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EB-1B: what it is

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EB-1B: definition

Key answer

EB-1B is the green card for outstanding professors and researchers. Unlike EB-1A, there is no self-petition: you need an employer-sponsor (a university or a company with a research unit) and an offer of a permanent position.

The EB-1B criteria are softer than EB-1A, but the category is tied to the employer: they file the I-140 and the position must be a permanent research one.

For researchers the choice is usually EB-1A (self-petition, higher standard) vs EB-1B (sponsor needed, lower standard) - the differences are covered in the KB.

EB-1B: the official source

EB-1B: common questions

Do I need a PhD for EB-1B?
No: 8 CFR 204.5(i) sets no degree requirement. You need at least 3 years of teaching or research experience in the field (204.5(i)(3)(iii)). Experience gained while working on an advanced degree counts only if the degree has been obtained and you had full responsibility for the class you taught, or the research toward the degree has been recognized in the field as outstanding.
What are the EB-1B (outstanding researcher) requirements?
Per 8 CFR 204.5(i): international recognition as outstanding in an academic field - at least 2 of 6 kinds of evidence (major prizes; membership in associations that require outstanding achievement; material by others about your work; judging the work of others; original research contributions; scholarly books or articles in journals with international circulation); at least 3 years of teaching or research; a US job offer - a tenured or tenure-track post at a university, or a permanent research position at a university or at a private employer with at least three full-time researchers and documented accomplishments. The employer files the I-140; no labor certification is required.

EB-1B: what to do - tools

EB-1B: read next

EB-1B: documents and templates from the library

EB-1B: from community discussions

  • «For a long time now they haven't been judging by the criteria you've met, those only give you the right to be moved to the second stage of review - final merits, and that's where the decision is actually made. But lawyers prefer not to talk about this and keep singing fairy tales about three criteria.»

    Alena · from public community chats

  • «Forget about three criteria. These days denials come even with 7 criteria met.»

    community member · from public community chats

  • «Whatever you do, don't do this, I beg you. I tried it, it's a 100% denial. I got a 13-page RFE about how this carries no national importance for the US. Any words about a shortage are a red flag for the officer. They didn't even read my RFE response with the redefined endeavor.»

    community member · from public community chats

Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.

EB-1B: related terms

All glossary terms

A reference definition, not legal advice. Requirements and procedures depend on your case - verify on uscis.gov.

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