Long-term Pathway
From your first university application to your green card
Your degree can be the first step of a longer plan. Here is how two common journeys look, what we do at each stage, and what you walk away with.
PATHWAY 1
Masters to O-1A to Green Card
For students and early-career professionals planning a long-term future in the US.
One advisor team, one plan. Starting with admissions means we know your record from day one, so each next step builds on the last.
Stage 1
9 to 18 months before you begin
Graduate Admissions
What happens: Choose your program and submit strong applications.
Pazega service: Find My Path, Plan My Route, Polish My Applications or Fix One Piece, depending on where you are starting from. We coach, you write, and we look for funding from day one.
Your value: The right program, chosen with your long-term career and visa goals in mind.
You walk away with: Offers, a funding plan and a confident choice.
Stage 2
1 to 2 years
Masters Program (F-1)
What happens: Coursework, research and internships. The best time to start building a record that counts later.
Pazega service: Build My Record: a plan for the research, publications, conference talks, competitions and memberships that matter in your field.
Your value: Every project and paper starts building toward your future visa profile.
You walk away with: A personal record-building plan tailored to your field.
Why start early?
USCIS evaluates your record as it stands on the day you file. Achievements that come afterwards cannot be added, so a record built steadily from your Masters onward is far stronger than one rushed at the end.
Stage 3
Up to 3 years for STEM graduates
OPT / STEM OPT
What happens: You work in the US and grow your professional achievements.
Pazega service: Check My Readiness: we map your record against the 8 O-1A criteria (you need 3) and help close gaps through judging, publications, speaking, media and awards.
Your value: You know exactly which gaps to close, and when you are ready to file.
You walk away with: An O-1A readiness check with a clear gap list.
WHAT COUNTS IN YOUR FIELD
TECH & ENGINEERING
Impact at scale
Original contributions with measurable impact, a critical role on key products, judging hackathons and peer review, and high remuneration.
RESEARCHERS & CLINICIANS
Work others rely on
Publications and citations, peer review and editorial roles, invited talks, awards, and influence on practice or policy.
FOUNDERS & LEADERS
Traction and recognition
Funding and traction, media coverage about you, a leading role at a distinguished organization, and judging others' work.
Stage 4
Often 2 to 5 years after graduation
O-1A Work Visa
What happens: A US employer or agent files your petition. No lottery and no annual cap. Granted for up to 3 years and extendable. Your spouse and children under 21 can join you on O-3 visas, though O-3 holders cannot work.
Pazega service: O-1A profile building, typically 3 to 6 months depending on where you start.
Your value: A route to work in the US that does not depend on the H-1B lottery.
You walk away with: An attorney-ready O-1A evidence file.
Stage 5
When your record reaches the top of your field
EB-1A Green Card Petition
What happens: You self-petition for permanent residency, with no employer sponsor. You must meet 3 of 10 criteria and pass a final merits review. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply as dependents.
Pazega service: EB-1A Full Strategy: we target about 6 criteria, with 3 to 4 clearly strong, and aim above the minimum. Your plan is reviewed by our in-house team, including a former USCIS supervisory officer and a former immigration attorney.
Your value: Nothing is wasted. The evidence from your O-1A carries forward into your green card case.
You walk away with: A petition-ready file organized by criterion, ready for your attorney and an independent second opinion.
Stage 6
Varies by country of birth
Permanent Residency
What happens: After I-140 approval, your attorney handles the final green card steps.
Pazega service: Your attorney, your choice. We coordinate with them on evidence questions and support any RFE response.
Your value: Support from your first application through to the finish line.
You walk away with: A partner from first application to green card.
WHAT THIS CAN LOOK LIKE
An example journey
A data science graduate who started with us at admissions.
| When | Stage | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Admissions | Plan My Route: shortlist of 8 programs, admitted to a US Masters in Data Science with a partial scholarship. |
| Years 2 to 3 | Masters (F-1) | Build My Record: two conference papers, a hackathon award and a professional membership. |
| Years 3 to 5 | STEM OPT | Check My Readiness: peer reviews for two conferences, an invited talk and a critical role on a product used at scale. |
| Year 5 | O-1A approved | Employer files the petition with an attorney-ready evidence file. No lottery. |
| Years 6 to 7 | EB-1A filed | Full Strategy over about 8 months, building on the O-1A evidence. Filed by the client's own attorney. |
Illustrative example, not a specific client. Every profile and timeline is different.
PATHWAY 2
Direct to EB-1A
For established professionals whose record may already be close to the EB-1A standard.
Step 1
Week 1
Free Profile Review
What happens: An honest assessment of where you stand today. Not sure if you are eligible? This is where you find out.
Pazega service: Free consultation with a clear recommendation: Direct EB-1A, O-1A first, or Focused support.
Your value: A straight answer on whether you are ready now, before you invest.
You walk away with: A clear recommendation and next steps.
Step 2
Month 1
Intake and Strategy
What happens: We learn your full background, define your field of endeavor and map your strongest criteria.
Pazega service: Choose Full Strategy (about 6 criteria, 3 to 4 strong, everything included) or Focused Strategy (targeted help with one or two gaps). Your plan is reviewed by our in-house team.
Your value: One clear plan, stress-tested the way an officer would read it.
You walk away with: A written strategy and criteria map.
Step 3
Months 2 to 8
Evidence Building
What happens: Speaking, publications, judging, awards, media and recommendation letters, pursued in parallel.
Pazega service: We source opportunities and keep every item tied to one clear story.
Your value: No wasted effort on evidence that will not count.
You walk away with: Documented evidence across your target criteria.
Step 4
Around month 8
Petition-Ready File
What happens: Your evidence is organized by criterion and handed to your attorney.
Pazega service: Attorney-ready evidence file, with an independent second opinion encouraged before filing.
Your value: Your attorney can start drafting immediately.
You walk away with: A petition-ready file organized by criterion.
Step 5
Months 8 to 12
I-140 Filing
What happens: Your attorney files your EB-1A petition. Premium processing can bring a decision in about 15 business days.
Pazega service: Coordination with your attorney on evidence questions and any RFE. Our results: 84% approved without an RFE and 91% after an RFE or NOID. No one can guarantee approval.
Your value: A smoother filing, with support if USCIS asks for more.
You walk away with: Filing support and RFE help when you need it.
Step 6
Varies by country of birth
Permanent Residency
What happens: Your attorney handles the final green card steps.
Pazega service: Support through to the finish.
Your value: A partner from strategy to green card.
You walk away with: Support through the finish line.
WHICH PATH FITS YOU?
| Masters to Green Card | Direct to EB-1A | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Applying to or recently finished a Masters | Established career with recognition in your field |
| Typical span | Several years, built step by step | About 6 to 12 months of profile building before filing |
| First visa step | F-1, then OPT, then O-1A | Self-petition from your current status |
| Pazega services | Admissions, Build My Record, Check My Readiness, O-1A and EB-1A | EB-1A Full or Focused Strategy |
Timelines are illustrative and vary by field, profile and government processing. For applicants born in countries with green card backlogs, such as India and China, the final step may involve a significant wait. Your attorney advises on visa status and eligibility.