Interim Decision #1663 

MATTER BASU 

Iu. Visa Petition Proceedings 

A-11700754 

'Decided by District Director June 13, 1363 

Since a biochemist is a member of the professional occupations in biological 

sciences and such professional occupations are within the meaning of 

sections 101(a) (32) and 203(a) (3) or the Iminigration and riattonality Act, 

as amended by P.L. 89-236, a visa petition is appioved to accord beneficiary, 

a qualified biochemist, third preference classification under the quota. 

Discussion: The petition was filed to accord the beneficiary a 

third preference classification as a member of the professions based 

upon his qualifications as a biochemist. The beneficiary is an unmarried, male, native and citizen of India, age 28, presently residing in Baltimore, Maryland.. 

The beneficiary received a bachelor of science degree in 1958 from 

the University of Calcutta in India, a master of science degree in 

1060 from the University sof Calcutta in India, and a doctor of 

philosophy degree in biological chemistry in April 1966 from The 

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has been employed as a biochemist from February 1966 to date by the MoColluraPratt Institute and Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins 

University, Baltimore, *Maryland. The beneficiary intends to engage in liis profession in the United States as si biochemist. 

A certification pursuant to section 212(a) (14) of the Act, as 

amended, has been issued by the Department of Labor. 

Biochemists are listed among professional occupations undei code 

0-07.02 in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Volume II, second 

edition, prepared by the Department of Labor. In the third edition 

of the above publication, biochemists are listed under professional, 

technical, and managerial occupations, code 041_081. Occupations 

in this biological scientist group are concerned with research in the 

reproduction, growth and development, structure, life processes, behavior, and classification of living organisms and the application of 

• 77'T 
Interim Decision #1633 

findings to the prevention of disease in the maintenance and promotion of health in plant and animal life. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1966-67 edition, of the United States Department of 

Labor, states that young people seeking professional careers in the 

biological sciences should plan to obtain an advanced degree, preferably a doctor of philosophy degree. This Handbook further states 

that a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the biological sciences 

is adequate preparation for beginning jobs; that a master's degree 

can qualify for most positions in applied research and for some types 

of positions in college teaching and basic. research; and that the 

doctor of philosophy degree is generally required for higher level 

college teaching positions, for independent research; and for positions 

involving the aliministration of research. The average (median) 

annual salary for biological scientists was $10,700 in 1964, according 

to National Science Foundation's National Register of Scientific and 

Technical Personnel. 

From the foregoing it has been established that the beneficiary is 

a qualified biochemist and as such is a member of the professional 

occupations in biological sciences. Included within the occupations 

in biological sciences are anatomists,' biochemists, biologists, bio-. 

physicists, botanists, entomologists, geneticists, microbiologists, mycologists, parasitologists, pharmacologists, physiologists, plant nematologists, plant pathologists, and zoologists.1The professional occupations in biological sciences are considered to be within the meanidg of sections 101(a) (32) and 203(a) (3) of the Act, as amended. 

ORDER: It is ordered that the petition be approved and the 

beneficiary accorded third preference under Section 203(a) (3) of 

the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. 

Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Volume II, Third Edition, pp. 486, 46T. 

778