June 8, 2026
It depends on which EB-1 category you’re applying under. If you qualify under EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability), then yes — you can self-petition without a job offer or employer sponsor. This is one of the biggest advantages of the EB-1A category. However, EB-1B (Outstanding Professor or Researcher) and EB-1C (Multinational Manager or Executive) do require a qualifying U.S. employer to file the petition on your behalf.
The EB-1 is generally one of the faster employment-based green card routes because it skips the labor certification process entirely. Standard processing through USCIS can take anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on the complexity of your case and current agency workloads. Premium processing is available for certain EB-1 categories, which can get you an initial decision within 15 business days — though it doesn’t guarantee approval, just a faster response. An immigration attorney can help you determine whether premium processing makes sense for your situation.