United States
EB-2 NIW Visa for STEM
The United States EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) for STEM professionals is a permanent residency visa category for individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
United States EB-2 NIW Visa for STEM
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Advantage
- Green Card: Obtain unconditional permanent residence status for the applicant and family members.
- Dependents Included:
- Spouse (including same-sex spouses)
- Children under 21
- Rights: Live, work, and study in the USA.
- Fast Processing: Faster processing time compared to other green card routes such as family sponsorship.
- Path to Citizenship: Eligible for U.S. citizenship after 5 years of residence.
Requirements
To qualify, applicants must meet at least three of the following criteria:
- Experience: At least 10 years of full-time experience working in the STEM field.
- Licensure: Licensure to practice your profession.
- Salary: Evidence of earning a salary in the top 70% of STEM field experts in your country of employment at some point in the last 5 years.
- Professional Membership: Proof of membership in an acceptable professional association.
- Recognition: Recognition of achievements in the STEM field from peers, government entities, or professional/business organizations.
- Comparable Evidence: Any other evidence that makes your background and experience special or noteworthy (e.g., management or academic duties, publications, or speeches).
Process
- Application Submission: Submit the completed application forms and required documents.
- National Interest Waiver: Obtain the National Interest Waiver, which waives the job offer requirement and the need to prove that there are no available American workers for the position.
- Visa Filing: File for the immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate abroad, allowing the applicant and family members to obtain their immigrant visas.
- Arrival in the U.S.: Upon arrival, receive Green Cards via mail.
- Processing Time: Typically, 8-12 months for individuals not born in India or China. The processing time may vary depending on the applicant’s country of birth, consular processing time, and whether retrogression is in effect.
Important Note
The National Interest Waiver eliminates the requirement for a job offer and the need to demonstrate the unavailability of American workers for the position. The criteria for eligibility include both objective and subjective elements. If you have any unique qualifications or experiences, it is important to highlight them in your application. The specified requirements reflect the minimum comfort level for a successful petition.
