There are several very specific requirements that a petitioner must meet in order to be qualified as an outstanding professor or researcher. These qualifications are defined by statue (8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(1)(B)) implementing regulations (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)), and USCIS policy and practice (e.g. AFM). The juxtaposition of these different sources of authority can be summarized as follows for the main criteria that must be met to make a prima facia showing of qualification for the EB-1B petition category:
1. Provide evidence that the beneficiary is international recognized as being outstanding in a specific academic field;
2. Provide evidence that the beneficiary has at least three years of relevant research or teaching experience. This can include experience obtained while in pursuit of an advanced degree but only if the individual had full responsibility for the class being taught or the research was recognized as outstanding.
3. Provide evidence that the beneficiary has a job offer for a permanent research position or a tenured track teaching position from the sponsoring employer. If the job is through a private employer, they must have at least three full-time researchers.
4. Provide evidence that the beneficiary seeks to enter the U.S. to continue to work in the area for which they are claiming extraordinary ability; and
5. Provide evidence that the beneficiary will substantially benefit prospectively the U.S.