An EB-1 based greencard is available to outstanding professors and researchers who are recognized internationally for their outstanding academic achievements in a particular field. They must have at least 3 years of teaching or research experience in that academic area, and they must enter the US in a tenure or tenure track teaching or a comparable research position at a university or institution of higher education. Temporary research positions do not qualify. The employer can also be a private company if they employ at least 3 persons for full time research activities and have achieved documented accomplishments in an academic field.
An employer needs to sponsor the green card, but a labor certification is not required.
This category of the employment based greencard is also referred to as the E-12 category.
EB-1 Outstanding Professors and Researchers Eligibility Criteria
In order to qualify for a greencard under this category, you must meet the following criteria:
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At least two of the following must be true:
- You have won major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field.
- You are a member of associations in the academic field which require to demonstrate outstanding achievements of their members.
- You have published material in professional publications written by others about the alien’s work in the academic field.
- You have participated, either on a panel or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied academic field.
- You have made original scientific or scholarly research contributions to the academic field.
- You have authored scholarly books or articles, in scholarly journals with international circulations, in the academic field.
If the above standards don’t readily apply to your specific case, you may submit comparable evidence to establish your eligibility.
- You have won major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field.
- You have at least 3 years of experience in teaching and/or research in the academic field.
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Submit either of the following documents as applicable:
- University or other institution of higher education filing petition:
A letter indicating that it intends to employ the beneficiary in a tenured or tenure-track position as a teacher or in a permanent position as a researcher in the academic field; or - A private employer is filing petition:
A letter indicating that it intends to employ the beneficiary in a permanent research position in the academic field, and evidence that it employs at least 3 full-time researchers and you have achieved documented accomplishments in the field.
- University or other institution of higher education filing petition:
EB-1 Outstanding Professors and Researchers – Greencard Procedure
To get an EB-1 based greencard in the Outstanding Professors and Researchers category, you must follow the procedure listed below:
- You must have a permanent, full time job offer from the employer where all the criteria mentioned above are met.
- Your employer files for a Form I-140 Petition for Immigrant Worker on your behalf.
- When the priority date is current, file either an Adjustment of Status in the US or go through Consular Processing abroad.
