Does my academic experience and postdoctoral work count as experience time for the EB-1?

They can, but the EB-1 is not resolved by simply adding up time. Academic experience and postdoctoral work help build your profile, and immigration authorities look much more at the quality, relevance, and recognition of your activities than at any year count.

There is an expectation of experience for the track focused on outstanding professors and researchers, but the exact criteria and the time considered are defined by official rules and evaluated on an individual basis. Rather than trying to close a tally of years, focus on demonstrating the weight of what you have produced:

• Publications, research projects, and concrete results that show a meaningful contribution.
• Citations and recognition of your work by peers and specialists in your field.
• Letters and documents that substantiate your track record and the impact of each period.

Each case is analyzed based on the overall record presented. To understand exactly how your time in the field will be assessed, verify the current requirements on the official source (USCIS) and review your profile with a specialist before filing.

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.