The EB-1 visa approval rate depends on the category. In FY2026 Q3 (April to June 2026), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved 32.2% of decided EB-1A petitions, 93.0% of EB-1B petitions and 97.4% of EB-1C petitions, based on its Form I-140 data. The EB-1 visa approval rate counts decided petitions only, so it describes past outcomes, not your odds. EB-1A has fallen every quarter since FY2025 Q1, when it was 74.7%.
Last updated: November 10, 2026
Key Takeaways
- The EB-1 visa approval rate counts decided petitions only, not every filing.
- EB-1A fell to 32.2% in FY2026 Q3 (April to June 2026); EB-1B held at 93.0% and EB-1C at 97.4%.
- USCIS has not explained the drop. The data points to stricter final merits review.
- Jumpstart Immigration helps founders and researchers build their petitions, with a 98% approval rate and a methodology trained directly on USCIS adjudicator decisions.
What the EB-1 Visa Approval Rate Actually Measures
USCIS does not publish an approval rate. It publishes quarterly counts of receipts, approvals, denials and pending petitions in its Form I-140 by Fiscal Year, Quarter and Case Status data. The EB-1 visa approval rate is calculated as approvals divided by approvals plus denials. Pending petitions stay out of the math.
So the rate describes decisions made in a quarter. It does not tell you the chance that a new petition will be approved. The pool includes every petition decided that quarter, well prepared or not.
Approval rate is not processing time
Many readers mix up approval rate and speed. They are separate questions. For the full timeline, see our EB-1 Visa Processing Time: Full 2026 Timeline.
EB-1 Visa Approval Rate by Category: EB-1A vs. EB-1B vs. EB-1C
The three EB-1 categories now show very different results. The rates below are calculated from the USCIS Form I-140 file for FY2026 Q3 (April 1 to June 30, 2026), posted in September 2026.
EB-1 approval rate by category, FY2026 Q3 (April to June 2026)
| Category | Who files | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1A (extraordinary ability) | Employer or the person | 32.2% |
| EB-1B (outstanding professor or researcher) | U.S. employer only | 93.0% |
| EB-1C (multinational executive or manager) | U.S. employer only | 97.4% |
Why EB-1B and EB-1C stay above 90%
EB-1B and EB-1C petitions are filed by a U.S. employer for a defined job. EB-1A is the only EB-1 category where the person can file for themselves, as the USCIS Policy Manual chapter on extraordinary ability confirms. That means the EB-1A pool includes everyone who judged their own profile ready. USCIS has not said this explains the gap. It is our reading of the data.
Our guide EB-1 Visa Requirements: A Decision-First Guide for Founders covers the criteria for each category.
EB-1A Approval Rate by Quarter: FY2025 to FY2026
The EB-1A approval rate fell in each of the six quarters after FY2025 Q1, from 74.7% in FY2025 Q1 to 32.2% in FY2026 Q3. Source: USCIS Form I-140 data.
EB-1A approval rate by quarter, FY2025 Q1 to FY2026 Q3
| Quarter | Months | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Q1 | Oct to Dec 2024 | 74.7% |
| FY2025 Q2 | Jan to Mar 2025 | 72.7% |
| FY2025 Q3 | Apr to Jun 2025 | 66.5% |
| FY2025 Q4 | Jul to Sep 2025 | 53.4% |
| FY2026 Q1 | Oct to Dec 2025 | 47.5% |
| FY2026 Q2 | Jan to Mar 2026 | 41.8% |
| FY2026 Q3 | Apr to Jun 2026 | 32.2% |
What the quarterly numbers show
EB-1A approvals fell 58%, from 3,227 in FY2025 Q1 to 1,348 in FY2026 Q3. Denials rose 160% in the same period, from 1,091 to 2,832. Total decisions were close in both quarters (4,318 and 4,180), so the mix of outcomes changed, not the volume.
Counts can shift a little between USCIS files, because each new file updates earlier quarters. The approval rates stay almost the same. From October 2025 to June 2026, the EB-1A rate was 40.7%: 5,232 approvals out of 12,852 decisions.
Why Is the EB-1A Approval Rate Dropping?
EB-1A review has two steps under the USCIS Policy Manual. First, the officer checks whether the petitioner meets at least three of the ten criteria, or has a major internationally recognized award. Second, in the final merits determination, the officer asks whether the whole record shows sustained national or international acclaim and that the person is “one of that small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor.”
What the data shows and what it does not
USCIS has not published a reason for the drop. EB-1B and EB-1C stayed above 90% in each quarter of FY2026, so a general USCIS slowdown does not explain it. The pattern fits stricter final merits review of EB-1A claims. That is our inference, not a USCIS finding.
The August 5, 2026 Policy Alert on evidence
On August 5, 2026, USCIS issued a Policy Alert on Evidence, Requests for Evidence, and Notices of Intent to Deny. Officers can now deny a petition without first sending a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) when required initial evidence is missing. USCIS can also set RFE deadlines shorter than 12 weeks. The alert came after FY2026 Q3, so its effect is not yet in the published data.
Does a Low EB-1 Visa Approval Rate Mean You Should Not Apply?
Not on its own. The EB-1 visa approval rate blends every decided petition, including thin filings with little third-party proof. A petition is judged against the legal standard, not against the average. The question that matters is whether your record shows sustained acclaim, backed by objective evidence. We suggest reviewing your case with a licensed immigration attorney before you decide.
Which EB-1 category fits your profile
Researchers with a U.S. university or research employer offering a permanent role may fit EB-1B. Executives and managers moving within a multinational company may fit EB-1C. Founders and independent professionals without a sponsor usually look at EB-1A. Some profiles fit EB-2 NIW first; see EB-2 NIW Approval Rate Trends: What Quarterly Data Shows. Others start with the O-1A visa; see how to qualify for the O-1 visa.
What a strong EB-1A petition shows under current review
Based on the USCIS Policy Manual guidance on evidence, a strong petition usually has:
- Objective third-party proof for each criterion, not letters that repeat the rules
- Acclaim sustained across the career, not packed into the year before filing
- Context on why each award, publication or role matters in the field
- A record a non-specialist officer can follow
What to Do Before You File: Evidence Strategy and RFE Readiness
Build evidence across several criteria instead of relying on one, because the final merits review weighs the whole record. Add the context an officer outside your field needs: what an award means, how selective a publication is, what your citations show. Since the August 5, 2026 Policy Alert, missing initial evidence can lead to a denial without an RFE. Our guide to EB-1A evidence requirements covers what USCIS accepts.
How Jumpstart helps
Jumpstart Immigration helps founders, researchers and executives prepare EB-1A petitions, using a methodology trained on USCIS adjudicator decisions. Petitions are typically ready in about three weeks. If the petition is denied, the fee is refunded. Legal services are performed by independent licensed attorneys.
If a petition is denied, see EB-1 Visa Denied: What To Do Next In The 30-Day Window. For researchers, see EB-1A Approval Rate for Researchers: What the Number Means.
Conclusion: Reading the EB-1 Visa Approval Rate Correctly
The EB-1 visa approval rate measures approvals among decided petitions, not among all filings. EB-1B and EB-1C, filed by a U.S. employer for a defined job, stay above 90%. EB-1A fell to 32.2% in FY2026 Q3, and the data points to stricter final merits review, not new criteria. A low average does not decide an individual case. Evidence does.
Jumpstart Immigration helps founders and operators build EB-1A petitions for this level of review, with a 98% approval rate and a methodology trained directly on USCIS adjudicator decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EB-1 difficult to get?
EB-1A has become much harder to win, while EB-1B and EB-1C still approve most decided petitions. In FY2026 Q3 (April to June 2026), USCIS approved 32.2% of decided EB-1A petitions, 93.0% of EB-1B and 97.4% of EB-1C, according to its Form I-140 data. From October 2025 to June 2026, the EB-1A rate was 40.7%.
Why is the EB-1A approval rate dropping?
USCIS has not published a reason, but the data fits stricter final merits review. EB-1A fell from 74.7% in FY2025 Q1 to 32.2% in FY2026 Q3, while EB-1B and EB-1C stayed above 90%. At the final merits step, the officer asks whether the whole record shows sustained acclaim at the very top of the field, as the USCIS Policy Manual explains.
Is EB-1B easier than EB-1A?
EB-1B has a much higher approval rate, but its requirements are different. In FY2026 Q3, USCIS approved 93.0% of decided EB-1B petitions and 32.2% of EB-1A petitions. EB-1B needs a qualifying job offer from a U.S. employer and at least three years of teaching or research experience, so it is not open to everyone.
Who qualifies for EB-1B?
EB-1B is for professors and researchers recognized internationally as outstanding in an academic field. The federal regulation requires at least three years of teaching or research experience, at least two of six criteria, and an offer of a tenured, tenure-track or permanent research position. The U.S. employer files the petition.
Where can I find USCIS immigration and citizenship data?
USCIS publishes it in the Immigration and Citizenship Data library. For EB-1, use the file “Form I-140 by Fiscal Year, Quarter and Case Status,” which lists receipts, approvals, denials and pending petitions by category. The file shows counts, not rates. You calculate the EB-1 visa approval rate as approvals divided by approvals plus denials.
When does USCIS publish new EB-1 visa approval rate data?
USCIS posts new Form I-140 data each quarter, a few months after the quarter ends. The FY2026 Q3 file, covering April 1 to June 30, 2026, was posted in September 2026. The next file will cover FY2026 Q4 (July to September 2026).
Can I file EB-1 on my own?
Only in EB-1A. The USCIS Policy Manual says an EB-1A petition does not need a job offer and the person may file as a self-petitioner. EB-1B and EB-1C must be filed by a U.S. employer. Given current EB-1A results, talk to a licensed immigration attorney before filing.
How long does EB-1A processing take?
With standard processing, USCIS completed 80% of EB-1A Form I-140 petitions within 32.5 months, according to its processing times page as of October 16, 2026. Premium processing costs $2,965 and gets a USCIS action within 15 business days. The green card also depends on the Visa Bulletin.
Which is faster, EB-1 or EB-2?
For most applicants, EB-1 moves faster at the visa stage. In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-1 final action dates are current for the rest of the world, while EB-2 is at April 1, 2025. For India, EB-1 is at February 1, 2023 and EB-2 at November 1, 2013. See our November 2026 Visa Bulletin breakdown.
How much is the EB-1 application fee?
The Form I-140 filing fee is $715 on paper or $665 online, according to the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/26/26). Most petitioners also pay an Asylum Program Fee: $600 for regular petitioners, $300 for small employers and self-petitioners, and $0 for nonprofits. Premium processing adds $2,965.
*Jumpstart is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. All legal services are performed by independent licensed attorneys.
