productions in Brazil, Latin America, or Europe and are building careers in the United States.

Scientists & AI Specialists

Researchers with cited publications, engineers who have developed widely-adopted technology, AI specialists with a documented record of original contributions, biomedical researchers, and academics whose work has shaped their field—in the United States or abroad.

Musicians & Classical Virtuosos

Classical soloists, conductors, and composers who have performed with prestigious orchestras or at major international festivals. Recording artists with demonstrable commercial success or critical recognition. Composers whose work has been performed, published, or licensed at a significant level.

Athletes & Coaches

Athletes who have competed at the national or international level in their sport, or coaches who have demonstrably contributed to the success of athletes or teams and have received recognition in their field.

Educators & Business Leaders

University faculty with a body of published scholarship, entrepreneurs whose work has made original contributions to their industry, and senior business leaders who have held critical roles at organizations of distinguished reputation and achieved tangible, documented outcomes.

O-1 Visa Holders Ready for Permanence

Many of our clients hold O-1 visas and are ready for a permanent path. If you have already proven extraordinary ability to USCIS on a nonimmigrant basis, the EB-1A is the natural next step—and the evidentiary groundwork is often already advanced.

The EB-1A is

merit-based—entirely.

The EB-1A is the United States government’s acknowledgment that some individuals have achieved such a rare level of distinction that the country has an interest in welcoming them permanently. No sponsor needed. No labor market test. No waiting behind other workers.

You file the petition yourself. You are its subject and its author. We build the case around the full arc of your work—documenting what you have achieved, translating it into the legal framework USCIS requires, and presenting it with the precision that these cases demand.

Self-Petition—You Are the Petitioner

You file on your own behalf. You control your timeline, your career, and your immigration process. No employer holds the keys.

No PERM Labor Certification

The lengthy, expensive Department of Labor process required for most employment-based green cards does not apply here. You are not substituting for a U.S. worker—you are in a category of your own.

Priority Dates Are Generally Current

EB-1A priority dates are typically current for most countries, meaning applicants can often file adjustment of status concurrently with their I-140 petition. Note: applicants born in India and China should verify current Visa Bulletin dates, as some backlog may apply.

Premium Processing in 15 Business Days

Your I-140 petition can be adjudicated in 15 business days through premium processing. For people whose careers do not pause, speed matters.

Green Card for Your Immediate Family

An approved petition opens the path to permanent residence for your spouse and unmarried children under 21—who may also be eligible to work while the case is pending.

Meet at least three of these ten standards.

You do not need to meet all ten. USCIS requires a minimum of three criteria—and our role is to identify which ones you already satisfy, build the strongest case around your body of work, and prepare you for the second step of review where the totality of the evidence is assessed. We assess eligibility rigorously before taking your case.

Awards & Prizes

Receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes for excellence—competition wins, fellowships, industry honors. The award must be for your work, not your employer's.

Selective Memberships

Membership in professional associations that require outstanding achievement of their members, evaluated by recognized national or international experts—not fee-based or open-enrollment groups.

Media Coverage

Published material about you specifically in professional or major trade publications or major media—interviews, critical reviews, features. Marketing materials do not qualify.

Judging Others' Work

Serving as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied field—individually or on a panel. Auditions, grant panels, competition juries, peer review, and pitch competitions can qualify.

Original Contributions of Major Significance

Evidence that your work has made a substantial impact—cited research, widely adopted methods, technology in widespread use, or artistic work of documented cultural significance.

Scholarly Articles

Authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major media. For artists: essays, published criticism, or credited creative works in publications of significant circulation.

Critical or Essential Role

Employment in a critical or essential capacity for an organization of distinguished reputation. USCIS looks not just at the title, but at whether your role demonstrably influenced the organization's outcomes, direction, or reputation.

High Salary or Remuneration

Evidence that you have commanded a high salary relative to others in your field, supported by contracts, tax documentation, or industry wage surveys—including overseas compensation compared to local standards.

Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases

Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases—virtual or in person—that demonstrate recognized standing in the field. The venue matters: it must qualify as a legitimate showcase, not promotional material.

Commercial Success in the Performing Arts

Evidence of commercial success shown by box-office receipts, recorded or streaming sales data, or comparable audience metrics—relative to others in similar pursuits.

Our Proven Process — Step-by-Step Guidance

Every EB-1A case is a form of storytelling. It is the translation of a life’s work—your achievements, your recognition, your impact—into a legal argument that is both compelling and airtight. This is what we do. Every case receives direct, sustained attorney attention from the first conversation to the final approval.

Eligibility Assessment

We begin with a thorough review of your CV, publications, awards, media coverage, and professional history. We apply the EB-1A analysis to your specific background, identifying which of the ten criteria you satisfy and whether the totality of evidence demonstrates you are among the small percentage at the very top of your field. We will give you an honest answer before you commit to anything.

Evidence Strategy

We develop a strategy for documenting each criterion you meet. We advise on expert support letters—what to ask for, and how to structure the letters so they speak to specific requirements rather than offering general praise. We also advise on additional evidence that can strengthen criteria you have not yet fully documented.

Petition Drafting

We draft a comprehensive petition letter that tells your story through the lens of the law. We build the argument step by step—addressing each criterion with specific, well-documented evidence, anticipating the objections a USCIS officer might raise, and ensuring the totality of the record makes a clear, compelling case. We do not use templates. Every petition is built for its petitioner.

Filing, RFEs & Beyond

We assemble and file your complete petition packet. If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence, we respond comprehensively—analyzing what was missing, preparing a thorough response, and ensuring nothing is left to chance. When your petition is approved, we guide you through the next steps: adjustment of status if you are in the United States, or consular processing if you are abroad.

"Immigration law is really draining work in the best of times, both emotionally and physically. But we're a passionate breed and we love what we do."

— Antonio Massa Viana, Founder & Managing Attorney
First known undocumented immigrant admitted to the Massachusetts bar

We know what it takes to prove your worth to a country.

Our firm was founded by Antonio Massa Viana, who arrived in the United States at 12 years old. He navigated the immigration system from the inside as an undocumented young man who went on to graduate law school, sit for the bar in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and build one of New England’s most respected immigration practices. He became the first known undocumented immigrant admitted to the Massachusetts bar.

That experience shapes every case we take. For an artist, a scientist, a musician—your work is not just a career. It is your identity. We approach the EB-1A petition with the seriousness and care your body of work deserves. We argue like lawyers. We listen like people who understand what it means to fight for belonging.

Our offices are in Southborough, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. We serve clients throughout New England—and internationally, for those seeking guidance from abroad. Consultations available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Albanian.

Clearing up the

most common misconceptions.

Do I need a Nobel Prize or an Oscar to qualify?

No. A single major internationally recognized award is one path—but most successful EB-1A petitioners take a different route. You qualify by demonstrating at least three of ten regulatory criteria, which together paint a picture of sustained excellence. We have helped artists, scientists, and musicians with no single defining prize who had a body of work that spoke for itself.

What if I'm not well known outside my home country?

I have an O-1 visa. Why would I pursue the EB-1A?

Visa status is temporary. A green card is permanent. If you are on an O-1, your status is tied to a petition, an employer, and an expiration date. The EB-1A gives you permanence and independence—for yourself and your immediate family. Many of our clients transition directly from O-1 to EB-1A, and the evidentiary record often overlaps significantly.

Are there any country-of-birth backlogs for EB-1A?

EB-1A priority dates are generally current for most countries, and applicants can typically file adjustment of status concurrent with their I-140 petition. However, applicants born in India and China should verify current Visa Bulletin dates, as some backlog has appeared in the EB-1 category. We monitor this monthly and advise clients accordingly.

How long does the EB-1A process take?

With premium processing, USCIS could potentially adjudicate your I-140 in 15 business days. The full path from case assessment to green card typically takes six to eighteen months, depending on whether you are adjusting status inside the U.S. or processing through a consulate. Note that these are estimates and processing timelines cannot be guaranteed.

What makes an EB-1A petition get denied?

The most common failure points are insufficient documentation for each criterion, support letters that use general praise without specific evidence, and failure at the extraordinary ability analysis—where the totality of the evidence must demonstrate you are among the small percentage at the very top of your field. Most self-filed petitions fall short at this step. That is where our preparation is strongest.

The people we have

fought alongside.

"The absolute best legal team we could have chosen. Professional, knowledgeable, and friendly—they made us feel at ease at every step of the way."

Donald Metivier

"Antonio Massa Viana and his team handled my immigration process very professionally and I had my Green Card in record time. Highly recommended."

Manfred Burkart

"They care about you and work around the clock to make sure nothing is left to chance. There's always someone on the phone. You're in good hands."

Alex Langkos

Your talent brought you here.

Let us take you the rest of the way.

The first step is a conversation. Tell us about your work, your field, and your goals. We will give you an honest assessment of your EB-1A eligibility and a clear picture of what the path forward looks like.

Southborough, MA