The “Schedule A Group II” category is an underused category of immigrant visa petition. The category does have highly restrictive requirements, but is useful in situations where an extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher, or exceptional ability/national interest waiver immigrant visa petition is not possible.Under U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulations, an employer in the sciences or arts seeking “labor certification” on behalf of qualified employees may file a Schedule A/Group II immigrant visa petition. The petition must contain the following:

• Documentary evidence testifying to the widespread acclaim and international recognition accorded the alien by recognized experts in their field; and
• Documentation showing that the alien’s work in that field during the past year did, and the alien’s intended work in the United States will, require exceptional ability.

In addition, the petition must contain documentation from at least two of the following seven groups to demonstrate the employee’s qualifications under this category:

1. Documentation of the alien’s receipt of internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field for which certification is sought.
2. Documentation of the alien’s membership in international associations, in the field for which certification is sought, which require outstanding achievement of their members, as judged by recognized international experts in their disciplines or fields.
3. Published material in professional publications about the alien, relating to the alien’s work in the field for which certification is sought, which shall include the title, date, and author of such published material.
4. Evidence of the alien’s participation on a panel, or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or in an allied field of specialization to that for which certification is sought.
5. Evidence of the alien’s original scientific or scholarly research contributions of major significance in the field for which certification is sought.
6. Evidence of the alien’s authorship of published scientific or scholarly articles in the field for which certification is sought, in international professional journals or professional journals with an international circulation.
7. Evidence of the display of the alien’s work, in the field for which certification is sought, at artistic exhibitions in more than one country.