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Can you live in a different state from where the university is located, under EB-1B?

Under EB-1B, living in a different state is usually possible: what matters is maintaining your employment relationship and meeting the visa conditions. Confirm the terms with your institution.

Written by

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Updated on July 11, 2026
1 min read
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Generally, yes. The EB-1B does not dictate which state you must live in. What sustains the visa is your employment relationship with the university or research institution and compliance with the conditions under which it was granted, not your home address.

In practice, living in another state is often possible when your role allows for such an arrangement, which has become increasingly common with remote or hybrid work formats. The key factor is that this be aligned with your contract and your institution’s policies.

  • The employment relationship with the sponsoring institution must be maintained.
  • The remote work arrangement must be provided for or authorized by the employer.
  • Significant changes to your role or location may require attention to your status.

Before relocating, confirm the terms of your employment with the institution and check the current rules at the official source (USCIS) or with a specialist, to ensure that your new residence does not conflict with your immigration obligations.

Learn more about EB-1

Category
EB-1 Green Card (1st priority)
Requirement
Extraordinary ability
Self-petition
Allowed (no sponsor needed)
Processing
6-18 months
All about EB-1

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.

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Can you live in a different state from where the university is located, under EB-1B?

Under EB-1B, living in a different state is usually possible: what matters is maintaining your employment relationship and meeting the visa conditions. Confirm the terms with your institution.

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