I’m on a B-2 and a school wants to hire me as a professor. Can I go straight to EB-1B?

There is no direct path here, and it is important to keep these two things separate. The B-2 is a visitor visa, for tourism or temporary visits, and does not authorize paid work, including teaching. The EB-1B, on the other hand, is a green card category for outstanding professors and researchers with international recognition in their field.

Receiving a job offer does not automatically change your status. The EB-1B has specific requirements that rule out any notion of instant approval:

• It requires an employing institution to petition on your behalf.
• It requires demonstrating outstanding achievement and recognition through publications, research, awards, and reference letters.
• It is evaluated individually, even when a job offer already exists.

In the meantime, working as a professor while on a B-2 is not permitted. The correct path involves adjusting your status through the appropriate channel before you begin working, which may include intermediate steps and categories depending on your profile and what the institution can offer.

Since timelines, requirements, and procedures change frequently, it is worth checking the latest rules at the official source (USCIS) and planning the transition with a specialist before formally accepting the position.

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.