The categories, side by side.
A high-level map of the main employment-based options. The right choice depends on your record, your country of chargeability, and your timeline — but this is the shape of the decision.
| Category | Type | Self-petition | Cap / lottery | PERM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1A / O-1B | Work visa | No (employer/agent) | None | N/A |
| L-1 | Work visa | No (employer) | None | N/A |
| EB-1A | Green card | Yes | None | No |
| EB-1B | Green card | No (employer) | None | No |
| EB-1C | Green card | No (employer) | None | No |
| EB-2 NIW | Green card | Yes | None | No |
| EB-5 | Green card | Yes (investment) | Annual limits | No |
"Cap / lottery" refers to annual numerical limits and random selection. Visa-bulletin backlogs (especially for India and China in some categories) are a separate consideration — see green card wait times.
Read the head-to-head guides.
EB-1A vs. EB-2 NIW
The two leading self-petition green cards. What each evaluates and which fits your record.
O-1A vs. EB-1A
Extraordinary ability as a temporary work visa versus a permanent green card.
O-1A vs. H-1B
Cap-free extraordinary ability versus the lottery-based specialty occupation visa.
EB-1B vs. EB-2 NIW
The researcher's green card dilemma — employer-sponsored EB-1B or self-petitioned NIW.
Turn the options into a strategy.
A comparison table narrows the field; it does not decide your case. The right category depends on the specific strength of your record under each standard, your country of chargeability, and how the calendar interacts with your goals. Our free evaluation ends with a clear recommendation — and, where it helps, a parallel-filing strategy that uses more than one category. See related routes in our pathways library or review fees by category.