For EB-1B, the offer is for an ‘indefinite senior researcher’ position, but without tenure. Does it qualify?

As a general rule, it can qualify. For the EB-1B, the green card category for outstanding professors and researchers, what matters is a permanent offer from an institution of higher education or a qualifying research organization. And permanent is not the same as formal tenure: it means the position is not temporary, and that it has a stable, ongoing character.

An offer described as indefinite, with no set end date, tends to qualify precisely because it signals continuity. What the reviewing authority looks at is whether the institution intends to keep the researcher as a lasting part of the team, contributing to the advancement of research or teaching, even if no formal tenure system exists.

Some indicators that help establish this permanence:

• Employment without a predetermined end date, rather than a contract tied to a specific project.
• The position described as ongoing within the research or faculty body.
• The institution’s commitment to sustaining the role over the long term.

Even so, the offer is only one piece of the puzzle: the EB-1B also requires evidence of international recognition and outstanding achievement, and each case is evaluated individually. It is worth confirming current requirements with USCIS and working with a specialist to align the offer letter language before filing.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.