EB-2 NIW Visa. Self-petition for permanent residency.
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver lets exceptional researchers, professionals, and entrepreneurs petition for a U.S. Green Card without an employer sponsor or labor certification — when their work serves the national interest of the United States.
What is the EB-2 NIW? Explained.
The EB-2 NIW is a second-preference employment-based immigrant visa with the labor certification requirement waived in the national interest. Unlike traditional EB-2, you do not need a U.S. employer, a permanent job offer, or PERM labor certification.
Eligibility is governed by the 2016 Matter of Dhanasar precedent decision. The endeavor you propose to pursue in the U.S. must have substantial merit and national importance; you must be well positioned to advance it; and on balance, waiving the labor certification must benefit the United States.
Successful NIW petitioners are typically STEM researchers, healthcare professionals, technology entrepreneurs, and specialists whose work intersects with U.S. economic, scientific, public-health, or national-security priorities.
Why the EB-2 NIW is a powerful path.
No employer sponsorship
Self-petition without a U.S. job offer or sponsor.
No labor certification
Skip the PERM process — file directly with USCIS.
Faster processing
Significantly shorter timeline than employer-sponsored EB-2.
Family benefits
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 receive Green Cards too.
Work flexibility
Change employers freely without re-filing the petition.
Path to citizenship
Permanent residency, then U.S. citizenship eligibility in 5 years.
EB-2 NIW Visa requirements breakdown.
Applying for the EB-2 NIW means meeting both the underlying EB-2 classification AND the National Interest Waiver criteria under Matter of Dhanasar.
1. Eligibility
EB-2 Classification
- Advanced degree (Master's, PhD) OR Bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience
- OR exceptional ability in sciences, arts, or business
- Evidence of qualifications and field-specific accomplishments
2. NIW (Dhanasar)
National Interest Waiver
- Proposed endeavor has substantial merit AND national importance
- You are well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
- On balance, beneficial to the U.S. to waive labor certification
How to apply for an EB-2 NIW: Step-by-Step.
Free Evaluation
Submit the NIW questionnaire. We assess your profile against Dhanasar within one business day.
Petition Strategy
Engagement letter, evidence plan, and expert letter list tailored to your endeavor.
Filing with USCIS
I-140 petition with cover brief, exhibits, and (where eligible) premium processing.
Approval & Next Steps
Adjustment of status (I-485) in the U.S. or consular processing abroad.
Your best choice for an EB-2 NIW Visa.
Strategic evaluation
Rigorous Dhanasar three-prong analysis before we accept your case.
Evidence engineering
We help you secure citations, letters, and proof points that win.
Petition craftsmanship
Each brief is written from scratch — no templated USCIS filings.
Recommendation network
Guidance on independent and dependent expert letters.
Premium processing
Where eligible, we file for 45-day adjudication on your behalf.
Post-approval counsel
Adjustment of status, consular processing, and family inclusion.
“NIW is won on evidence, not adjectives.”
— The Keystone Standard
Here's how we overcome them.
Common NIW pitfalls — vague endeavor statements, weak national-importance framing, citation profiles without independent reviewers, and recommendation letters that sound boilerplate — are precisely what causes RFEs and denials.
Keystone treats every NIW as evidence engineering. We help you sharpen your proposed endeavor, position your record against Dhanasar prong-by-prong, identify the right mix of independent and dependent recommenders, and present citations and impact metrics in a way that USCIS officers can verify quickly.
The result is a petition that reads like a closing argument — every claim documented, every prong satisfied, and nothing left for the adjudicator to infer.
Start your EB-2 NIW journey today.
Free, confidential evaluation against the Matter of Dhanasar framework. Senior counsel response within one business day.
Frequently asked questions.
Quick answers to common EB-2 NIW questions.