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February 3, 2026A few months ago, an AI engineer sat quietly on a consultation call and finally said something that many tech professionals are thinking but rarely admit out loud: “I’ve built products used by millions… but I don’t have a single publication. So EB1A probably isn’t for me, right?”
For many years, the EB-1A has been misconstrued as a path strictly for professors, researchers, and people with long-term tenured academic CVs full of published journal articles. However, the reality is that more people in AI, software engineering, and related fields are demonstrating that a publication is not essential to EB-1A certification. USCIS is no longer only looking for research; they are looking for extraordinary ability, which will be demonstrated primarily by the impact of the systems shipped, the platforms provided, and the innovations adopted across the globe.
To sum up, many people receive an EB-1A approval without the need for a publication.
The Truth: EB1A Doesn’t Require Publications
Is It Possible to Obtain an EB-1A Visa Without Having Any Published Work? Yes, if you understand what USCIS requires.
First, it is important to clarify the biggest misconception about this: publications are an asset, but they are not a requirement to qualify for the extraordinary ability visa category.
USCIS has not stated that applicants must publish articles to qualify for the EB-1A visa. Therefore, there are other forms of evidence than publishing articles.
What USCIS Is Looking For
- Influence and/or impact on your profession
- Recognition beyond your employer
- Evidence of leadership and/or significant contributions
- Authority to provide strong documentation connecting your achievements to the EB-1A criteria
Many technology applicants have been granted EB-1A Approval without published work because their work is demonstrated by results rather than publications or journal articles.
Therefore, the answer to the question, “Is it possible to obtain an EB-1A/EW-1A without published works?” The answer is 100% true!
Why Tech & AI Professionals Are a Strong EB1A Fit
Tech professionals have a good chance of getting an EB1A these days. Many AI engineers and software architects do not believe their work is out of the ordinary, but it is.
When a researcher publishes his or her research, a few hundred people read it. Meanwhile, an AI engineer deploying a model is fucking used by millions, AND ONLY OVERNIGHT.
Thus, tech professionals are receiving EB-1A approvals more often than ever.
The systems they create have a huge impact on industries:
- Recommendation engines
- Cloud infrastructure
- Large-scale machine learning pipelines
- Security and reliability systems
With technical innovations, it can be proven with adoption, measures, AND/OR influence; that is why AI engineers’ EB1As are no longer rare, but EB1As are being issued (and quickly).
Many EB-1A approvals for tech professionals have come through EB-2, and many do not have a publication strategy.
EB1A Criteria That Matter Most (Without Publications)
How can Tech Professionals Easily Fulfill the EB1A Requirement?
Mapping your skills to the strongest EB1A criteria is a smart strategy many lawyers refer to as “criteria mapping.” For those looking to apply to EB1A and do not possess publications, the following criteria are often the most relevant:
Critical or leadership role
Were you instrumental in a major product, infrastructure, or company mission?
Significant contributions
Did your contributions create a significant change in a system or process, produce innovative change(s), or dramatically affect the field in which you work?
High salary or remuneration
To an extent, salary/high remuneration can serve as recognition of the individual in their profession based on market rates.
Judging others’ work
As someone who assesses or judges candidates through hiring panels, code review, interview loops, and internal evaluation committees.
Membership in “Selective Organizations”
Such as professional organizations/associations that are competitive to be admitted into.
Media and/or corporate recognition
As with press coverage, support can also come from internal via awards and leadership recognition for the individual in their profession.
These pathways indicate EB1A extraordinary abilities are not restricted to those who are in academia. Hundreds of thousands of individuals have received an EB1A through the criteria listed above which demonstrates that an EB1A can also be obtained without publications.
The Best Proof for EB1A Without Publications (Tech Version)
What Can Be Used as an Alternative to Publications? Impact Evidence.
If you want to apply for the EB1A class and your evidence does not include wind papers, then the best alternative is impact evidence.
Examples include:
- Ownership or significant contributions to architectural design.
- Product launches with statistical information showing adoption.
- Impact on revenue, cost savings, and increased efficiency.
- Improvements in latency and reliability.
- Improvements in scalability and security.
- Open-source contributions (stars, forks, users).
- Awards or other recognition (internal or industry).
The evidence you use to complete your EB-1A petition demonstrates you have a measurable impact on the economy. This evidence will help you obtain EB-1A approval even if you do not have publications to include in your application.
Mini Case-Style Section
What an EB1A Approval Without Papers Looks Like
Imagine this example:
A senior AI engineer led the architecture of a fraud detection system deployed across a global fintech platform. The system reduced fraud losses by millions annually and became a model adopted by other teams.
They had no academic papers.
But they proved:
- Critical role in enterprise-wide infrastructure
- Original contributions with measurable industry impact
- Strong letters from independent experts
- Evidence mapped clearly to EB1A extraordinary ability criteria
This is what an EB1A approval without papers looks like in practice—and it happens more often than people think.
Want to Know If You Qualify for EB1A Without Publications?A Next Step for Tech Professionals
If you’re exploring an EB1A green card path, it helps to evaluate your evidence through the right lens.
Many professionals start by reviewing the main service overview at EB1A Experts: EB1A Green Card Support.
You can also dive deeper into the standards through an EB1A criteria guide, especially if you’re building an EB1A without publications strategy.
The key is realizing that extraordinary ability in tech is often written in systems shipped, products scaled, and impact delivered—not papers published.
FAQs
Can I get an EB1A green card without research papers or publications?
Yes. USCIS does not require publications. Many applicants succeed with EB1A without publications by proving extraordinary impact through industry contributions.
What USCIS evidence can replace publications for an EB1A petition?
Impact metrics, critical roles, original contributions, patents (optional), awards, open-source influence, and expert recommendation letters can replace papers.
How do software engineers and AI professionals qualify for EB1A without academic profiles?
By showing leadership, innovation, and measurable influence in the field. EB1A for tech professionals often focuses on real-world deployment.
Does industry impact matter more than publications for EB1A approval?
Often yes. USCIS values evidence of major significance. Industry-scale impact is a strong foundation for EB1A approval without papers.
What types of projects or work experience count as “extraordinary ability” for EB1A?
High-scale systems, AI models in production, infrastructure improvements, security breakthroughs, and widely adopted innovations.
How does USCIS evaluate EB1A cases for professionals from companies like Google, Amazon, or startups?
They look beyond the employer name and focus on the applicant’s individual contributions, recognition, and alignment with EB1A criteria.
What is the biggest mistake non-research professionals make when applying for EB1A?
Treating EB1A like a resume submission instead of a legal argument. Evidence must be framed at the field level, not just job performance.
If you’ve been sitting with the thought “I don’t have publications, so EB1A isn’t for me,” you’re not alone.
But here’s the question worth asking:
What if your real evidence isn’t in journals… but in the systems you’ve built, the products you’ve scaled, and the impact you’ve already delivered?
For many AI and tech professionals today, the path to an EB1A green card is not about having papers—it’s about proving extraordinary ability through leadership, innovation, and measurable contributions.
