PhD x Journals 101

Hey there,

Aizada here.

Writing this with a full inbox and a lot on my mind.

If you're an international student, H-1B worker, or green card applicant, this week's updates are important.

Yup, the US immigration is cracking down — liking or sharing content seen as offensive or politically sensitive could now cost you your visa.

In other news, over 300 international students recently lost status, some without warning. If you're at risk, talk to an immigration lawyer ASAP.

As of April 11, the Trump administration has started enforcing an old law from 1940: the Alien Registration Requirement (ARR).

Now, you might have already heard of it and maybe even been tempted to focus on volume or niche journals.

But for your immigration case, where you publish can be just as important as what you publish.

But why?

Because USCIS doesn’t care how many papers you’ve published. They’re instead looking for proof that you’ve made a major impact in your field.

So, to make your publications count—aim for prestige, not just acceptance.

Go for high-impact, peer-reviewed journals that are respected in your area.

Here are some examples:

Artificial Intelligence

• NeurIPS – One of the top AI conferences. They have a 22% acceptance rate. Submissions open in May, and decisions come by August.

• IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis – A major name in CS and AI. The impact factor of 24.314 shows that.

Biotech

• Nature Biotechnology – Has a fast turnaround (11 days to first decision). Great for high-visibility results.

• Cell Systems – Has a 10-day fast track for preprints. A solid choice if you’re short on time.

Engineering

• IEEE ICRA 2025 – A big one for robotics and automation. Submit by October and you’ll get a decision in January.

• Their conference brings together global innovators and provides great exposure.

Confused if you qualify?

Doing peer reviews? You should.

It’s a big deal for your O-1A, EB-1A, or NIW petition.

Why? Because it proves you're trusted to evaluate others’ work. It shows that your expertise is not only valued, but also influential in your area of research.

USCIS sees that as a sign of leadership in your field. It shows them that you’re not just contributing—you’re shaping your field.

What Success Looks Like

• 5–10 reviews from Q1 journals or top-tier conferences

• Reviews for publications with impact factors >5 or ranked in top 25% (Q1) via JCR or SJR

• Reviews completed within the last 3 years (recency matters)

• Verification on Publons, ORCID, or Web of Science

• Named as a regular reviewer or editorial board member? Even better.

So, here's how to make it count:

1. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

   Focus on top-tier journals and conferences in your field, like:
   • Nature

   • IEEE Transactions

   • NeurIPS

   • The Lancet

   • Journal of Finance

   These carry the most weight and will be noticed by USCIS.
   

2. Verify the Journal’s Standing

   Use tools like JCR (Impact Factor) or Scimago (SJR) to confirm the journal’s standing. Aim for Q1/Q2 journals to make sure your peer review activities are aligned with industry standards.
   

3. Document Everything

   Save your invites, thank-you letters, and screenshots. Platforms like Publons and Web of Science can help you log verified reviews, adding legitimacy to your record.
   

4. Be Proactive

   Make sure your profiles (like ORCID and ResearchGate) are up to date. Reach out to editors to let them know you're available for reviewing. Staying active and visible in the peer review process shows that you’re still very much at the top of your game.
   

5. Conference Reviews Matter Too

   Even if you’ve reviewed papers for conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, or IEEE, it counts. Especially in areas like AI, data science, and CS, these reviews carry significant weight in proving your expertise.

Listing your reviews isn’t enough. For immigration purposes, they need to be positioned in a way that tells a compelling story—backed by documentation, context, and impact.

With proper documentation, it becomes one of the easiest yet most impactful ways to strengthen your case for extraordinary ability.

How We Can Help You

I know what you're going through.

Before starting Alma, I watched brilliant friends with PhDs struggle through the visa process while trying to focus on their groundbreaking research.

You shouldn’t have to become an immigration expert just to stay in the U.S.

That’s why we help researchers like you:

We’ve helped dozens of researchers go from stressed-out to O-1A approved. And we’d love to help you too.

Wrapped up the first-ever Lawyers Panel + Office Hours during the Stanford Law Hackathon.

I was not expecting it, but over 400 signed up, and it felt great!