EB-1B for Iranian Nationals

EB-1B applicants from Iran are likely to face more intensive manual vetting and potential delays. In the absence of a bilateral sharing agreement, DHS will likely maximize internal federal database checks to compensate for the lack of cooperation from the Iranian government.

The fee hike raises the cost for Iranian researchers seeking expedited adjudication. While Iranian applicants may face additional administrative processing, this specific fee increase is a uniform financial impact.

Section 2(h) maintains the full suspension of immigrant entry for Iranian nationals. While the proclamation provides an exception for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution, most high-skilled EB-1B applicants will be barred from entry unless they are dual nationals of a non-designated country or obtain a national interest waiver.

Given existing geopolitical tensions, enhanced vetting protocols often result in lengthy Section 221(g) administrative processing for Iranian researchers. This policy formalizes more rigorous scrutiny of their institutional affiliations and research history.