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Outstanding Professors/ Researchers

EB-1B: Outstanding Professors and Researchers

EB-1B is intended for exceptional professors and researchers recognized internationally for their academic accomplishments. To qualify, you must have at least three years of teaching or research experience in your field and be coming to the U.S. for a tenure or tenure-track teaching role, or a similar long-term research position at a university or other higher education institution (or with a private employer that has a strong research department). Unlike EB-1A, an EB-1B applicant needs a job offer from a U.S. employer, and that employer must file the petition on the professor or researcher’s behalf with USCIS. The employer must provide a job offer and demonstrate the ability to pay the offered wage. No labor certification is needed for EB-1B cases.

  • In addition to the job offer and experience requirements, EB-1B applicants must meet at least two of six criteria that demonstrate they are outstanding in their field. These criteria are similar to the EB-1A requirements but are tailored to academic accomplishments. Examples of qualifying evidence include:
  • Major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the field
  • Membership in associations that require exceptional achievements from their members
  • Published material written by others about the scholar’s work in the field (such as citations in important journals)
  • Participation as a judge of others’ work in the same field (e.g., peer review or conference panels)
  • Original scientific or scholarly research contributions to the field
  • Authorship of scholarly books or articles in international journals in the field.

The EB-1B category is perfect for professors and researchers with a proven record of excellence, such as notable publications, awards, and a strong reputation in their academic community. For example, it might be a researcher whose work is frequently cited internationally or a professor who has received significant awards in their field. With an EB-1B, these individuals can obtain permanent residency to continue their research or teaching in the U.S., without the delays of a labor certification process.