Is EB1 faster than EB2?

You’ve spent years building something most people only dream about. You’ve earned recognition. You’ve made an impact. You’ve proven yourself at the highest level. And now you’re watching other professionals, some less qualified than you, get their green cards while you’re stuck refreshing the visa bulletin every month, watching your priority date crawl forward at a pace that makes you question if you’ll ever get there.

Here’s the truth: Is EB1 faster than EB2? Yes. For some people, it’s 10 years faster. But here’s what will make you angry: most applicants choose the wrong category. They waste years in the wrong line. They file applications that were doomed from the start. And by the time they realize their mistake, they’ve lost time they can never get back.

Speed matters. But only if you qualify. And even if you do qualify for both categories, choosing the “faster” option without building your case correctly could cost you everything, your approval, your timeline, and your shot at the life you’ve worked so hard to create.

This article will show you exactly how much faster EB-1 really is, why the difference exists, and what that means for your specific situation. We’ll cover the timing factors most immigration articles skip—the ones that could save you years or cost you a decade. Because the worst thing that can happen isn’t moving slowly. It’s moving fast in the wrong direction.

Why EB-1 Is Faster Than EB-2: The Real Reasons

When people ask, “Is EB1 faster than EB2,” they’re usually asking about processing time. But processing time is only one part of the timeline. To understand why EB-1 moves faster, you need to understand what slows EB-2 down.

The PERM Problem

The EB-2 visa requires something called PERM Labor Certification. This is a process where your employer has to prove to the Department of Labor that no qualified U.S. worker is available for your job.

This process takes about two years on average. Sometimes longer if your case gets audited, and audits add another 12-18 months.

The EB-1 doesn’t require PERM at all. You skip those two years entirely. That’s the biggest reason EB-1 is faster than EB-2.

Priority Date Backlogs

Your priority date is your place in line for a green card. For EB-2, especially if you’re from India or China, the line is long.. Very long.

As of December 2025, EB-2 priority dates for India are backlogged by over a decade. For China, it’s about 3-4 years. If you’re from any other country, EB-2 dates are usually current or move within a few months.

EB-1 priority dates, on the other hand, are typically current for most countries. Even for India and China, EB-1 backlogs are significantly shorter, around 2-3 years for India instead of 10+.

So when you ask, “Is EB1 faster than EB2,” the answer depends heavily on where you were born.

Read Also: EB-2 NIW Case Filing 2025

Concurrent Filing Advantage

When your priority date is current, you can file your I-140 (immigrant petition) and your I-485 (adjustment of status) at the same time. This is called concurrent filing.

Because EB-1 priority dates are usually current, most EB-1 applicants can file both forms together. This means you could potentially get your green card within 8-12 months of starting the process.

With EB-2, if you’re facing a backlog, you file your I-140 and then wait, sometimes for years, until your priority date becomes current before you can file your I-485.

That waiting period is why EB-1 is faster than EB-2 for many people.

Real Timelines: How Much Faster Is EB-1 Than EB-2?

Let’s look at actual numbers.

EB-1 Timeline (Rest of World):

• No PERM required: 0 months
• I-140 processing: 6-8 months (or 15 days with premium processing)
• Priority date wait: 0 months (usually current)
• I-485 processing: 6-12 months
• Total: 12-20 months from start to green card

EB-2 Timeline (Rest of World):

• PERM Labor Certification: 18-24 months
• I-140 processing: 6-8 months
• Priority date wait: 0-6 months (usually current or short wait)
• I-485 processing: 6-12 months
• Total: 30-50 months (2.5-4 years)

EB-2 Timeline (India):

• PERM Labor Certification: 18-24 months
• I-140 processing: 6-8 months
• Priority date wait: 10+ years
• I-485 processing: 6-12 months
• Total: 12-14+ years

EB-1 Timeline (India):

• No PERM: 0 months
• I-140 processing: 6-8 months
• Priority date wait: 2-3 years
• I-485 processing: 6-12 months
• Total: 3-4 years

So yes, EB-1 is faster than EB-2. For people from India or China, it could save you a decade.

What Most Articles Don’t Tell You About Speed

Speed Only Matters If You Get Approved

EB-1 has stricter requirements than EB-2. The approval rate for EB-1 is around 76%. For EB-2, it’s 92%.

If you force an EB-1 application when you don’t truly qualify, you could get denied. That denial costs you 6-12 months. Then you have to start over with EB-2 anyway.

A slower path that succeeds is faster than a quick path that fails.

The EB-2 NIW Changes the Game

EB-2 has a subcategory called the National Interest Waiver (NIW). With NIW, you don’t need PERM. You don’t need an employer sponsor. You can self-petition.

That eliminates the 2-year PERM process. So if you’re comparing EB-1 to EB-2 NIW, the speed difference narrows significantly, especially if you’re not from India or China.

The catch: EB-2 NIW has a 43% approval rate. You need to prove your work has national importance and that waiving the normal requirements benefits the United States. That’s not easy to demonstrate.

Country of Birth Is Everything

If you were born in India or China, the question isn’t just “is EB1 faster than EB2?” It’s “how much faster?”

The answer: about 8-10 years faster for India. That’s not a typo.

If you were born anywhere else, the difference is smaller, maybe 1-3 years, depending on your circumstances.

Premium Processing Doesn’t Speed Up Your Green Card

You can pay $2,805 for premium processing on your I-140. This guarantees USCIS will process it in 15 business days instead of 6-8 months.

Sounds great, right?

Here’s the problem: Premium processing only speeds up the I-140. It doesn’t speed up PERM (if you need it). It doesn’t speed up your priority date wait. It doesn’t speed up your I-485.

So if you’re stuck in a 10-year backlog, paying for premium processing on your I-140 saves you maybe 6 months. You still have to wait 10 years.

Premium processing helps EB-1 applicants whose priority dates are current. It helps EB-2 applicants much less.

RFEs and Denials Add Months (or Years)

A Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS can add 3-6 months to your timeline. A denial means starting over, which could mean 1-2 years lost.

EB-1 applications face RFEs more often because the evidence standards are higher. If your case isn’t built correctly from the start, speed doesn’t matter; you’ll hit delays anyway.

Strategic Timing: When to Choose Which Path

If You’re From India or China

The math is simple: if you qualify for EB-1, file EB-1. The 8-10 year time savings is worth it.

But here’s a strategy most people miss: you can file EB-2 NIW now to lock in a priority date, then work on strengthening your credentials for EB-1. When you’re ready, file EB-1 and use your EB-2 priority date.

This is called “porting” your priority date. It only works going from EB-2 to EB-1, not the reverse. And you need to do it correctly, or you lose the priority date entirely.

If You’re From Anywhere Else

If your priority dates will be current for both categories, EB-1 is faster, but only by 1-3 years. That time savings might not be worth it if your EB-1 case is weak.

Consider your approval odds. A strong EB-2 NIW case that gets approved beats a weak EB-1 case that gets denied, even if EB-1 is theoretically faster.

If You’re an Entrepreneur or Your Career Moves Fast

Job mobility matters. With standard EB-2, you’re tied to your sponsoring employer. If you leave that job before your green card is approved, your case could die.

EB-1A and EB-2 NIW allow self-petitioning. You’re not locked to one employer. For entrepreneurs, startup founders, or anyone in a fast-moving industry, this flexibility is often more valuable than speed.

If You Have Time to Build Your Case

Sometimes the smartest move is to wait 12-18 months and build a stronger EB-1 case rather than filing a weak one now.

This feels counterintuitive. You want to move fast. But if waiting helps you publish more papers, secure more awards, or document more achievements, it could save you time overall by avoiding an RFE or denial.

How Veripass Makes Either Path Faster

You’ve probably noticed that all these timing factors depend on one thing: building your case correctly the first time.

That’s where most people lose time. They file without understanding what USCIS actually looks for. They get an RFE. They scramble to respond. They get denied. They start over.

Veripass handles the entire process for you, from initial consultation through petition filing. Here’s how they help you move faster, whether you choose EB-1 or EB-2.

They Evaluate Which Category You Actually Qualify For

Most people guess. They read the requirements online and think, “That sounds like me.” Then they file and get denied.

Veripass has worked with thousands of high-achieving professionals. They know exactly what evidence USCIS accepts and what they reject. They’ll tell you honestly whether your case is strong enough for EB-1 or if EB-2 NIW is safer.

This evaluation alone could save you a year by preventing a failed EB-1 attempt.

They Build Your Case Using Language USCIS Understands

You might have exceptional achievements. But if you don’t frame them correctly, USCIS won’t recognize them.

For EB-2 NIW cases, Veripass knows how to articulate the national interest argument using the Dhanasar framework, the specific test USCIS uses. For EB-1 cases, they know which evidence carries weight and which is just noise.

This matters because the average EB-1 petition is 200-400 pages. It’s not just your resume and some letters. It’s a complete legal case proving you meet every requirement with multiple forms of evidence.

They Handle All Documentation and Filing

From securing expert recommendation letters to organizing evidence to preparing Forms I-140 and I-485, Veripass manages everything. You’re not figuring out USCIS procedures on your own or worrying about missing deadlines.

They also have proprietary software that tracks your case progress and keeps all your documents organized in one place.

They Optimize Your Timeline Based on Your Country of Birth

If you’re from India or China and facing long backlogs, Veripass can help you plan a multi-step strategy. Maybe that means filing EB-2 NIW now for the priority date, then upgrading to EB-1 later. Maybe it means building your EB-1 case first before filing anything.

They understand the visa bulletin patterns and can advise you on the smartest filing strategy for your specific situation.

They Respond to RFEs Effectively

If you get a Request for Evidence, Veripass handles the response. Their clients have an 85% approval rate after RFE, compared to 40% for self-filed responses.

This matters because an RFE doesn’t have to mean denial. With the right response, you can still get approved. But you need to know what you’re doing.

They Work With Former USCIS Officers

Veripass’s team includes former USCIS officers who know exactly what adjudicators look for when reviewing petitions. This inside knowledge helps them build cases that get approved the first time.

This is the kind of advantage that makes “Is EB1 faster than EB2?” less relevant, because either way, you’re moving through the process without delays from mistakes.

The Bottom Line on Speed

So, is EB1 faster than EB2?

Yes. Usually by 1-3 years for most countries, and by 8-10 years if you’re from India or China.

But speed alone shouldn’t decide your path. The fastest route is the one that gets you approved. If your EB-1 case isn’t strong enough, trying to force it will cost you more time than just filing EB-2 from the start.

Here’s what actually matters:

• If you clearly qualify for EB-1, file EB-1. The time savings are significant, especially if you’re from India or China.
• If your EB-1 case is borderline, consider EB-2 NIW. The approval rate is higher, and you still get to self-petition.
• If you’re from India or China, timing is critical. File something to lock in a priority date as early as possible, even if it’s EB-2, while you build your EB-1 case.
• If you’re tied to an employer for EB-2, understand that job changes could kill your case. Factor in career mobility.
• If you’re not sure, get a professional evaluation. Guessing costs time.

The people who get green cards fastest aren’t necessarily the most qualified. They’re the ones who understand the system and build their cases correctly from the start.

Take the Next Step

You didn’t build your career by hoping things work out. You planned. You executed. You got results.

Your green card application deserves the same approach.

If you’re serious about moving to the United States and you want to know whether EB-1 or EB-2 is right for you, schedule a consultation with Veripass. They’ll evaluate your qualifications, recommend the strongest path, and handle everything from documentation to filing.

You’ve already done the hard work of building something remarkable. Let Veripass handle getting you the recognition you deserve in the United States.