The EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card is one of the most powerful immigration pathways available to Syrian professionals — and one of the most underutilised. It requires no US employer, no job offer, and no prior US work history. You petition USCIS directly based on your professional achievements, wherever those achievements were built.

For Syrian nationals, the I-140 petition stage is entirely nationality-blind — USCIS evaluates your professional record, not your passport. The consular processing stage is where Syrian nationality becomes a significant consideration, and it requires careful planning. But for Syrian professionals with genuinely strong international records, the EB-1A remains a viable and achievable pathway.

Who this guide is for: Syrian citizens based in the UAE with internationally recognised professional careers — researchers, engineers, physicians, academics, artists, and senior professionals whose work has been recognised beyond Syria and the immediate region.

The Core Numbers

Employer Required
None
Investment Required
None
Premium Processing
~15 days

The 10 USCIS Criteria — You Need at Least 3

1
Awards & Prizes
Nationally or internationally recognised prizes for excellence in your field.
2
Membership
Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements judged by experts.
3
Published Material
Published material about you and your work in professional or major media.
4
Judging
Participation as a judge of others' work — peer review, competition panels.
5
Original Contributions
Original contributions of major significance — patents, cited research, novel methods.
6
Scholarly Articles
Authorship of scholarly articles in professional publications or major media.
7
Critical Role
Leading or critical role for organisations with a distinguished reputation.
8
High Salary
High salary relative to others in the field, evidenced by contracts or pay records.
9
Commercial Success
Commercial success in the performing arts.
10
Display of Work
Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.

The Syrian Reality — What Most Applicants Don't Realise

The I-140 petition is nationality-blind

USCIS adjudicates I-140 petitions based entirely on the evidence submitted. Syrian nationality has no bearing on whether USCIS approves your petition. The evaluation is about your professional achievements — publications, citations, awards, leadership roles, salary data — not where you are from. A well-prepared EB-1A petition from a Syrian professional is evaluated on exactly the same standard as one from any other nationality.

Consular processing is the significant complexity for Syrian nationals

There is no US Embassy in Syria. For Syrian nationals based in the UAE, the immigrant visa interview happens at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi — this is the most practical processing location for UAE-resident Syrians. However, Syrian nationals should plan for a more extended Administrative Processing (AP) period than most other nationalities. AP is a security review that is common for Syrian passport holders and can add months to the consular stage. Build a 6–18 month buffer into the consular processing timeline.

Syrian-built achievements are fully recognised by USCIS

Publications from Syrian universities, work done at Syrian institutions, awards from Syrian professional bodies, and achievements built before displacement — all of these count toward EB-1A criteria provided they have international recognition. If your Syrian-era research has been cited by international scholars, your Syrian university work appears in indexed databases, or your professional work received recognition beyond Syria, it contributes to your petition.

The EB-2 NIW is worth filing simultaneously

Given the Administrative Processing risk at the consular stage for Syrian nationals, having both an EB-1A and EB-2 NIW I-140 approved before entering the consular process is especially valuable. Two independent approvals provide important protection against delays at the embassy stage.

Typical Timeline for Syrian Applicants

Month 1–2
Eligibility Assessment
Map your career against all 10 USCIS criteria. Assess whether to file EB-1A alone or in parallel with EB-2 NIW — for Syrian nationals, filing both is strongly recommended.
Month 2–5
Evidence Gathering & Petition Building
Compile publications, citation reports, awards documentation, reference letters from internationally recognised experts, salary evidence, and media coverage.
Month 5
I-140 Filing with Premium Processing
File Form I-140 as a self-petition. USCIS responds within approximately 15 business days.
Month 5–6
USCIS Decision
Approval, RFE, or denial. A well-prepared petition has a strong approval rate regardless of nationality.
Month 6–8
NVC Processing
Case transferred to National Visa Center. Fees paid, civil documents submitted. EB-1 priority dates are generally current for Syrian nationals.
Month 8–24+
Consular Processing — US Embassy Abu Dhabi
Immigrant visa interview at US Embassy Abu Dhabi. Administrative Processing is common for Syrian nationals — build a generous buffer of 6–18 months for this stage. After AP clearance, immigrant visa issued.

Common Mistakes Syrian EB-1A Applicants Make

Not filing because of uncertainty about the consular stage

Administrative Processing is a delay, not a denial. Syrian nationals with approved I-140 petitions regularly receive their immigrant visas — the process takes longer, but it completes. Not filing because of AP concerns means never starting. Start the process, get the I-140 approved, and navigate the consular stage when you reach it.

Filing only EB-1A without the NIW in parallel

For Syrian nationals specifically, filing both EB-1A and EB-2 NIW simultaneously is strongly recommended. The total additional cost is relatively modest — one extra I-140 filing fee and consulting work — and the protection it provides at the consular stage is significant. Two independent approvals are better than one.

Underestimating the reference letter quality

For Syrian applicants, the quality of reference letters matters even more than for applicants from countries without AP concerns. Letters from internationally recognised experts who can speak credibly to the global significance of your work are essential. These letters should come from people with independently verifiable international standing — not just colleagues or supervisors.

Our honest assessment: The EB-1A is achievable for Syrian professionals with genuinely strong international records. Administrative Processing at the consular stage is a real variable that cannot be fully predicted or controlled. What you can control is the strength of the petition. A clean, well-documented I-140 approval is the foundation everything else builds on.

See if you qualify

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the consular interview take place for Syrian nationals based in the UAE? +
For Syrian nationals based in the UAE, the immigrant visa interview takes place at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. There is no US Embassy in Syria, so UAE-resident Syrians process through Abu Dhabi — which is one of the more practically accessible US Embassy locations in the region. Syrian nationals not based in the UAE typically use third-country embassies such as Turkey (Ankara) or Jordan (Amman).
How long does Administrative Processing typically take for Syrian nationals? +
Administrative Processing duration for Syrian nationals varies significantly — from a few weeks to 12–18 months or longer in some cases. There is no publicly reliable average and the duration depends on individual case factors. The best approach is to proceed with a strong, complete application and build a generous time buffer into your planning. AP is a delay, not a denial — the vast majority of AP cases eventually clear.
Do my publications from Syrian universities count toward the EB-1A? +
Yes — publications from Syrian institutions count fully if they have been indexed in international databases (Scopus, Web of Science) and have received citations from international researchers. USCIS evaluates the international reach and significance of your work, not the country of the institution that published or produced it.
Should I file EB-1A and EB-2 NIW at the same time? +
For Syrian nationals, yes — we strongly recommend filing both simultaneously. The EB-2 NIW has a more accessible evidentiary standard than the EB-1A, and having both approved gives you two independent petition approvals before entering the consular stage. The additional cost is modest relative to the protection it provides for a process where the consular stage carries more uncertainty than for most other nationalities.

Why Unican

Unican has been based in Dubai since 2004. We work with Syrian nationals regularly and understand the specific realities of the consular processing stage for Syrian passport holders. We give you an honest assessment of your EB-1A eligibility and a realistic picture of the full timeline before you commit to the process.