What is EB-1b status?
EB-1b is for Outstanding Professor or Researcher (OPR). It is available primarily for our academic staff researchers and scientists who meet the federal standards for this type of petition. See below for more information. Status may also be available for incoming faculty who already have received tenure.
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GENERAL TIMELINE
EB-1B OPR Petition
- Involves two (2) steps
- Entire process can take generally 1-2 years (more for some individuals)
- Does not require a test of the national labor market (i.e. a national recruitment)
- No time limit based on offer letter date. The UW can file these types of petitions at any time during the employee’s career at the UW.
- Please talk to your department chair and dean’s office if you are interested in this type of petition. They will reach out to IFSS to begin the discussion.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
- Tenured faculty who appear to meet the “Outstanding Professor” qualifications, regardless of when the initial offer letter was issued
- High level research staff and scientists who hold or have been offered a permanent research position in the Researcher or Scientist title series and who appear to qualify for the “Outstanding Professor/Researcher” (OPR) category, regardless of when the initial offer letter was issued.
WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE?
An individual who was previously on a J-1 or J-2 visa and is subject to the two year home residency requirement is not eligible for PR until the individual has either waived that requirement or been in their home country for two years.
DEPENDENTS
When a foreign national obtains permanent residence, the spouse and all children under the age of 21 are also eligible to receive permanent residence, as long as they were included in the application.
HOW DO I REQUEST THAT UW–MADISON SPONSOR PR FOR ME?
The decision to file a permanent residence application must be authorized by the appropriate Dean’s office in consultation with IFSS. No promises can be made to current or prospective employees that the University will file or obtain permanent residence on their behalf. The petitioning process is lengthy, involving up to three government agencies, and the final decision to grant the permanent residence must be made by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. It is never a certainty that the permanent residence will be approved.