Do EB-1A and EB-1B have separate sub-preferences in the Visa Bulletin?

No. In the Visa Bulletin, EB-1A (extraordinary ability) and EB-1B (outstanding professors and researchers) do not appear as separate sub-preferences. For queue purposes, both are treated within the same EB-1 category.

This means that when you check the bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State, there is no distinct line for each sub-group. What governs the progress of your case is your priority date, not the sub-category under which you qualified.

The Visa Bulletin exists to manage demand and establish the order of processing, and that logic applies uniformly to EB-1 as a whole. An EB-1A beneficiary and an EB-1B beneficiary follow the same availability reference.

The eligibility criteria for each sub-category differ, but that does not change how you read the bulletin. If you are unsure how to interpret your priority date, it is worth checking the updated information in the official Visa Bulletin and consulting a specialist.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.