A U.S. employment-based second-preference category for qualifying professionals with advanced degrees and individuals of exceptional ability, with a National Interest Waiver available for qualifying cases.
EB-2 is an employment-based second-preference immigrant category available to qualifying members of the professions holding advanced degrees and individuals of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.
For the standard EB-2 route, the immigration process generally involves a qualifying U.S. job offer and labor certification. Certain applicants may instead seek a National Interest Waiver, which can waive the job-offer and labor-certification requirements when the applicable standard is met.
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EB-2 has two underlying qualification routes, and some qualifying applicants may also seek a National Interest Waiver.
For qualifying professionals who hold a U.S. advanced degree or foreign equivalent, or a qualifying U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent followed by at least five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty.
For individuals in the sciences, arts, or business who can demonstrate expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in their field and meet the applicable evidence requirements.
The underlying EB-2 classification and the National Interest Waiver should be understood separately.
Qualifying members of the professions who meet the applicable advanced-degree standard.
Individuals with expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business.
A discretionary waiver within EB-2 that may waive the job-offer and labor-certification requirements.
The evidence depends on the route you are pursuing and the facts of your individual case.
An NIW is not a separate EB-2 visa category. It is a discretionary waiver within EB-2 that may waive the job-offer and labor-certification requirements when the applicant first qualifies for EB-2 and then establishes the applicable national-interest standard.
USCIS uses the Dhanasar framework for NIW adjudication: substantial merit and national importance of the proposed endeavor, being well positioned to advance that endeavor, and showing that, on balance, the United States would benefit from waiving the job-offer and labor-certification requirements.
Discuss an NIW Profile →A strong EB-2 presentation connects your qualifications, professional history and proposed U.S. work to the requirements of the specific classification you are pursuing.
Discuss Your Evidence →Start with your profile, identify the appropriate route, and organize the evidence around that route.
Review qualifications and immigration goals.
Identify the relevant EB-2 qualification route.
Organize documents around the case requirements.
Coordinate the relevant filing process.
Continue support through the next stages.
General information about the EB-2 classification and National Interest Waiver.
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This page provides general information about EB-2 immigration and is not legal advice, an eligibility determination, or a guarantee of approval. Immigration rules, forms, filing procedures, fees, visa availability, and government guidance may change. Applicants should verify current requirements with official U.S. government sources and obtain qualified legal advice where appropriate.