EB1 Outstanding Professor or Researcher Immigrant Category.
As its name implies, EB1 Outstanding professor or researcher category is commonly used in the academic and scientific fields. It is also possible to apply under this category if the sponsoring employer has a research and development department with at least 3 other researchers. To qualify as an “outstanding professor or researcher,” the alien must demonstrate international recognition as outstanding in a specific area. Evidence must prove at least two factors of the following:
- Receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field;
- Membership in associations in the academic field that require outstanding achievements of their members;
- Published material in professional publications written by others about the alien’s work in the academic field;
- Evidence of the alien’s participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied field;
- Evidence of the alien’s original scientific or scholarly research contributions to the academic field; or
- Evidence of the alien’s authorship of scholarly books or articles in the academic field.
In order to qualify for this first preference category, an applicant must possess at least three years of research experience in the field of his or her expertise. A job offer is required from an employer meaning that only an employer may submit a petition for an outstanding professor or researcher. Self-petition is not available in this category and employer must sponsor this type of petition.
Evidence in EB1 Outstanding professor or researcher case consists of educational credentials, major awards, membership in associations in the academic field that require outstanding achievements, publications, books, citations, expert opinion letters and other suitable evidence to demonstrate applicant’s outstanding position in his or her field of expertise. If the applicant has not received a major award, expert opinion letters are critical for support of the petition.
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