Feb
4

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From Court to EB-1 Green Card – A Champion’s Journey

Category: "Extraordinary Ability" Green Card, "Extraordinary Ability" Visa, Best E-1 visa attorney in Phoenix, Best Investor visa attorney in Phoenix, EB-1 green card, EB-1 Visa, Green card attorney, Green card without job offer, Immigration attorney Phoenix, Legal Permanent Resident Status, LPR, Top immigration attorney in Phoenix Tags: , , ,

EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Approval for an Elite Professional Basketball Player

EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Green Card for Professional Athletes

We recently secured EB-1 Extraordinary Ability approval for an elite professional basketball player whose illustrious career spans more than 15 years at the highest levels of international competition. Her case was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

This case demonstrates how world-class athletes can successfully qualify for a green card through the EB-1 extraordinary ability category when their achievements are strategically documented and clearly tied to their field of excellence.

Athlete Profile

Our client is an internationally recognized basketball player who has competed at the highest levels of the sport worldwide, including participation in the Olympic Games and World Cup. She has played professionally across multiple continents, including the United States and Europe, and has received top honors such as Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

She also served in leadership roles on elite teams, including acting as team captain, demonstrating influence beyond individual athletic performance.

EB-1 Criteria Successfully Demonstrated

National and International Awards
The petition included extensive evidence of national and international awards, including gold medals, championship victories, and individual honors recognizing excellence and dominance in the sport.

Membership in Elite Associations
We documented her membership in organizations requiring outstanding achievement, including selection to Olympic athletic teams, national teams, and participation in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Published Material in Major Media
Numerous articles and features in major media outlets highlighted her career, achievements, and leadership, demonstrating sustained international recognition.

Leading and Critical Role
As captain of her national basketball team, the athlete played a leading and critical role in team success. Evidence showed her responsibilities extended to leadership, strategy, and motivating teammates at the highest competitive levels.

Judging the Work of Others
The petition also established that she judged the work of other athletes through leadership and evaluative responsibilities inherent in her captaincy and professional role.

Contribution to U.S. Athletics

Prior to filing the EB-1 petition, the athlete competed in the United States under a P-1 visa, reflecting her recognized international standing. Her continued presence in the U.S. contributes to American athletics through elite competition experience, mentorship, leadership, and the development of future athletes.

EB-1 Approval Without RFE

The EB-1 petition was approved without any Request for Evidence, underscoring a carefully prepared case that clearly met the statutory and regulatory standards for extraordinary ability.

EB-1 Green Cards for Professional Athletes

This case illustrates that elite athletes — including professional basketball players and Olympic competitors — may qualify for EB-1 extraordinary ability permanent residence without employer sponsorship.

If you are a professional athlete with sustained international recognition and are exploring an EB-1 extraordinary ability green card, a strategic evaluation of your credentials is essential.

May
26

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EB-1A Visa Approved for International Soccer Star | Extraordinary Ability Green Card for Athletes

Category: "Extraordinary Ability" Green Card, "Extraordinary Ability" Visa, Athletes, Best EB-1 attorney in Scottsdale, Best immigration attorney, Best immigration attorney in Scottsdale, EB-1 green card, EB-1 Visa, Green card, Green card attorney, Green card without job offer, Immigration attorney Phoenix, Immigration lawyer Arizona, Immigration Lawyer Scottsdale Tags: , , , , ,

EB-1A Petition Approved for Internationally Acclaimed Soccer Player

We are thrilled to announce the approval of an EB-1A petition—a first-preference immigrant petition—for our client, a world-class professional soccer player. This successful case highlights how athletes of extraordinary ability can qualify for a U.S. green card without employer sponsorship or labor certification.

Our client’s remarkable achievements on both national and international stages met the strict legal requirements under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3) for individuals of extraordinary ability.

What Is the EB-1A Petition for Individuals of Extraordinary Ability?

The EB-1A immigrant petition is designed for individuals who are at the very top of their field—whether in athletics, the arts, sciences, business, or education. It provides a direct path to a U.S. green card without needing a job offer or PERM labor certification.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim through documentation of a major internationally recognized award or satisfy at least three out of ten criteria.

How We Proved EB-1A Eligibility for a Professional Soccer Player

In our client’s case, we strategically demonstrated that he met three key EB-1A criteria for athletes of extraordinary ability:

  1. Nationally and Internationally Recognized Awards

Our client received numerous awards honoring his soccer achievements. He was the top goal scorer in his home country, broke longstanding records both there and in the U.S., and earned recognition from leading soccer organizations. These formal accolades played a critical role in proving national and international acclaim.

  1. Membership in Athletic Associations requiring Outstanding Achievement of their Members, as judged by Recognized National and International Experts

He held membership in high-level soccer associations, including:

  • National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
  • United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA)
  • His national soccer team, where he competed internationally

We demonstrated in detail to the satisfaction of USCIS that our client (i) was a member of the associations, (ii) the associations operate in the field of soccer, (iii) membership requires outstanding achievements, and (iv) admission is evaluated by recognized experts—thereby meeting the second criterion.

  1. Published Material about Client in Major Sports Media

Our client’s career was extensively covered by national and international sports outlets. These features highlighted his milestones, record-breaking achievements, team affiliations, and awards, thereby establishing that he met the third criterion.

Continuation of Professional Soccer Career in the U.S. and Merit Evaluation

As required under the EB-1 category, our client demonstrated that he will continue his professional soccer career in the United States. After USCIS determined that he met at least three of the regulatory criteria, it proceeded with the final merits determination. Numerous expert opinion letters from respected figures in the international soccer community assisted USCIS in its evaluation and ultimately supported the petition’s approval.

A Winning Legal Strategy for Extraordinary Ability Petitions

Filing a successful EB-1A green card petition requires more than meeting technical requirements—it demands a persuasive, well-documented narrative aligned with USCIS expectations. Our immigration law firm works closely with clients to build strong, individualized cases that meet each of the EB-1 regulatory criteria.

Interested in learning if you qualify for an EB-1 green card as an athlete?

If you are a professional athlete, coach, or performer with international recognition and a record of sustained excellence, you may qualify for a U.S. green card through the EB-1A extraordinary ability category.  Our firm specializes in extraordinary ability visas for athletes and professionals.

Find out if you qualify for an EB-1 green card: https://juraslaw.com/do-you-qualify-for-eb-1/
Schedule a consultation: https://calendly.com/irena-3
Explore your immigration options and take the first step on your U.S. immigration journey today.

Sep
26

By

Does a position shared by several employees count as one full-time job for EB-5 job creation?

Category: Best EB-5 attorney in Phoenix, Best immigration attorney, Best immigration attorney in Scottsdale, Best Investor visa attorney in Phoenix, EB-5 job sharing, EB-5 visa, EB-5 visa attorney, Green card, Green card through investment, immigration Attorney in phoenix, Immigration attorney in Scottsdale, Immigration attorney Phoenix, Immigration lawyer Arizona, Immigration Lawyer Scottsdale, Investor visa, Legal permanent residency, Top EB-5 attorney in Phoenix, Top immigration attorney, Top immigration attorney in Phoenix Tags: , , , , , , , ,

In order to get an EB-5 green card through investment, the investor has to create at least 10 full-time jobs. A client wanted to invest in a restaurant where several employees would share some positions. Does that qualify?

To be considered a full-time job, it requires 35 hours a week. Where two or more employees share a full-time position it counts as one-full time job if they combine at least 35 hours per week. To demonstrate a full-time position is shared by more than one employees, the investor may should a written job-sharing agreement, we weekly schedule or evidence of the sharing of the responsibilities or benefits of a permanent full time position. However, two part-time jobs do not count.

Please note that this article does not constitute a legal advice.  We simplified the law to outline only one aspect of the EB-5 green card process. If you would like to obtain an investment (EB-5) green card, call our experienced EB-5 green card attorney at 480-425-2009 or schedule your consultation online.

Sep
11

By

EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa for Athletes

Category: "Extraordinary Ability" Green Card, "Extraordinary Ability" Visa, Best immigration attorney, Best Investor visa attorney in Phoenix, EB-1 Visa, Green card, Investment visa, Investor visa, Investor Visa Attorney, Top immigration attorney Tags: , ,

More and more gifted athletes are being recruited from all over the world to play professionally sports like basketball, football, soccer and baseball in the U.S. In addition, thanks to state-of-the-art training facilities like the one in Colorado Springs, Colorado, more and more athletes are coming to the U.S. to train for events like the Olympics, the World Cup and international bicycle racing. Many of these athletes, professional and amateur alike, often want to establish permanent residency in the United States.

An EB-1 visa is for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics seeking to establish permanent residency in the United States. To obtain an EB-1 visa, the foreign athlete must be able to demonstrate extraordinary ability in athletics, seek to enter the U.S. to continue in the same field and show that his or her entry will substantially benefit the U.S. The athlete must demonstrate “sustained or international acclaim” and that his or her achievements have been recognized in his or her field.

An example of a foreign professional athlete who has been awarded EB-1 visa and green card is professional golfer Nick Price, a native of Zimbabwe. He has 18 PGA tour wins (3 majors), a former #1 world ranking to his credit and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Another example of a foreign athlete who received EB-1 visa and green card is Robert Cheseret, a Kenyan-born long-distance runner who won the men’s title for the U.S. at the 2011 NACAC Cross Country Championships. Cheseret had a total of eight Pac-10 titles during his career – the most ever by a Pac-10 track and field athlete. Cheseret went on to capture the NCAA West Regional individual crown and was the Pac-10’s top finisher at the NCAA Championships with a tenth-place finish.

The athlete must either show a one-time achievement such as a major internationally recognized award or evidence of three of the ten categories. There are several major advantages for foreign athletes applying for the EB-1 visa. Athletes do not need to obtain labor certification or provide proof of a job offer. Consequently, this method is usually faster way to obtain a green card than applying for EB-2 or EB-3 immigration visa. The foreign athlete must show that (s)he meets all requirements of EB-1 extraordinary ability visa. While some athletes may be able to obtain EB-1 extraordinary ability visa without a lawyer, in order to obtain an approval, it’s advisable to hire an experienced EB-1 extraordinary ability visa attorney. Please call 480-425-2009 today or send us an email and we will help you obtain your EB-1 extraordinary ability visa (green card).