United States · Work
United States EB-2 Advanced degree
EB-2 Advanced Degree or Exceptional Ability (with labor certification)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
EB-2 Advanced degree is a work route for United States. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $715
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$715
- $715Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online) plus USD 600 asylum programme fee (USD 300 small employer or self-petitioner, USD 0 nonprofit); premium processing USD 2,965.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years as a permanent resident
Naturalisation needs 5 years as a lawful permanent resident (3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen). Conditional residents generally cannot apply until the conditions are removed.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply from abroad through consular processing, or from inside the U.S. by adjusting status if you are eligible.
Presence rulesAbsence limits
A green card can be treated as abandoned after a long stay outside the U.S. A re-entry permit obtained before leaving, or a returning resident visa from abroad, helps show the absence is temporary.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in United States
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant has an advanced degree above a bachelor's, or a bachelor's plus 5 years of progressive experience.
- Alternatively, exceptional ability is shown by at least 3 of 6 criteria.
- Schedule A occupations (professional nurses, physical therapists and certain exceptional-ability fields) do not need an individual certification.
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of $715 · Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online) plus USD 600 asylum programme fee (USD 300 small employer or self-petitioner, USD 0 nonprofit); premium processing USD 2,965.
Steps1
- A U.S. employer files Form I-140 with an approved labor certification.
When you become tax resident
How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 31 days in the current calendar yearMinimum days of presence in the current year.
- At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- Foreign-source income
U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
All tax rules for United States Tax records checked
Full official text
Employer-petitioned second-preference green card for advanced-degree professionals and persons of exceptional ability, usually requiring a DOL-approved labor certification (Form ETA-9089). 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $715 · Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online) plus USD 600 asylum programme fee (USD 300 small employer or self-petitioner, USD 0 nonprofit); premium processing USD 2,965. 2
Requirements
- The applicant has an advanced degree above a bachelor's, or a bachelor's plus 5 years of progressive experience. 1
- Alternatively, exceptional ability is shown by at least 3 of 6 criteria. 1
- Schedule A occupations (professional nurses, physical therapists and certain exceptional-ability fields) do not need an individual certification. 1
- A U.S. employer files Form I-140 with an approved labor certification. 1
Stay
- Immigrant visa leading to lawful permanent residence.
Nationality
No nationality restriction; per-country limits apply to visa availability.
Work
Permanent resident work rights.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 (E-21, E-22).
Official sources
- Employment-Based Immigration: Second Preference EB-2 (incl. national interest waiver) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Consular Processing (USCIS Immigrant Fee) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Maintaining permanent residence · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
EB-2 Advanced degree and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 Advanced degree | – | – | – |
| E-3 Australian specialty | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| EB-1B Outstanding researcher | – | – | – |
| EB-1C Multinational manager | – | – | – |
| EB-3 Skilled worker | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the EB-2 Advanced degree?
A fee of $715. Form I-140 filing fee (USD 665 online) plus USD 600 asylum programme fee (USD 300 small employer or self-petitioner, USD 0 nonprofit); premium processing USD 2,965.
How long can I stay on the EB-2 Advanced degree?
Immigrant visa leading to lawful permanent residence.
Can I work on the EB-2 Advanced degree?
Permanent resident work rights.
Can I bring my family on the EB-2 Advanced degree?
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 (E-21, E-22).
How are EB-2 Advanced degree holders taxed in United States?
No special regime in our records is tied to the EB-2 Advanced degree. The standard rules apply: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
More in United States
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Employment-Based Immigration: Second Preference EB-2 (incl. national interest waiver) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Consular Processing (USCIS Immigrant Fee) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- Maintaining permanent residence · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.