My younger sibling is considering pursuing a PhD in English in America. He graduated Summa Cum Laude (BA English) and wants to quit his corporate job in India working as a PM and pursue a PhD here. Do you know if completing a PhD in the US will help him get an EB1 GC? Changelog: Updated post for general EB1. Update: I left India about a decade ago. People say it's changed. The toxic judgemental and social policing habits are so apparent and obviously prevalent still (just read all the comments, most of them aren't even related to the immigration process). I wouldn't have thought asking a simple question with a curious mind about people's experience with this path would bring on so much negativity and toxicity. #workvisa
No. It will be used as a stepping stone and will help him for EB-2 NIW if he's in a relevant field but what they're going to be interested in is what he did after the PhD for EB-1. Source: PhD working on EB1
So technically isn't the academic contribution through research papers enough evidence to generally guarantee a strong case for a EB1? I think EB1 B is the category for outstanding researchers right?
EB-1B is for professors or those with a large amount of publications and citations. But that isn't the only factor, the important thing here is just a handful of papers isn't good enough, you need an overwhelming amount of reasons why this person is important for EB-1 status.
EB1 is hard enough for STEM, god help someone wanting it with an English degree
What's your basis for the statement that getting EB1 with an English degree is hard.
Read EB1 requirements. You gotta show publications, patents, media coverage, awards etc, and support letters stating that the applicant is one of the top few in the world in their field.
Na nothing in eb1a requirements about having phd
EB1 requirements, no mention of PhD https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-first-preference-eb-1
PhD in English is the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard of
Yes! If they accumulate a lot of accolades etc publish books etc during their PhD
Unless they publish like an NYT bestseller during their PhD, almost impossible to get EB1. USCIS still looks at STEM PhDs favorably but non-STEM degrees won't cut it unless they already achieved significant success. By success, I mean the likes of winning a Pulitzer or selling over a million copies of their book, etc. A PhD in English just won't cut it. Many of those already who are US citizens struggling to even meet their ends.
Thanks for the note about STEM major vs non STEM I'll research a bit more on this. About his job prospects. I'm not concerned because he has already done a research term at Harvard to follow his passion, has always been a straight A student, was headboy for his school and he has a salary that's more than what most engineering students make in India (by a margin infact)and that's doesn't account for the fact that he doesn't live in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 city. I know it sounds unreal but that's part of the reason why my family and I are proud of his achievements. That he's doing better than most people after taking the less trodden path.
Lol. Ask your cousin to do the research. If they are thinking of doing a PHD, they should be able to do the research themselves. Moreover, luckily for your cousin USCIS guidelines are written in English 😂.
No. It will not help. You need to read EB1 requirement carefully. Not all PhD get EB1.
Can you link the article?or guideline?