Curran & Berger

This category requires a job offer, but not a labor certification.

In order to qualify as an "Outstanding Researcher or Professor", an individual must have:

• An offer of a permanent teaching or research position with an appropriate institution of higher learning or research institution. The USCIS considers a permanent position to be one that is either tenured, tenure-track, or for a period of indefinite or unlimited duration;

• At least three years of teaching or research experience in the field of specialization; and

• Recognized outstanding accomplishments in the field.

In order to document outstanding accomplishments and recognition in the field, an individual must meet at least two of the following criteria:

1. Receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievements in their academic field;
2. Membership in associations in the academic field;
3. Published materials in professional publications about the individual's work in the field;
4. Participation, either individually or as part of a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the field (including requests to serve as a reviewer/referee for articles to be published, invitations to serve on discussion and advisory panels, etc.);
5. Original scientific or scholarly research contributions to the academic field (including citation of an individual's work by others in the field); and/or
6. Authorship of scholarly books or articles in the field. Again, this evidence must be supplemented with letters of support from peers in the individual's field.

Approval for permanent residence based on an individual's qualifications as an "Outstanding Researcher or Professor" is currently taking 6 months to a year from the date that the initial petition is submitted to the USCIS. Please note that processing times may vary depending on caseload and administrative delays at regional USCIS Service Centers. The next step is to file for permanent residence based on the approved I-140 in the U.S. or at a U.S. consulate abroad. See Business Adjustment of Status step-by-step guide on the “Guides” section of our website. The permanent residence application may  also be filed concurrently with the I-140 Outstanding Researcher petition.

Please also see 'Current Trends in EB-1-2 Outstanding Researcher Cases ', published in the book "Immigration Options for Academics and Researchers" (AILA Publications, January 2005) under "Staff Articles and Publications" on our website.