EB-1B Green Card
The EB-1B visa is an employment-based, first preference green card category for outstanding professors and researchers who are internationally recognized for their academic achievements. Unlike temporary work visas, it provides a direct pathway to U.S. permanent residence.
Who is the Visa for?
Examples include professors with international recognition, published scholars, and researchers in leading universities, research institutions, or private companies with strong R&D departments.
Eligibility Requirements
Must have at least 3 years of experience in teaching or research in the academic field.
Must be recognized internationally as outstanding in the field.
Must be offered a tenure/tenure-track teaching position at a university, or a permanent research role with either:
A university or other higher education institution, or
A private employer with a documented history of significant research achievements and at least 3 full-time researchers.
Evidence must demonstrate at least 2 of 6 USCIS criteria, such as:
Major prizes/awards for outstanding achievement
Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Published material written about the applicant in professional journals or major media
Participation as a judge of others’ academic/research work
Original scientific or scholarly research contributions
Authorship of scholarly books or articles
Visa Duration
As an immigrant visa/green card, this is permanent residence (not time-limited like nonimmigrant visas).
Green card status is valid for 10 years and renewable indefinitely.
Processing Time:
Premium Processing: 15 business days (Form I-907)
USCIS I-140 (Standard): Several months
Green Card Step: Depends on visa bulletin & country
OpenSphere Services:
Case evaluation & evidence strategy
Petition drafting & academic profile positioning
RFE/NOID response support
End-to-end guidance through I-140 and Adjustment of Status/Consular Processing
