Demand for the EB-1A, commonly called the “Einstein visa”, has surged across the US as employers and foreign professionals face mounting constraints in the H-1B programme. The increase comes amid growing backlogs in employment-based visas, pushing highly skilled applicants to seek permanent residency routes that do not require employer sponsorship.As interest has accelerated, federal data show that EB-1A petitions have tripled over four years, even as approval rates have declined under stricter scrutiny. The trend has drawn attention from immigration authorities and investigators, who say a parallel market promising to enhance credentials has expanded alongside legitimate applications.Backlogs and rising demand reshape visa choicesUS Citizenship and Immigration Services data cited by CBS News show nearly 7,500 EB-1A applications were filed between April and June 2025, compared with about 2,500 in the final quarter of 2021. During the same period, approval rates fell from about 67 per cent to roughly 50 per cent, reflecting intensified reviews as overall demand outpaces annual quotas.Federal law caps employment-based visas at 140,000 annually, with no more than 7 per cent allocated to nationals of any single country. This has created prolonged waits for applicants from India and China. Immigration attorney Loren Locke told CBS News that the pressure has placed applicants in “a super untenable situation”, increasing desperation and risk-taking.Credential market expands under scrutinyThe surge has coincided with a growing industry offering résumé and profile enhancement services. Some consultants advertise ghostwritten academic papers, paid citations or purchasable awards. A former USCIS official, speaking with CBS News, said applicants with resources could “buy your evidence and fabricate those things”, adding that such submissions have been identified during reviews.CBS News identified advertisements on Telegram, Facebook and WhatsApp groups targeting visa hopefuls, particularly in science and technology. Some brokers told the outlet that clients paid hundreds or thousands of dollars for authorship or citations. One seller, in conversation with CBS News, acknowledged that the practice was “not ethical for EB-1”, while denying wrongdoing.USCIS response and enforcement measuresUSCIS officials told CBS News the agency has increased screening and launched a new vetting centre to strengthen application reviews. Spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said the measures support President Trump’s commitment to protect American jobs, adding that anyone submitting fake evidence “will be found out and face the consequences”, according to statements shared with CBS News.The agency has also warned that visas can be revoked if fraud is later uncovered, and that misrepresentation may lead to inadmissibility. USCIS director Joseph Edlow said in an interview with CBS News that the agency is “declaring war on fraud”. Officials indicated that some previously approved EB-1A cases may be re-examined as regulatory updates seek to clarify evidentiary standards. The reviews will apply across immigration benefit categories, officials said, as the EB-1A continues to represent a small share of total petitions processed nationwide amid sustained application growth and heightened oversight.
