PhD Green Card

EB1 Outstanding Researcher

Employment Based First Preference

EB1B Outstanding Professor or Researcher Green Card

EB1B is designed specifically for qualifying professors and researchers who are internationally recognized as outstanding in an academic area and have a qualifying permanent teaching or research position with an eligible U.S. employer.

No Self petition
Yes Qualifying employer required
3 Years Teaching or research experience
No PERM labor certification
Employer Eligibility

A Strong Researcher Still Needs a Qualifying Petitioner.

University

University or Institution of Higher Education

The employer may sponsor a qualifying professor or researcher for an appropriate permanent teaching or research position.

Employer requirements →
Private Research Employer

Qualifying Private Employer

A private employer must satisfy additional requirements concerning its research staff and documented accomplishments in the field.

Private employer requirements →
Evidence of Recognition

The Six EB1B Evidentiary Criteria

01 Major Prizes or Awards Recognition for outstanding achievement in the academic field
02 Selective Membership Membership requiring outstanding achievements
03 Published Material Professional material written by others about the researcher’s work
04 Judging Participation as a judge of the work of others in the academic field
05 Original Research Contributions Original scientific or scholarly research contributions
06 Scholarly Authorship Authorship of scholarly books or articles in qualifying publications
The Position Requirement

“Permanent” Is a Legal Issue, Not Just a Job Title.

USCIS may examine the appointment terms, employment agreement, funding structure, HR classification and whether the position is expected to continue.

Tenure track positions usually present a clearer case. Research scientist appointments, grant funded positions and other arrangements may require more careful documentation.

Permanent research position guide →
Experience

Documenting the Three Year Requirement

Exact Dates Beginning and ending dates of qualifying work
Research Area Work in the same academic area claimed in the petition
Duties Specific teaching or research responsibilities
Basis of Knowledge Why the signer can verify the experience

Research performed while pursuing an advanced degree does not automatically count. The regulatory conditions governing pre-degree research should be reviewed carefully.

Common Questions

EB1B for Researchers

Can I self petition for EB1B?

No. A qualifying U.S. employer must file the EB1B Form I-140 petition.

Does EB1B require tenure?

No. Researchers may qualify through a comparable permanent research position when the employer and position satisfy the applicable requirements.

Are three years of research always required?

Yes. The beneficiary must establish at least three years of qualifying teaching or research experience in the academic area.

Are high citation numbers required?

No fixed citation number is required. The record must establish international recognition as outstanding based on the evidence as a whole.