EB-2 NIW
A green card without a job offer.
The National Interest Waiver lets you petition for yourself when your work serves a national interest.
The strategy session and the written assessment are free.
What the waiver actually waives
EB-2 NIW removes two requirements from the employment-based green card process: the job offer and the PERM labor certification. You file for yourself. No employer sponsors you, and no position has to be tested against the U.S. labor market.
- No employer sponsor and no PERM labor certification
- Your petition is not tied to one job or one company
- An advanced degree, or a bachelor's degree plus progressive experience
The three Dhanasar prongs
USCIS reviews every NIW petition under Matter of Dhanasar. Your proposed endeavor must have substantial merit and national importance. You must be well positioned to advance it. And waiving the job offer must benefit the United States.
- Substantial merit and national importance of the endeavor
- Your record, your skills and your progress so far
- Why the labor certification requirement should be waived here
How we build the petition
We start with the endeavor statement, because every other document points back to it. From there we map your evidence, name the gaps worth closing, and plan recommendation letters from people whose standing an officer can verify.
- A written assessment before you engage us
- Evidence mapped to each of the three prongs
- RFE and NOID responses inside the flat fee
Questions, answered.
Do I need a job offer for an EB-2 NIW?
No. The waiver removes both the job offer and the labor certification, so you file the petition yourself. Many clients do hold a job, and keeping it can help show you are positioned to continue the work.
Who tends to be a fit for this route?
Researchers, engineers, physicians and founders are common, along with people working in energy, climate and public health. The field matters less than the record: what you have done, what you plan to do next, and why it matters nationally.
How does EB-2 NIW compare to EB-1A?
Both are self-petitioned, so neither needs an employer. EB-1A is judged on sustained acclaim against a criteria list. NIW is judged on the endeavor and its national importance. Priority date waits also differ by country of birth.
What happens if the petition is denied?
We answer RFEs and NOIDs at no extra cost, and we review every remaining option with you, refiling included. Our attorney fee refund promise covers cases we accept. USCIS decides the outcome, and no firm can promise one.
See whether the NIW fits your record.
A free strategy session and a written assessment of your case before you pay us anything.