I.
You are a tenure-track assistant professor,
and the university is starting your Green Card.
For professors & researchers
U.S. Green Card strategy for professors and researchers
If you are a tenure-track faculty member, a postdoc with a strong publication record, or an industry research scientist, you likely have more Green Card options than you realize — and the right one depends on your publication record, your institution, and where you are in your career. At Manifest, our attorneys help researchers figure out which path actually fits their record, their timeline, and their tenure clock.
- Flat fees with flexible payment plans.
- Ex-USCIS officer review available on every plan.
- Live case tracking through the Manifest portal.
- Deep experience with R1 universities, national labs, and industry research institutes.
*Representative image — not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Find your path
What Green Card options does a researcher typically have?
The EB-1B is designed for outstanding professors and researchers, and it is the standard path for tenure-track faculty and PIs because it skips PERM, uses academic-friendly evidence, and lines up cleanly with university hiring committees. The EB-1A, the EB-2 NIW, and the EB-2 PERM are also available.
Common starting points for researchers
II.
You are a senior postdoc
or research scientist with a strong publication record.
III.
You are an industry research scientist
at a national lab or corporate research institute.
/Do you qualify
Your Green Card options
EB-1B — Outstanding Professor or Researcher
For tenure-track faculty, PIs, and senior researchers at universities or qualifying institutions. The EB-1B is the headline option for academic and research talent. It is employer-petitioned, so your institution files it, but it skips PERM entirely. To qualify, you need at least 3 years of teaching or research experience in your field, a job offer for a tenured, tenure-track, or permanent research position, and the job must be at a university, accredited institution, or a private employer with a research division that has at least 3 full-time researchers and a real track record in the field.
EB-1A — Extraordinary Ability, Self-Petition
For researchers with national or international recognition, with no employer required. The EB-1A works best when you have strong public proof of expertise — highly cited papers, major grants, society awards, plenary talks, or editorial roles. You self-petition, so you control the timeline and are not tied to your current institution.
EB-2 NIW — National Interest Waiver, Self-Petition
For researchers whose work clearly benefits the U.S., without meeting the EB-1A bar. The EB-2 NIW is the best fit for postdocs and early-career researchers whose work is clearly in the national interest — climate, public health, AI safety, defense, energy — but who do not yet have an EB-1A record.
Meet our experienced attorneys
Our immigration lawyers are more than credentialed. They are personally committed to your outcome. Only 1% of attorney applicants are selected to work with Manifest, and they bring the care, insight, and precision needed to craft complex cases at the highest level.
Jeff Joseph
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
30+ Years of Experience
Gregory Boult
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
25+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Rami Lee
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
18+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Evan J. Law
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
17+ Years of Experience1,300+ Cases Filed*
Ana Senior
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
14+ Years of Experience1,200+ Cases Filed*
Lahaina Araneta McBeth
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
12+ Years of Experience4,800+ Cases Filed*
Avalon L. Paul
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Ana Gabriela Urizar
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience15,000+ Cases Filed*
Amanda Mitchell
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
9+ Years of Experience2,500+ Cases Filed*
Nicole Gunara
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
7+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Rashmi Bishnoi
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
6+ Years of Experience2,500+ Cases Filed*
Henry Lindpere
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience700+ Cases Filed*
Bruna Maciel Soledade
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience1,150+ Cases Filed*
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Our approach
Why clients trust Manifest’s immigration lawyers
Here is what our clients get on every Manifest case.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour. Payment plans are available.
03
Live case tracking
The Manifest portal shows every status update, every document, and your next step in real time.
04
Built around your calendar
We plan around tenure clocks, semester start dates, conference cycles, and grant deadlines. The attorney reviewing your file will already understand what a strong h-index, an NSF CAREER award, or an editorial board seat actually means for your case.
05
Money back guarantee
If conditions are met and your visa isn’t approved, you get a refund of all or part of your legal fees.
/Success stories
Helping researchers build their future in the U.S.
From EB-1B petitions for tenure-track faculty to self-petition EB-1A and NIW cases for postdocs and industry scientists, we’ve helped researchers pick the path that fits their record and timeline.
- Research Professor Completes Permanent Residence After Her EB-1
Research Professor Completes Permanent Residence After Her EB-1
Rami Lee helped a Chinese professor complete her path to permanent residence with an adjustment of status package following her approved EB-1 petition. The underlying case featured her research on healthy aging backed by hundreds of scholarly citations, selective fellowships, leadership roles in national professional associations, extensive peer reviewing, and university press coverage of her work.
Read more - Clinical Professor Answers an RFE to Secure Her EB-1A
Clinical Professor Answers an RFE to Secure Her EB-1A
Adam Smith helped a Canadian clinical assistant professor overcome a Request for Evidence issued on her EB-1A petition. The response reinforced her academic record and standing in her field, securing approval of the extraordinary-ability case and her path to permanent residence.
Read more - A Postdoc's 500 Citations Answer a Complex EB-1A RFE
A Postdoc's 500 Citations Answer a Complex EB-1A RFE
Sang Kim helped a Brazilian postdoctoral researcher overcome a complex Request for Evidence and win approval of his EB-1A petition. Building on the two criteria USCIS had already conceded - scholarly publications and peer review - the response leveraged the researcher's 500+ citations and highly specific third-party expert letters to establish his original contributions and sustained impact in his field.
Read more - Portuguese Professor and His Wife File Adjustment on a Current Priority Date
Portuguese Professor and His Wife File Adjustment on a Current Priority Date
Ana Urizar helped a Portuguese professor and his wife reach the final stage of permanent residence with an adjustment of status package built on his approved EB-1 outstanding-professor petition. With a current priority date, the couple filed their green card, work permit, and travel document applications together, carefully coordinated with their existing H-1B statuses at a major public research university.
Read more
/Testimonials
Client stories
Discover how Manifest has helped clients navigate the visa process and read their success stories.
Very professional, Simon and Dan responded to my clarifications with satisfaction. prepared my case with detailed documentation and got my approval from USCIS. Highly recommended for individuals looking for GC process under employment-based category
Gurinder Singh
I have worked with Dan and Simon directly, and my experience has been like no other. It feels like I'm talking with actual people who care about my case. Any questions I had, they were happy to assist me with in a very short time and make sure everything was clear before moving on to the next thing. I will definitely be working with them again in the future.
Sandra Rocha
I had an amazing experience with Manifest Law from the first intake interview, through a fast and professional process of working on the file, to a straightforward approval of my case. Catlea Bobis is a superstar attorney, and I recommend everyone considering trusting your case to professional support like I had with Catlea and the entire team at Manifest Law.
Irina Batukhtina
*Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
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EB-1B Green Card: Criteria, Requirements & How to Qualify
Caryl Espinoza JaenUnderstanding the EB-1 Visa: Key Differences Between EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C
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Caryl Espinoza JaenThe EB-1A vs. EB-2 NIW: Which Self-Petition Green Card Is Right for You in 2026
Caryl Espinoza JaenEB-1B Green Card: Criteria, Requirements & How to Qualify
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Caryl Espinoza Jaen/FAQs
Common questions researchers ask about Green Card options
Which option leads to a Green Card fastest?
For most countries, EB-1 categories have the most favorable priority dates. The EB-1B skips PERM and is often the fastest employer path for tenure-track faculty. The EB-1A is also fast when your record supports it, and you control the filing timeline because it is a self-petition. The right answer still depends on your evidence and country of chargeability — something a strategy call can map.
Which option gives me the most flexibility?
The EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are self-petitions, so your Green Card is not tied to one employer or university. The EB-1B is employer-petitioned and requires a qualifying permanent or tenure-track research role. If you want your timeline independent of the university’s process, self-petition is usually more flexible.
Do I need an employer sponsor for any of these?
Yes for the EB-1B — your institution files it. The EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are self-petitions and do not require an employer sponsor. EB-2 PERM, when used, also requires an employer to run labor certification.
What if I do not qualify for the EB-1B yet?
You may still have a strong path through the EB-1A if you have public proof of expertise, or through the EB-2 NIW if your work is clearly in the national interest. Many postdocs and early-career researchers start on NIW or EB-1A while building toward an employer EB-1B later.
Can I pursue more than one of these at the same time?
Yes. Filing more than one petition is common where the record supports it, and it can protect your timeline if one path moves slowly. Whether stacking makes sense depends on your evidence, institution, and priority date.
How much does the whole process cost end to end?
Manifest quotes a flat fee upfront on your strategy call rather than billing by the hour, and payment plans are available. The exact figure depends on which pathway you file and which service plan you choose.
Money-back guarantees and refunds are subject to the terms of the selected service plan and engagement agreement.
