This category is for individuals who are recognized internationally as being outstanding in a specific academic area. The following documentation is required to establish the alien's eligibility for classification as an outstanding professor or researcher:

Evidence from as many of the following categories as possible:

1. Receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field;

Document the reputation of the organization granting the award, the significance of the award, and the criteria used to select the recipient.

2. Membership in associations in the academic field, which require outstanding achievements of their members;

Submit evidence of the requirements which must be met for membership.

3. Published material in professional publications written by others about the alien's work in the academic field;

Must clearly indicate that the work is significant. An unevaluated listing in a subject matter index or footnote, or a reference to the work without evaluation is insufficient. A much better indicator of the importance of the alien's work in the academic community is a thorough discussion or analysis of the beneficiary's work.

4. Participation on a panel, or individually, as the judge of the work of other professors, researchers and Ph.D. candidates in the same or an allied academic field;

Explain the criteria for selection as a panelist, reviewer, etc.

5. Original scientific or scholarly research contributions to the academic field;

Submit evidence of the importance of such contributions to the field. Evidence that those outside the alien's circle of colleagues and acquaintances consider the work important is especially valuable.

6. Authorship of scholarly books or articles, in scholarly journals with international circulation, in the academic field;

Explain the significance of the publications in which articles appeared.

Evidence that the beneficiary has at least three years of experience in teaching and/or research in the academic field. Note: This experience may include research or teaching conducted while working toward an advanced degree only if the research is recognized as outstanding or if the teaching duties entailed full responsibility for the class taught. This experience can be documented in a letter from the department head described below.

A letter from the department head indicating that you intend to employ the beneficiary in a tenured or tenure-track position as a teacher or in a permanent position as a researcher in the academic field.

Documentation should be well organized, with categories and supporting materials clearly labeled. There is no prescribed format for organizing, but a cover outline with sections and subsections labeled to correspond with the categories is desirable.