To qualify as an Outstanding Professor or Researcher, you must meet the following basic requirements:

• Hold a tenure-track faculty position or have a permanent job offer; and,
• Have at least 3 years of prior teaching or research experience (can include Ph.D. or post doctorate research if that research has been recognized as "outstanding").

In addition, you must also meet at least 2 of the following 6 alternative criteria:

• Received major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement
• Belong to associations that require outstanding achievement;
• Published material (written by others) about your research;
• Served as judge of the work of others in your field;
• Contributed original work to your field; and/or,
• Authored scholarly articles or publications.

Process:  This process does not require a labor certification; however, you do require a permanent job offer and you must also clearly demonstrate that you are in fact “outstanding.”  You can then concurrently file Form I-140 and Form I-485 including all supporting documentation with USCIS.  You can also apply for and receive work and travel authorization while the application is pending with USCIS.  Or, you can only file Form I-140 and proceed with Consular Processing.