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Securing a National Interest Waiver (NIW) for an EB-2 visa may seem challenging, but it offers a streamlined and rewarding path to a U.S. green card for highly qualified professionals. While the standard employment-based green card process typically involves multiple steps—such as a job offer, labor certification, and a permanent resident petition, the NIW allows certain individuals to bypass some of these requirements by demonstrating their work benefits the U.S.
Although the process requires careful preparation, the NIW provides a unique opportunity for skilled professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs to fast-track their immigration journey. With the right strategy and strong supporting evidence, applicants can significantly enhance their chances of success and secure a valuable EB-2 green card.
The National Interest Waiver petition is a request seeking to waive the labor certification requirements of an employment-based visa, arguing that granting the waiver is beneficial to the United States. If granted, you will be able to:
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To qualify for a National Interest Waiver, individuals must demonstrate an advanced degree or exceptional ability and meet three factors considered by USCIS to determine whether waiving the job offer and labor certification is in the national interest. The three factors USCIS evaluates are:
Whether the person’s proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance
Whether the person is well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
Whether waiving the job offer and labor certification would benefit the United States
If you are looking for a National Interest Waiver for your EB-2 visa, an experienced immigration lawyer can make a big difference. Here are some reasons why hiring an EB-2 NIW lawyer is essential:
Learn all about how you can choose the best immigration lawyer for your needs.
While the criteria might appear daunting, approaching the process from the right perspective will make a big difference in your application process and help avoid denial at the end. The following guidelines will help you in getting approval for your NIW petition:
While there is no law compelling you to hire an attorney for your immigration, with the increasing denial rate of employment-based green card applications recently, it is always best to be guided by a professional. Having legal counsel for the NIW process will save you time, money, and help prevent denial.
The NIW process contains several aspects that must be fulfilled, and a single mistake could lead to months or years of delays, not to mention outright denial. To start with, an attorney will look at your qualifications, past achievements in your field, and the nature of your proposed endeavor and help you determine if getting an NIW is your best available option. Schedule a consultation with our senior immigration lawyer to discuss whether EB-2 NIW is right for you.
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It’s never been easier to hire international workers
The required evidence depends on the specific field of your proposed endeavor along with your academic qualification, job experience, and biographic data. Some of the generally required items for the NIW process include:
These documents must be presented, drafted, and addressed according to the USCIS requirements to avoid rejection. Inadequate preparation of your NIW petition and documents is a direct route to a Request for Evidence (or RFE). Your letters of petition, recommendation, and resume must demonstrate your eligibility for an NIW and show that your request meets each of the three prongs of the National Interest Waiver requirements.
These documents must be presented, drafted, and addressed according to the USCIS requirements to avoid rejection. Inadequate preparation of your NIW petition and documents is a direct route to a Request for Evidence (or RFE).
Your letters of petition, recommendation, and resume must demonstrate your eligibility for an NIW and show that your request meets each of the three prongs of the National Interest Waiver requirements.
The applicant (or their attorney) submits Form I-140 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with the supporting evidence and required filing fees.
This is the step in which the NIW Waiver is requested
Learn about navigating the NIW process for pilots.
USCIS will review the petition and may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) if additional documentation is needed. This can be avoided by using an experienced NIW immigration attorney.
We’ve helped numerous U.S. companies hire international workers by securing NIWs for their EB-2 visas. Getting the best immigration outcome is our number one priority for every client. Obtaining EB-2 NIW is one of our employment immigration specializations, and this is what Shilpa Malik, our leading business immigration lawyer with vast experience with EB-2 NIW Waivers, had to say about our practice in this area:
“In my experience, EB-2 NIW green cards are one of the most sought-after employment immigration pathways for international workers. Our personalized approach, attention to detail, and expertise in obtaining NIWs can increase your chances of success and save you time and stress. Let us help you achieve your employment immigration goals.”
One of our recent EB-2 NIW success stories involved assisting a senior medical physicist with multiple degrees and certifications to secure approval for an EB-2 green card via the National Interest Waiver (NIW). The client was initially declined for EB-1A, which made the NIW application complex. However, after the firm gathered the necessary evidence and convincingly argued the case, our client’s employment immigration proceedings were a success.
Before 2016, National Interest Waiver petitions were reviewed using the 1998 NYSDOT criteria, which were later found to be somewhat unclear. The process was revised by the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision in the Matter of Dhanasar, 2016.
The latest update:
In this video, our team explains some important EB-2 NIW points, including:
Now, to satisfy the requirements for the National Interest Waiver, you must be able to prove that your proposed endeavor in the U.S. meets the following three crucial elements:
For you to be considered for an EB-2 NIW, the first criterion is proof that your proposed endeavor in business, entrepreneurship, technology, science, culture, education, or health is of substantial merit and national interest.
The endeavor must be beneficial to the United States as a whole, and not local or regional in nature. Though the AAO ruled that an applicant does not necessarily have to show the endeavor’s economic benefits to the U.S., its potential still needs to be established. You will need to convince the USCIS that your employment or entrepreneurship, though it may be within a particular location, will eventually be beneficial on a national scale either directly or indirectly.
This second prong is to determine whether you are well-positioned to advance the endeavor. The USCIS decision on this will be based on your skills, education, experience, and past achievements in the proposed area of specialization. It will also look at a plan for future activities, progress towards realizing the proposed endeavor, and the interest of those who will benefit from the endeavor such as potential users, customers, investors, as well as other individuals or entities. Satisfying NIW requirements can be extremely difficult. Schedule a consultation with our senior immigration lawyer to learn more about NIW and employment immigration options for your business.
Obtaining a PERM Labor Certificate is the first crucial requirement for most employment-based U.S. visas. This is to protect the interest of both foreign and U.S. workers. The U.S. Department of Labor created the mandate to ensure all alien workers are treated fairly by their employers.
The office is interested in the contracted agreement between a prospective employer and the foreign national applicant to ensure that the same compensation and favorable working conditions deemed for U.S. workers are given to the applicant.
In the same vein, the PERM protects the jobs of U.S. workers by ensuring that an alien’s proposed employment will not adversely affect the interest of the U.S. workers. Thus, an EB-2 visa can only be granted provided that there are no qualified U.S. workers who are interested in the position.
However, in a situation where the national interest is involved, this requirement can be waived. You must prove that the national interest would be affected if you are subjected to the labor certification application process. You may also need to show how it will be against the general national interest if the employer were to be denied your service and the job were to be given to a less-qualified U.S. worker. The USCIS will look at your petition and consider whether its derivative benefits to the U.S. truly justify the requested waiver. It will also consider if your proposed contribution to the national interest is urgent enough to warrant waiving the labor certification process.
If you are an employee, you can prove your job to be of national importance by the potential, experience, qualifications, past achievements, and location of your job offer. For example, a physician’s practice would be considered of national importance if he or she agreed to work in an underserved area to help improve the quality of life of U.S. residents.
Also, as an entrepreneur, a well-detailed business plan that emphasizes the number of U.S. workers your business will employ, the proposed social responsibility of your business, and every other key feature of the investment will be helpful in this regard.
Though the Matter of Dhanasar has brought about positive results and a clearer understanding of the NIW requirements, it is still within the discretion of the USCIS to grant or deny a petition. Some applicants might still receive a denial for lack of clarity when proving they have satisfied each of the three prongs, despite being qualified for the waiver. Your immigration attorney will help you highlight the importance of your proposed endeavor in the following ways:
A National Interest Waiver request may be denied for many different reasons. Some reasons for NIW denials include being ineligible, errors on the part of the petitioner or beneficiary, lack of clarity on fulfilling the requirements, and inappropriate filing of the petition. If your request is denied by the USCIS, you may be able to appeal the decision. However, the best thing is to avoid this right from the onset by hiring the service of an experienced NIW attorney.
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Unlock the power of hiring foreign workers
If you are seeking to immigrate to the U.S. for employment, there are several options available to you. Here are some alternatives to the EB-2 visa:
As you can see, the National Interest Waiver process requires thoroughness and meticulous documentation. With the help of one of the best EB-2 NIW lawyers you can greatly improve your chances of being approved.
VisaNation Law Group’s highly experienced NIW lawyers have helped countless foreign nationals file their NIW petitions and obtain their green cards. They will help you with your case and guide you through the process from start to finish. To get in touch with our office, you can schedule a consultation with us today by filling out this contact form.
