EB-1B Visa USA: A Green Card for Outstanding Professors and Researchers
For professors and researchers with an outstanding record who have, or are close to getting, a U.S. employer offer, and who want to know before anyone files whether the EB-1B fits. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- The EB-1B is a green card for outstanding professors and researchers. A U.S. employer files for you on Form I-140. You cannot file it for yourself.
- You need international recognition, at least 3 years of teaching or research experience, and a job offer for a tenure or tenure-track role or a comparable research position.
- You show at least 2 of 6 criteria. No labor certification is required.
- A private employer must show documented accomplishments and at least 3 full-time researchers.
- If you have no employer, look at the EB-1A or the EB-2 NIW, which you can file for yourself.
Why do EB-1B plans stall?
Most EB-1B plans stall because the person has the record but not the employer, or the employer does not meet the rules. USCIS checks your recognition and your experience, and it also checks that the employer has a qualifying offer and, for a private employer, at least 3 full-time researchers. A plan that misses the employer step cannot be filed, and USCIS fees are generally not refunded if a petition is denied (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. You assume you can file for yourself, as with the EB-1A. You count teaching hours that are not a research or tenure-track role. Or you ask a private company to file without checking it has the research team USCIS expects.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel proud of your record, but stuck without a sponsor. You feel unsure whether your role counts. And you feel worried about asking an employer for something it cannot do.
None of that means your record is weak. It means the EB-1B depends on someone else’s signature. The sections below show what that person must prove.
Who is behind your EB-1B plan, and why trust them?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you check your fit and plan your evidence, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing. We also tell you straight when the EB-1A or the EB-2 NIW fits you better.
Empathy: We know how hard it is to wait on an employer when your record is already strong.
Authority: Amir Ismail has worked in immigration since 1991. Over 35+ years, our team has guided 25,000+ clients from Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. That includes many researchers and academics.
Philosophy: We believe you should check the employer step before you spend on evidence. We believe a good advisor tells you when another route needs no sponsor. And we believe you should know exactly who files your case.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you pick your U.S. route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Honest route check
We tell you when a route does not fit, before you spend money.
A plan for your profile
We look at your record, citizenship and capital, not a template.
Clear on who does what
AIA organizes your plan. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file.
A two-country view
We know the Canada and U.S. sides, so you can compare both.
Built for your passport
We check your citizenship first, so you never plan around a visa you cannot use.
Since 1991
35+ years in immigration, 25,000+ clients guided, and the 2026 Canadian Choice Award.
What is the EB-1B visa?
The EB-1B is a U.S. green card for outstanding professors and researchers who are internationally recognized in an academic field. A U.S. employer files Form I-140 for you, with a job offer for a tenure or tenure-track role or a comparable research position, and no labor certification is required (USCIS). Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be eligible for green cards through your case.
You need at least three years of teaching or research experience in the academic area. It is a green card, not a visa that expires.
Who qualifies for the EB-1B?
You qualify if you are internationally recognized for outstanding achievements in an academic field, have at least three years of teaching or research experience, and have a qualifying employer offer. You show at least two of six criteria, and a private employer must show documented accomplishments and at least three full-time researchers (USCIS). The employer, not you, files the petition.
What are the 6 EB-1B criteria?
The 6 criteria are the evidence types USCIS lists for the EB-1B, and you must meet at least two. They look for major recognition and a record of original work. Your attorney will map your evidence to each one (USCIS).
- Major prizes: you received major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement.
- Memberships: you belong to associations that require members to show outstanding achievement.
- Published material: others wrote about your work in professional publications.
- Judging: you judged the work of others, on a panel or on your own.
- Original research: you made original scientific or scholarly research contributions in your field.
- Books or articles: you wrote scholarly books or articles.
Can I file an EB-1B for myself?
No, a U.S. employer must file Form I-140 for you, and you need a job offer from that employer. If you have no employer, the EB-1A and the EB-2 NIW are green cards you can file for yourself (USCIS). Many outstanding researchers use one of those instead.
Who this is not for. If you have no employer, or your offer is not a tenure-track or comparable research role, the EB-1B does not fit. See the EB-1A, the EB-2 NIW and EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW.
Not sure which side of the line you are on? The short form tells you, in a few minutes.
What does AIA do for you?
We help you check your fit, test your evidence, and arrange an independent U.S. attorney for you who works with your employer. We do not file with USCIS or give U.S. legal advice.
| What we do | What you get | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Criteria check | Your evidence mapped to the 6 criteria | You see what counts and what does not |
| Employer check | A first view of whether the offer and employer fit | You do not plan around a petition that cannot be filed |
| Self-file fallback | A view on the EB-1A or EB-2 NIW if no employer is ready | You never leave with nothing |
| Independent U.S. attorney hand-off | A licensed attorney advises you and the employer, and files | You can trust the legal side |
Think of us as the person who reads the map with you. The attorney drives the car.
How the EB-1B process works
You take three steps: answer the short form, get your route review, and meet an independent U.S. attorney. AIA helps you check your fit and organize your evidence, and the attorney works with your employer on the legal work and the filing.
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us your field, your experience and your employer situation.
Step 2: Get your route review
If your answers fit the EB-1B, we call you to go over your evidence and your employer step.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you and the employer on the law, and the employer files Form I-140.
Find my U.S. route
Answer a few questions. A member of our team will contact you. No obligation.
AIA is not a law firm. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys we arrange for you under a signed agreement.
Questions about cost, time and results
Most people ask three things before they start: what it costs, how long it takes, and whether they will qualify. The answers below are honest and short. If yours is missing, the short form lets you ask.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, if the Form I-140 is approved, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be eligible for E-14 and E-15 immigrant status (USCIS). Their applications follow yours. Children who turn 21 may lose eligibility, so timing matters.
What does the EB-1B cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the government, the attorney, and the cost of gathering your evidence. Because the employer files, the employer usually deals with the filing costs, and your attorney will explain who pays what. Government fees are set by USCIS, and each attorney sets their own fees.
We do not quote fees on this page.
A wrong filing costs more than a good plan, because government fees are generally not refunded. Checking the employer step first is the cheaper path.
Will I qualify?
No one can promise you will qualify. The short form and route review tell you honestly where you stand, including when the EB-1B needs an employer you do not have yet. If another route fits better, we say so before you spend money.
A better-fitting route beats a hopeful filing.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep hoping an employer will solve it, and your evidence drifts without a plan. If you check your fit first, you know whether to build an employer step or file for yourself. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another year waiting on a sponsor. Papers and awards sit unmapped. A plan that cannot be filed costs you months.
If you act now: you know whether the EB-1B fits, you know what the employer must show, and you know who files. You feel relieved and confident, because the next step is clear. That is what we help you reach.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
U.S. legal scope. AIA is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in the United States. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys, chosen case by case for fit and cost, whom we arrange for you under a signed agreement. Any attorney-client relationship is between you and that attorney. AIA’s Canadian immigration services are separate. This page is general information, not legal advice.
