Self-petitioned green card
EB-2 National Interest Waiver
The NIW is one of the few U.S. green cards you can pursue entirely on your own — no employer, no job offer, and no labor certification. It rewards people whose work matters enough that the United States benefits from waiving the usual requirements.
What it is
A green card you petition for yourself
The standard EB-2 requires a U.S. employer to sponsor you and to test the labor market first. The National Interest Waiver removes both steps for individuals whose work is important enough that waiving them serves the country — putting permanent residence within reach without a sponsor.
Who it fits
The NIW suits skilled professionals, researchers and academics, physicians and healthcare specialists, engineers, and startup founders — people with either an advanced degree or exceptional ability in their field, and a record showing real impact and momentum.
How it is decided
USCIS weighs three things: whether your work has both substantial merit and national importance; whether you are well positioned to advance it; and whether, on balance, it benefits the United States to waive the job-offer and labor-certification requirements. A strong petition makes all three concrete with evidence, not adjectives.
What Privello handles
- An honest read on whether your record meets the standard
- Framing your work around merit and national importance
- Building the evidence — publications, impact, letters, metrics
- Drafting the petition and the legal argument behind it
- Planning for per-country waits where they apply
Compare with the EB-1A for top-of-field records
From anywhere
A route that does not depend on your nationality
Because the NIW is self-petitioned, you do not need a U.S. company to hire you first. Privello regularly works with applicants from India, China, Vietnam, and many other countries who are advancing important work and want a durable path to live in the United States.
Your country of birth can affect how long you wait for a visa number — but not whether you qualify. The standard is the same for everyone; what changes is the strategy and the timeline.
- Researchers and PhD holders
- Engineers and technical specialists
- Physicians and healthcare professionals
- Startup founders and entrepreneurs
- Skilled professionals with a record of impact
Common questions
Questions individuals ask
Do I need a U.S. employer for the EB-2 NIW?
No. The National Interest Waiver lets you petition for yourself, waiving both the job offer and the labor certification that the standard EB-2 requires.
What kind of work qualifies as in the national interest?
Work with substantial merit and national importance — across science, technology, business, healthcare, the arts, and more — where you are well positioned to advance it and a waiver benefits the United States.
Does my country of birth affect the timeline?
Yes. EB-2 is subject to per-country limits, so applicants born in countries with high demand, such as India and China, can face longer waits for a visa number even after the petition is approved.
Begin
Find out if the NIW fits your record
Tell us about your field, your achievements, and your goal. We'll give you a clear, honest read on whether the National Interest Waiver is your best route — in a first conversation.