Master the 3-Prong Test and build a compelling National Interest Waiver petition
Disclaimer: We provide profile building and application preparation services. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. Please consult an immigration attorney for legal guidance.
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a self-petitioned green card for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability whose work benefits the United States. Unlike traditional employment-based green cards, NIW allows you to:
No employer sponsorship required
Skip the lengthy PERM process
Work benefits the United States
EB-2 NIW is ideal for professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, and specialists in fields like:
Before applying for NIW, you must first qualify for EB-2 classification through either:
A U.S. master's degree or higher (or foreign equivalent), OR a U.S. bachelor's degree plus 5 years of progressive post-degree work experience
Qualifying Degrees: Master's, PhD, MD, JD, MBA, or bachelor's + 5 years experience
A degree of expertise significantly above the ordinary in sciences, arts, or business (meet 3 of 6 criteria)
To qualify for National Interest Waiver, you must satisfy all three prongs of the Matter of Dhanasar framework
Your proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance to the United States
You must demonstrate that your work has real value and broad implications for the U.S. This can be established through:
We help you articulate your proposed endeavor, identify its national importance, gather supporting documentation (publications, patents, media coverage), and craft a compelling narrative with concrete evidence of impact. We also help you obtain expert letters from recognized authorities validating your work's significance.
You are well-positioned to advance your proposed endeavor based on your education, skills, knowledge, and track record
You need to prove that YOU specifically have the qualifications, resources, and ability to successfully execute your proposed work. Evidence includes:
Academic Credentials
PhD, Master's degrees, specialized training
Publication Record
Peer-reviewed papers, high citations
Past Success
Completed projects, proven results
Expert Letters
Endorsements from field leaders
We conduct a comprehensive profile analysis, identify your strongest qualifications, help you document your track record with quantifiable achievements, and strategize on obtaining powerful recommendation letters. We also help fill gaps in your profile through targeted activities like publishing, speaking engagements, and professional recognitions.
On balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements
You must convince USCIS that the U.S. benefits more by allowing you to proceed without employer sponsorship. This is the "balancing test" where you demonstrate:
Simply showing you're qualified is not enough. You must explain why the U.S. specifically benefits from waiving the job offer requirement for YOUR case. Generic statements about field importance won't suffice—you need personalized, specific arguments.
We develop a tailored "balancing test" strategy specific to your situation, craft persuasive arguments for why waiving requirements benefits the U.S., gather supporting evidence (government policy documents, industry reports, expert opinions), and create a compelling petition narrative that clearly articulates the national interest served by your work.
Comprehensive support to strengthen your profile and prepare winning documentation
Comprehensive evaluation of your qualifications against EB-2 and NIW requirements. We identify your strengths and gaps, and assess your chances of success.
Personalized action plan to strengthen your profile. We prioritize activities that will have the most impact on your 3-prong test arguments.
Help crafting a compelling description of your future work that clearly demonstrates substantial merit and national importance.
Organize and document your qualifications: publications, patents, awards, media coverage, recommendation letters, and proof of impact.
Identify ideal recommenders, provide letter templates, and coach on what strong letters should emphasize for each prong of the test.
Help quantifying and documenting the impact of your work: citations, downloads, adoption metrics, economic benefits, social impact.
Guidance on targeting high-impact journals, conference strategy, and increasing visibility of your research work.
Strategies to gain media coverage, awards, and professional recognition that strengthen your national importance argument.
Assistance with I-140 form completion, supporting documents organization, and ensuring your petition package is complete and compelling.
Both are self-petitioned green cards, but have different requirements and standards
| Factor | EB-1A | EB-2 NIW |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Extraordinary ability (top of field) | Advanced degree or exceptional ability |
| Education Requirement | None (achievement-based) | Master's or higher (or Bachelor's + 5 years) |
| Criteria to Meet | 3 out of 10 EB-1A criteria | All 3 prongs of Dhanasar test |
| Focus | Past achievements and recognition | Future work and national benefit |
| Processing Time | ~12-16 months (premium: 45 days) | ~12-18 months (no premium) |
| Ideal For | Established experts, award winners, cited researchers | Emerging professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers with important work |
| Difficulty | Higher - requires extraordinary evidence | Moderate - more accessible |
Which should you choose? If you're early in your career or don't have extensive awards/recognition yet, EB-2 NIW is often more attainable. If you have strong evidence of extraordinary ability (major awards, high citations, media coverage), EB-1A may be worth pursuing for faster processing.
Based on our experience with successful NIW cases
Define specific, concrete work you'll do in the U.S., not vague job descriptions
Use numbers: citations, users, revenue, jobs created, patients helped, etc.
5-6 letters from independent experts who can speak to your work's significance
Show work impacts beyond local area: multiple states, nationwide, or U.S. interests abroad
Demonstrate past success executing similar projects, not just theoretical capability
Align with current U.S. priorities: AI, healthcare, climate, economy, security
Let's evaluate your eligibility and create a winning strategy for your National Interest Waiver petition
Important Reminder: We provide profile building and application preparation services. We are NOT attorneys. For legal representation, please consult a licensed immigration attorney.