Einstein Visa Surges Amid H-1B Woes: Applications Triple, Approval Rates Drop

• Applications for the EB 1A "Einstein visa" have sharply increased in the US, tripling over the past four years.
• The visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in fields like science, arts, education, business, and athletics, allowing self-sponsorship for permanent residency.
• Despite the surge in applications, approval rates have fallen from 67% to 50% due to tighter scrutiny.
• The rise is attributed to pressure on other employment visas, especially H-1B, with long backlogs for Indian and Chinese applicants.
• USCIS has strengthened review processes and vetting, citing concerns over fraudulent submissions and a commitment to protecting American jobs.

Why It Matters: The "Einstein visa" is gaining traction as an H-1B alternative, but increased scrutiny is lowering approval rates.