EB-1A · Extraordinary Ability · Profession Guide
EB-1A for Architects and urban planners: Kazarian Criteria & AAO Patterns
How architects and urban planners satisfy the Kazarian two-step analysis: which of the ten regulatory criteria are most accessible for this profession, and what final-merits evidence has cleared AAO scrutiny.
Based on 6,362 real USCIS AAO decisions · Last updated May 2026
Short answer
EB-1A requires architects and urban planners to meet at least 3 of the 10 Kazarian regulatory criteria and then clear a final-merits analysis that the petitioner has sustained national or international acclaim. EB-1A denials commonly find the portfolio impressive but local in scope.
Most accessible Kazarian criteria for architects and urban planners
The regulation requires that you meet at least 3 of 10 criteria from 8 CFR § 204.5(h)(3). Below are the criteria most commonly satisfied in EB-1A petitions by architects and urban planners, with profession-specific evidence patterns.
- 1
Original contributions of major significance
Building-code or zoning-code contributions adopted by multiple jurisdictions, project methodologies replicated by peer firms, or HUD / FEMA / DOT pilot-program participation.
- 2
Authorship of scholarly articles
Refereed publications in Journal of Urban Design, Environment & Behavior, or other peer-reviewed venues. Trade-press articles count separately.
- 3
Display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Selection for national-scope architecture exhibitions (Venice Biennale, Cooper Hewitt, MoMA), juried showcases with selection-rate evidence.
- 4
Awards from national-scope organizations
AIA Honor Awards, ASLA Awards, P/A Awards — distinct from local chapter awards.
Final-merits framing under Kazarian step 2
Architecture EB-1A is difficult but possible — final merits typically requires evidence that the petitioner's methods, designs, or codes have shaped practice beyond their own portfolio. National-scope awards plus code or standards contributions are the cleanest combination.
Why EB-1A petitions by architects and urban planners fail at AAO
EB-1A denials commonly find the portfolio impressive but local in scope. National-scope awards, code-development service, or replicated methodologies shift the framing reliably.
For context: across all professions, 5.9% of NIW appeals are approved at the AAO level. EB-1A appeals follow similar dynamics — most denials are at first-pass USCIS, and AAO data reveals which arguments fail at the highest scrutiny level.
Build your EB-1A petition with profession-specific framing
Our $99 EB-1A Petition Builder generates a Kazarian-framework petition letter section by section, with criterion-by-criterion evidence framing tailored to your profile and references to similar approved AAO cases in our 6,362-decision corpus.
One-time payment, no subscription. Greenway AI is a data + document-generation platform, not a law firm; nothing here is legal advice.