Green card

Green card

Outstanding Professors and Researchers

National Interest Waiver

Professors, Researchers, Academic scholars, Senior university faculty members

Entrepreneurs, Researchers, Physicians, Industry experts, Innovators, STEM professionals

• 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.

• You must hold an advanced degree (master's or higher), possess a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive work experience, or demonstrate exceptional ability in your field by showing at least 3 of 6 requirements, such as maintaining membership in professional associations and earning recognition for your contributions to your industry from peers or professional organizations.

• Demonstrate that you will work on a proposed endeavor with substantial merit and national importance, and provide evidence that you are well-positioned to advance this work.

• 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).

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

• Flexible requirements, making it suitable for a variety of profiles.

• Does not require employer sponsorship or a job offer, providing significant independence.

• Eliminates the need for the lengthy labor certification process.

• 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.

• Requires a high burden of proof to demonstrate both national interest and exceptional ability.

• USCIS has broad discretion in deciding whether your permanent residency aligns with the national interest.

Required

Not required

Permanent residency

Permanent residency

Every 10 years

Every 10 years

10-18 months¹

24-30 months¹

15 business days²

45 business days

Yes

Yes

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

²Available for only the first stage of the process.

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