National Interest Waiver: Build Your Future in the United States
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) can provide a flexible path to permanent residence for entrepreneurs, professionals, researchers, and other highly qualified individuals whose work has important benefits for the United States.
Unlike many employment-based green card options, an NIW can allow you to self-petition without a permanent job offer or PERM labor certification. This flexibility can make the NIW particularly valuable for entrepreneurs, founders, independent professionals, and individuals whose careers do not fit neatly within a traditional employer-sponsored immigration process.
A successful NIW case must demonstrate that your proposed work has substantial merit and national importance, that you are well positioned to advance that work, and that, on balance, it would benefit the United States to waive the usual job-offer and labor-certification requirements.
National importance can take many forms. Your work might advance technology or scientific research, improve healthcare or public safety, strengthen an important industry, create jobs, contribute to the U.S. economy, or address another significant national need. The impact does not necessarily have to extend geographically across the entire country—the focus is on the broader prospective impact of your work.
For founders and entrepreneurs, evidence may include investment or venture funding, participation in accelerators, intellectual property, revenue and company growth, job creation, media coverage, awards, and support from investors, industry experts, government entities, or business organizations.
Attorney Jessica White helps clients identify the strongest aspects of their experience and develop a carefully documented NIW strategy that connects their accomplishments with the future impact of their work in the United States.
Is your work important to America’s future? Schedule a consultation with Attorney White to explore whether the National Interest Waiver could provide your path to permanent residence.