Schedule A I-140

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Most employment-based green card applications require a PERM Labor Certification, in which the U.S. Department of Labor certifies there are no sufficient U.S. workers available for the position who are able, willing, and qualified, and that the hiring of non-U.S. workers will not negatively affect U.S. wages. Cases falling under Schedule A bypass the need for a test of the labor market and application with the U.S. Department of Labor under the standard PERM labor certification process. While this does not necessarily mean that all cases are approvable or will be handled quickly, this allows these cases to skip the first and most time-consuming part of the employment-based green card process. Schedule A cases are initiated through the filing of an I-140 petition with USCIS.  It can be either an EB-2 or EB-3 classification, depending upon the position requirements. 

The U.S. Department of Labor has a list of “Schedule A” occupations which currently includes two groups:

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Group I:  Physical Therapists and Professional Nurses. 

Group II: Individuals of “exceptional ability” in the sciences and arts, including college and university teachers.