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david_f1_phd
Oct 15, 2025, 10:00 AM1 min read

F1 PhD Student - Planning for Post-Graduation Immigration

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I'm a PhD student on F1 visa, 2 years into my program. Want to plan my immigration path. What options do I have?

My profile:

  • PhD in Machine Learning (expected 2027)
  • 5 publications so far
  • Working in professor's lab
  • Plan to work in industry after graduation

Options I'm considering:

1. H1B Lottery

  • Pros: Common path, employer sponsored
  • Cons: Lottery system, not guaranteed

2. EB1A (Extraordinary Ability)

  • Pros: Self-petition, no employer needed
  • Cons: High bar, need ...

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J
jin_eb2_niwOct 15, 2025, 12:00 PM

PhD in ML is perfect for immigration planning! Here's my advice:

  1. H1B lottery is risky - don't count on it
  2. EB1A is possible with strong publications but you need quality (conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, top journals)
  3. EB2 NIW is very viable for ML - frame it as AI national competitiveness
  4. OPT + STEM gives you 3 years, use that time wisely
  5. Cap-exempt at university is smart - build experience and publications there

I'd recommend: Try for postdoc/research position at university (cap-exempt H1B), start NIW or EB1A process immediately, then move to industry once GC is in progress.

ML/AI is hot for immigration right now. Play your cards right!

W
wei_eb1a_profOct 15, 2025, 2:00 PM

For EB1A from PhD:

Publication count isn't everything. Quality matters more. 10 high-impact papers with 500+ citations total is better than 30 papers with 100 citations.

Focus on:

  • Tier 1 conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR for ML)
  • High-impact journals
  • Citations - quality and quantity
  • Peer review work (join conference program committees)
  • Press coverage of your research

45 publications isn't required. I've seen EB1A approvals with 15-20 strong papers. Focus on impact.

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CreatedOct 15, 2025, 10:00 AM
Last ActivityOct 15, 2025, 2:00 PM

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david_f1_phd

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