An "Outstanding Researcher or Professor" petition [EB-1(B)] is for those who are internationally recognized as outstanding in a particular scientific or scholarly field.
There are three main requirements for someone seeking a petition as an "outstanding researcher":
* Recognition internationally as outstanding in a specific academic field .
Proof that one is recognized internationally as an outstanding researcher in his or her field requires at least two of the following types of evidence:
* Evidence of receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field;
* Membership in associations in field which require outstanding achievements of their members;
* Published material in professional publications written by others about the alien's work in the field (more than merely citing the alien's work);
* Evidence of participation as a judge (individually or as a part of a panel) of the work of others in the alien's field or an allied field of specialization;
* Original scientific or scholarly research contributions in the field; or
* Evidence of authorship of scholarly books or articles in scholarly journals with international circulation.
* At least three years of research experience in the field . Research experience obtained while in pursuit of an advanced degree (such as a Ph.D.) can be counted toward the three years, but research during this time must be recognized as outstanding. Alien must document his/her work history with letters from former employers describing work duties and years of employment; and
* An offer of a research position with no fixed term (this is also called a permanent job offer). Such an offer is typically through a university or similar academic or scientific institution, but can be through a private employer. If the offer is from a private employer the employer must have at least three full-time researchers and documented accomplishments in the research field.
A permanent job offer is one where the employee would have a reasonable expectation of employment forever. As a general rule, all job offers are permanent jobs. The only exceptions would be contractual jobs that specify the length of employment. Even part-time jobs can be permanent if there is no fixed date of termination.
As with all first preference petitions, no labor certification is required. However, the person seeking permanent residence status on the basis of EB-1(B) outstanding researcher classification must have the requisite job offer, and the employer is the party to file the petition on behalf of the alien.
