The demand for the US Einstein visa, officially the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability green card, is rising sharply as H-1B visas appear costly and hard to get. CBS News investigation found brokers helping applicants, mostly from India, appear "extraordinary" by listing their names as co-authors on scholarly articles after payment. These fake credentials help in meeting the visa’s tough eligibility criteria. An Arizona-based service run by Indian-origin Ranjeet Mudholkar, an EB1A Green Card holder, claims on its website that clients can become eligible for Einstein visas within months. The firm says 56 individuals secured Einstein visas after completing their program. However, some former clients told CBS they later realized they were simply buying credentials. The investigation tracked those who succeeded and found they had received the "Globee Business Award," which is widely available for a fee. Some also published articles in Indian journals after paying. Mudholkar told CBS, "Our company does not sell, require, or mandate any specific awards, journals, or publications, nor does it submit evidence without legal review and advisement." He added, "Participants retain agency over where they publish." According to him, some participants misunderstood the program and there were no unethical shortcuts involved. The Einstein visa offers a direct path to a US Green Card without a job offer. It requires meeting at least 3 of 10 strict criteria like winning recognized awards, publishing scholarly articles, or showing original major contributions. USCIS makes the final decision on merit. This growing trend raises concerns about visa fraud and the integrity of the immigration process. Meanwhile, the US is freezing some Green Card and citizenship applications from high-risk countries following security concerns. As the hope for affordable H-1B visas dims due to $100,000 fees, the race for the Einstein visa heats up - but with a shady side that buyers and authorities should watch closely.