To request permanent residence under this category, you file an immigrant visa petition (Form I-140) with the USCIS along with evidence that proves that you are an outstanding researcher or professor.

Who may receive a green card as an outstanding professor or researcher?

"Internationally recognized" professors and researchers may qualify for a green card in this category.

How will I know if I am "internationally recognized"?

At a minimum you must meet two of the following six criteria in order to qualify:

• receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field
• membership in associations in the academic field, which require outstanding achievements of their members
• published material in professional publications written by others about your work in the academic field
• participation on a panel, or individually, as the judge of the work of others in the same or an allied academic field
• original scientific or scholarly research contributions to the academic field
• authorship of scholarly books or articles, in scholarly journals with international circulation in the academic field

Not necessarily. The overall impression should be that a professor or researcher fits the classification. The Immigration Service has stated that the listed types of evidence serve as guidelines for the adjudicator and the petitioner. The ultimate determination, however, is whether the evidence submitted establishes that the researcher or professor is recognized internationally as outstanding. Therefore, merely meeting two of the six prongs list above does not guarantee an approval.

Is the strength of the evidence evaluated?

Certainly. Factors such as the acclaim of the journals in which one has been published, the credentials of those providing testimony and the criteria for selection as a judge or for the award of prizes, among others, are taken into account in the evaluation of the "overall impression" that an individual qualifies. The Immigration Service gives ample weight to evidence such as peer-reviewed presentations at academic symposia or peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals, testimony from other leading scholars, a number of entries in a citation index which cite a prospective beneficiary's work as authoritative in the field, as well as participation by the alien as a reviewer for a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. However, the Immigration Service has stated that a book published by a "vanity press," footnoted references of unevaluated works, unevaluated listings in a subject matter index, or negative or neutral reviews have "little or no value."

Is labor certification required for this category?

No. This is a petition for the first preference employment-based category and all such petitions are exempted from labor certification

Assuming that I can prove I am recognized internationally, will I require a sponsor?

Yes. You will avoid the labor certification process, but sponsorship is required. If a university or other institution of higher education will employ you, you must be offered a tenured or tenure-track position as a teacher or in a permanent position as a researcher in your academic field. If a private employer will employ you, you must be offered a permanent research position in your academic field. In addition, the sponsoring employer must employ at least three full-time researchers and must have achieved documented accomplishments in the field.

Are there any experience requirements?

Yes. You must have at least three years of experience in teaching and/or research in the academic field.

Does my experience as a teaching assistant count?

No. You must have full responsibility for the class for the time to count towards the three year total.

What if my research experience was gained prior to the time I finished school?

This research may be used, but you must have since received your degree and your research must have been "outstanding."

What if I have two years of experience as a professor and one year of research experience?

As long as it adds up to the required three years, the experience is interchangeable. In the same vein, if your professorial experience totals three years, you can use it to qualify for a research position and vice versa.