Required
I-140
Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. Your U.S. employer files as the petitioner under the outstanding professor or researcher classification. Coordinate preparation and signing with the employer.
Open Fillvisa I-140
All applications
Build your EB-1B professor or researcher application
Work with your sponsoring employer to organize an outstanding professor or researcher petition. Explore the EB-1B forms and evidence, then plan the green card stage inside or outside the United States.
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FIND YOUR PATH
Who is this case for?
Internationally recognized professors and researchers
For professors and researchers recognized internationally as outstanding in a specific academic field, with at least three years of qualifying teaching or research experience and a qualifying U.S. job offer. A U.S. employer must file the petition; EB-1B does not allow self-petitioning. PERM labor certification is not required.
YOUR PAPERWORK, ORGANIZED
Forms Included in this Application
Start with the petition. The green card forms depend on your location, eligibility, and visa availability; not every form below applies to every applicant.
Phase 1: Employer-sponsored EB-1B petition
- Required
Employer and job-offer evidence
Include the qualifying offer letter, evidence that the sponsoring employer meets the category requirements, and evidence of its continuing ability to pay the offered wage from the priority date. Private research employers must document the required research staff and academic accomplishments.
Review USCIS I-140 instructions - Required
Supporting evidence
Document international recognition in your academic field and at least three years of qualifying teaching or research experience. Organize awards, qualifying memberships, published coverage, judging work, original contributions, or scholarly authorship against the EB-1B criteria.
Review EB-1B evidence guidance - Optional
I-907
Request premium processing for an eligible I-140 petition. This is a separate request and fee; it does not guarantee approval or make a visa number available.
Open Fillvisa I-907 - If represented
G-28
Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, completed with your legal representative.
Open Fillvisa G-28
Phase 2: Choose your green card path
Inside the United States: Adjustment of status
You must be eligible to adjust status and have a visa available under the applicable USCIS filing chart. Concurrent filing with I-140 may be possible. An approved I-140 alone does not grant immigration status or work authorization.
- If adjusting status
I-485
Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Each eligible accompanying family member needs a separate application.
Open Fillvisa I-485 - When required
I-485 Supplement J
Confirm the qualifying job offer with your employer when required for adjustment of status. Generally, it is not needed at initial filing when I-485 is filed together with the employer's I-140; USCIS may request it later.
View USCIS Supplement J instructions - Generally required
I-693
Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. Follow current submission instructions.
View USCIS I-693 instructions - Optional
I-765
Apply for employment authorization based on a pending adjustment application, if eligible.
Open Fillvisa I-765 - Optional
I-131
Apply for advance parole if eligible. Review travel restrictions before leaving the United States while adjustment is pending.
View USCIS I-131 instructions
Coordinate Supplement J with the sponsoring employer and follow the current filing instructions. I-864 is generally not required for employment-based adjustment, but may apply when a qualifying relative filed the petition or owns a significant interest in the petitioning business.
Outside the United States: Consular processing
After petition approval, follow National Visa Center instructions as your case becomes eligible for processing. Visa availability also affects interview scheduling and issuance.
- Required for this path
DS-260
Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application. Complete online when instructed by the National Visa Center; each immigrating family member applies separately.
Open Department of State DS-260 - Required for this path
Civil documents
Gather passports, birth certificates, police certificates when required, and other documents requested by the National Visa Center and consulate.
Review civil document requirements - Required for this path
Medical exam and interview
Follow your embassy or consulate instructions for a panel physician exam and visa interview. This is different from the U.S. adjustment-of-status I-693 process.
Review interview preparation
Supporting filing forms
- If applicable
G-1450
Authorize credit card payment for an eligible USCIS paper filing. Use the payment method accepted for your filing.
Open Fillvisa G-1450 - If applicable
G-1650
Authorize ACH payment for an eligible USCIS paper filing. Use this only when applicable; you do not need both payment authorizations.
Open Fillvisa G-1650 - Optional
G-1145
Request acceptance notifications for eligible filings at a USCIS lockbox. Check the filing location and instructions first.
Open Fillvisa G-1145
Check current form editions, fees, filing addresses, and payment requirements before submitting. Each form and family member may have separate fees and evidence requirements. USCIS and Department of State links open official instructions where a Fillvisa tool is unavailable.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Basic Eligibility Requirements
EB-1B requires a qualifying employer and job offer, teaching or research experience, and evidence of international recognition in your academic field.
Get StartedInternational recognition
Provide evidence meeting at least two of six regulatory criteria, followed by an overall showing that you are internationally recognized as outstanding in your academic field. Meeting two criteria alone does not guarantee approval. Comparable evidence may apply when the criteria do not readily fit.
Three years of experience
Document at least three years of teaching or research in the academic field, generally through letters from current or former employers. Experience gained while earning an advanced degree counts only under specific conditions in the USCIS rules.
A qualifying job offer
The offer must be for tenured or tenure-track teaching, or a permanent research position, at a university or institution of higher education; qualifying private employers may sponsor permanent research positions. Permanent research generally means an indefinite or unlimited term with an expectation of continued employment.
An eligible sponsoring employer
A private employer's sponsoring department, division, or institute must employ at least three people full time in research and have documented accomplishments in an academic field. The petitioner must also demonstrate its continuing ability to pay the offered wage.
Official guidance: USCIS outstanding professor or researcher policy · I-140 instructions · Employment-based immigrant visas · Adjustment filing charts. Fillvisa provides form tools and general information, not legal advice.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Getting Started
Prepare the petition with your sponsoring employer. The case must document your academic record and experience as well as the employer, offered position, and ability to pay.
Prepare Form I-140- 1
Confirm employer sponsorship
Work with the employer to confirm the position and sponsorship requirements. Gather the offer letter and employer records, then map your academic achievements and experience to the EB-1B criteria.
- 2
Prepare your petition
Coordinate I-140 and its supporting evidence with the employer and any legal representative. Gather experience letters and recognition evidence, and decide whether to request premium processing.
- 3
Plan the green card stage
Check visa availability and your eligibility for adjustment of status or consular processing. Include separate plans and applications for eligible spouses and unmarried children under 21.