Nonimmigrant visa

Green card

Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia

Outstanding Professors and Researchers

Accountants, Computer analysts, Graphic designers, Pharmacists, Physical therapists, Engineers, Teachers, Lawyers, Environmental scientists

Professors, Researchers, Academic scholars, Senior university faculty members

• You must be a citizen of Australia.

• You must hold a 4-year bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience (three years of professional experience for each missing year of formal education).

• The job must be a specialty occupation, requiring specialized knowledge typically obtained through a bachelor's degree or higher. This includes roles in fields like engineering, mathematics, and technology, where the complexity of the tasks necessitates advanced education.

• The employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the position — a rate set by the U.S. Department of Labor based on the occupation, work location, and level of experience. This wage is not flexible and must be met at a minimum.

• Demonstrate international acclaim in an academic field by meeting at least 2 of 6 required evidence criteria, such as receiving prestigious awards, authoring scholarly books or articles, or contributing original scientific or scholarly research to the field.

• You must possess at least 3 years of experience in teaching or research.

• You must secure a tenure-track or comparable research position in the U.S. with an employer that meets specific research capabilities.

• You must be sponsored by a U.S. university, institution of higher education, or a private employer that employs at least 3 full-time researchers and can document achievements in an academic field.

• The U.S. employer must demonstrate the ability to pay your salary.

• Easy renewal process with the option to extend stay.

• Far less competitive than the H-1B visa, as it does not require an annual lottery.

• Requires minimal applicant qualifications beyond a college degree or professional experience.

• Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.

• No labor certification is required, simplifying the application process.

• Offers the fastest pathway to a green card among EB categories.

• Lower standard (outstanding recognition) compared to EB-1A (extraordinary ability).

• Requires employer sponsorship and a job offer in a specialty occupation.

• Requires sponsorship and a permanent job offer, limiting flexibility.

• Only available to candidates with high-level job offers in research or academia.

• Rigid requirements apply to both the petitioner and the beneficiary.

Required

Required

2 years

Permanent residency

Indefinitely, 2-year increments

Every 10 years

2-3 months

10-18 months¹

No

15 business days²

Yes

Yes

-

¹Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.

²Available for only the first stage of the process.