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Green Cards for physicians
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EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Cards for Physicians
Physicians who have demonstrated "extraordinary ability" in the medical field are eligible to apply for U.S. Permanent Resident ("Green Card") status under the Employment-Based First Preference category known as EB-1A. EB-1A Green Cards can be filed with or without employer sponsorship, meaning you can file an EB-1A Green Card application on your own behalf.
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EB-1B Outstanding Researcher Green Cards for Physicians
Physicians working as Medical Researchers or Professors who can demonstrate international recognition for their outstanding achievements in an academic field are eligible to apply for U.S. Permanent Resident ("Green Card") status under the Employment-Based First Preference category known as EB-1B. You must also have at least 3 years experience in teaching or research and be seeking a Green Card to pursue a tenure, tenure-track, or comparable medical research position. EB-1B Green Card applications must be sponsored by a U.S. employer, which means an individual cannot file an application independently without employer support.
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National Interest Waiver (NIW) Green Cards for Physicians
Physician NIW
The NIW Green Card category includes a special subcategory (called the Physician NIW or Clinical NIW) available only to primary care physicians and specialists who commit to working five (5) years in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), Mental Health Professional Area (MPHSA; for Psychiatrists only) or at a Veteran Affairs facility. Dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and optometrists are not eligible for this category.
Some significant advantages for Physician NIW applicants include:
An exemption from the PERM Labor Certification requirement
The potential to secure an earlier priority date
The ability for some physicians to file adjustment of status applications prior to the completion of the required service commitment
The ability to self petition without an employer sponsor
Standard NIW
Physicians can apply for a green card under the standard EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) category, if they satisfy the following three criteria:
Your proposed work has both substantial merit and national importance;
You are well-positioned to advance your proposed work; and
When balancing all the factors, it would be in the national interest of the U.S. to grant you a waiver of the normal job and labor certification requirements.
NIW Green Cards can be filed with or without employer sponsorship, meaning you can file an NIW Green Card application on your own behalf. While most EB-2 Green Card applicants must go through the PERM Labor Certification process, you can avoid PERM Labor Certification if you qualify for a National Interest Waiver (NIW).
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PERM Labor Certification Green Cards for Physicians
Physicians may apply for a green card through the PERM Labor Certification process. PERM based green card applications must be sponsored by a U.S. employer and the employer is required to conduct a good faith test of the U.S. labor market to satisfy the U.S. Department of Labor that there are no available, qualified U.S. workers to fill the position.
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