USCIS.loveVisa match: EB-1A, O-1 or EB-2 NIW, which fits you
Guide to the visa selection tool: five questions covering eligibility criteria, US employer or agent, urgency of entry, and willingness to wait for a green card, plus a transparent comparison of EB-1A, O-1, and EB-2 NIW visa types with real processing times for each category.
Author: Alina Kanametova- updated
The Tool Itself
Open the tool: /tools/visa-fit. This page is a guide for it.
Key answer
Visa selection answers the first question on your path: EB-1A, O-1, or EB-2 NIW. The tool asks five questions, provides a transparent comparison of all three categories, and displays real timelines and strategies that have worked for other applicants.
When to Use
At the very beginning, before gathering evidence. The category determines what you actually need to collect: EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are self-petitioned, while O-1 requires a US employer or agent. The timelines and outcomes for these paths differ. A mistake at this stage can cost you months of work.
How to Use
Answer five questions: do you already meet three or more strong EB-1A criteria, do you have a US employer or agent ready to file a petition, do you see yourself as a researcher or engineer with a plan and benefit for the US, do you need to enter and work as quickly as possible, are you willing to wait longer for a green card without an employer tie. The tool will highlight the closest category and show cards for all three side by side.
Why This Matters
The logic is transparent: you can see which answer led to which category, so you can challenge the result yourself. This is a practical guideline, not legal advice. The categories do not exclude each other and the final decision depends on your budget, timing, and the strength of your evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions does the tool ask?
Five: do you already meet at least three strong EB-1A criteria, do you have a US employer or agent ready to file your petition, are you a researcher or engineer with a plan and benefit for the US without extraordinary acclaim, do you need to enter and start working as soon as possible, and are you willing to wait longer for a green card without employer sponsorship.
Does the tool choose the visa for me?
No. It shows which category your answers fit best, and displays a side-by-side comparison of all three with real timelines and practical strategies. You should review the entire comparison, not just the top recommendation.
Why are EB-1B and EB-1C missing from the selection?
The tool compares the three most common self-sponsored routes for professionals. EB-1B and EB-1C require an employer to file the petition and use a different selection logic. These are covered in separate knowledge base materials.
Can I apply for multiple categories at once?
Yes, the categories are not mutually exclusive and applicants often apply in parallel. However, each petition means a separate set of evidence, its own fees, and its own processing times, so you decide based on your budget and preparedness, not just the tool's results.
Related Materials
Talent Visa Types
Differences Between O-1, EB-1, and EB-2
EB-2 NIW Test (Dhanasar) Check
Readiness Check
Related materials - Helpers and calculators
- Readiness check: how many criteria do you meet
- EB-2 NIW Check by Dhanasar Test
- Analysis of Real EB-1A Decisions and Decision Database
- Community Cases: Anonymous Talent Visa Case Board
- Media check: is this a major publication (Major Media)
- Directory: journals, awards, associations, conferences
- Recommendation Letter Builder + Quality Assessment
- Translation Tracker: Get Documents to Certified Translation
- Degree Evaluation Readiness (WES): Checklist
- Printable petition packet assembly
- Which USCIS forms do you need by visa and stage
- Cost and timeline: estimated O-1 budget and schedule
- RFE Response Builder: Structure with Real USCIS Wording
- Interview Simulator: Consular Interview Practice
- Petition and RFE analysis against the criteria rules
From community discussions
«The main difference from O-1 is you have to show that you've reached the very top in your field, recognized by other experts. Not just 'well done' but in the superlative degree, to an indecent extent.»
community member · from public community chats
«And revenue across all states is also not national importance, just like jobs. For some reason everyone thinks that creating 10-20-50 jobs is national importance. It's not. Your project should affect job creation or employment in general, for example, your project helps job seekers find work and reduces unemployment.»
community member · from public community chats
«A month ago we got approval for cloud architecture. There were no publications at all. Only talks at international and national conferences. These talks were covered by news portals.»
community member · from public community chats
Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.
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