An Indian crossword puzzle constructor gets the US’ Einstein visa – Here’s all you need to know about the EB-1

• The Einstein visa or EB-1 visa has been named after German-born physicist Albert Einstein.
  
• India’s Mangesh Ghogre, who was executive director and head of equity capital markets at Nomura India, was recently granted this visa by the US.
  
• Three types of people — those with extraordinary ability; outstanding professors and researchers; and certain multinational managers or executives — can apply for this visa.

Did you ever imagine having a niche skill like creating crossword puzzles could get you a US citizenship? Mangesh Ghogre was granted the US’ Einstein Visa for this very skill. His crosswords regularly appear in leading American newspapers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He quit from his role as executive director and head of equity capital markets at Nomura India after being granted the elite visa.

Einstein visa is a nickname given to the Employment-Based Immigration (EB-1) visa granted by the US to immigrants who possess extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, as well as to accomplished academic researchers and multinational executives. Former US president Donald Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, was one of the more controversial beneficiaries of the Einstein visa.

The visa has been named after German-born physicist Albert Einstein. He was given a visa in 1932 by the US government at the time when Nazi party rose to power.

USA, every year, grants around 1.4 lakh visas based on employment, including EB-1 visas.

“You must be able to demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim,” says the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

“Your achievements must be recognised in your field through extensive documentation,” it adds.

According to the USCIS website, three types of people can get the EB-1 visa — people with extraordinary abilities; outstanding professors and researchers; and certain multinational managers or executives. To apply under the extraordinary ability category, no offer of employment is required.

Eligibility criteria for the Einstein visa

1. Extraordinary ability
Immigrants who wish to obtain the visa should be able to demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim. For an applicant with a Pulitzer, Oscar, or an Olympic Medal, it’s a cakewalk. If not, the immigrant must meet at least 3 of the following 10 criteria:

• Immigrants should be able to provide evidence of published material in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
  
• Provide receipts as evidence of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence.
  
• Provide evidence of membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members
  
• Proof of being asked to judge other people’s work either individually or on a panel.
  
• Evidence of original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field
  
• Proof as authors of the scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
  
• Give evidence of work that has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
  
• Proof of the performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organisations
  
• Present evidence of taking a higher remuneration or salary than others in the respective field.
  
• Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts.

2. Outstanding professors and researchers
Under this category, immigrants must demonstrate international recognition for their respective outstanding achievements in a particular academic field. The candidate must have at least three years experience in teaching or research in that academic area.

The immigrant should be entering the US to pursue tenure or tenure track teaching or a comparable research position at a university, institution of higher education, or private employer.

Immigrants must provide an offer of employment from a US employer. No labour certification is required.

3. Certain multinational manager or executive
The immigrant must have been employed outside the US for at least one year in the three years preceding the petition or the most recent lawful nonimmigrant admission if already working for the US petitioning employer.

The petitioning employer must be a US employer and intend to employ the immigrant in a managerial or executive capacity. No labour certification is required for this category as well.

The spouse and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of immigrants who have been granted the Einstein visa can apply for admission in E-14 or E-15 immigrant status.

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