Library
Choosing a category
Which pathway fits which record, and why the answer is rarely only one.
O-1A or EB-1A: the same evidence, two different standards
They share a vocabulary and almost nothing else. One is temporary and needs an employer; the other is permanent and needs nobody. What changes between them is the standard the same evidence has to meet.
Luis Flávio Marques Lima 3 min read
Choosing a categoryL-1A and EB-1C: the one pairing where the evidence really does carry over
Almost the same three requirements, read against two different standards. A thinly documented L-1A approval is the most common reason a later EB-1C fails.
Luis Flávio Marques Lima 2 min read
Choosing a categoryNot selected in the H-1B lottery: what the alternatives actually are
The lottery is not a merits test, so a strong record loses as often as a weak one. The categories worth looking at next are the ones that need no employer at all.
Luis Flávio Marques Lima 2 min read
Choosing a categoryEB-1A or EB-2 NIW: two self-petitions that ask opposite questions
Both let you file for yourself. One asks how high you have risen; the other asks what your work is for. Choosing by queue length instead of by record is the common error.
Luis Flávio Marques Lima 3 min read
Find out where your record stands
The assessment is free and reads your record against the standard USCIS applies. You get a written answer — including when the answer is that this is not your pathway yet.