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EB-2 NIW green card in the USA — National Interest Waiver

EB-2 NIW green card (a waiver in the national interest of the USA) — self-sponsorship without an employer. For specialists with an academic degree or exceptional skills.

Price from
$6,000
Timeline
4–6 months
Tax
Format
Remote and in person

What the service includes

Scope: a tick means included in the price, a cross means billed separately
Assessment against the National Interest Waiver criteria
Preparing the I-140 petition and the national interest justification
Running the case through to the USCIS decision
The USCIS filing fee for Form I-140 and the Asylum Program Fee— billed separately
Premium processing on Form I-907 (optional, for a separate fee)— billed separately

What we need from you

  • 1International passport
  • 2An academic degree above bachelor's level or documents evidencing exceptional ability
  • 3A justification that the applicant's work is of substantial significance for the national interests of the USA

Frequently asked questions

What does National Interest Waiver mean in the name EB-2 NIW?
The waiver is a release from two of the usual EB-2 requirements: a job offer from an employer and Department of Labor labour certification (PERM). USCIS grants it if it accepts that the applicant's work serves the national interests of the USA.
Who can apply for the EB-2 NIW?
Specialists with an academic degree above bachelor's level (or a bachelor's degree plus 5 years of progressive experience in the field), or people of exceptional ability in science, the arts or business whose work is of substantial significance for the USA.
How much are the USCIS filing fees in this category?
The basic fee for Form I-140 is USD 715; the Asylum Program Fee is charged separately — for an individual NIW applicant it is reduced to USD 300. Expedited handling on Form I-907 is separate, for an additional fee.
How long is an EB-2 NIW petition considered?
Without expedited handling the timeline depends on the workload of the service centre. With premium processing (Form I-907) under classification E21 (NIW), USCIS undertakes to respond within 45 working days — longer than the 15 days for most other EB-2 categories.
How does the EB-2 NIW differ from the EB-1A?
The EB-1A is intended for extraordinary ability with international recognition and sets a higher evidential bar. The EB-2 NIW is for specialists with an academic degree or exceptional ability whose work matters specifically for the national interests of the USA; the evidential threshold here is lower, but a separate justification of that significance is required.

Residence permit in the US: comparison

The difference is not the price — it is who each option suits. The “Best for” column is the business profile the option is built around.

OptionBest forTimelinePrice from
Work permit (EAD) in the USA — Form I-765Relocators, families, remote professionals1–4 months$400
Travel Document in the USA — Form I-131Relocators, families, remote professionals1–4 months$400
B1/B2 tourist visa in the USA — DS-160 + appointment + preparationRelocators, families, remote specialists1–4 months$500
Status extension in the USA — Extension of statusRelocators, families, remote specialists1–4 months$1,000
Change of status (COS) — Inside the USARelocators, families, remote specialists1–4 months$1,500
F-1 student visa in the USA — School selection + I-20 + preparationApplicants and students enrolling on a full-time programme in the USA, those who need help choosing an accredited school and arranging the I-201–4 months$1,500
Political asylum in the USARelocators, families, remote specialists1–4 months$1,500
O-1 talent visa in the USAAcademics, artists, athletes and entrepreneurs recognised in their field, those who already have a US employer or agent ready to file the petition1–4 months$2,500
K-1 fiancé(e) visa in the USA — ProcessingRelocators, families, remote specialists1–4 months$3,000
Family reunification in the USA — CR-1 / IR-1Relocators, families, remote specialists1–4 months$3,500
E-2 visa in the USA — Investor visaEntrepreneurs who are citizens of countries with a treaty with the USA and are ready to run the business themselves, investors who have already invested, or are ready to invest, capital in an operating enterprise in the USA1–4 months$4,200
L-1 visa in the USA — Manager transferManagers and key employees of companies opening an office or a branch in the USA, businesses with an existing related structure abroad and in the USA1–4 months$4,800
EB-2 NIW green card in the USA — National Interest Waiveryou are hereSpecialists with an academic degree or exceptional skills, those who can justify the significance of their work for the USA without a sponsoring employer4–6 months$6,000
EB-1A green card in the USA — Extraordinary abilitiesAcademics, entrepreneurs and professionals with international recognition, those who can evidence extraordinary achievements without a sponsoring employer4–6 months$7,500
Terms

The terms the expert works on

Prepares the documents and evidence file personally

Assembles and formats the whole package — from forms to achievement evidence for the petition — so it does not come back for rework.

Checks the case against USCIS requirements

Matches the documents to the specific visa category's criteria before filing, not after a denial.

Handles a Request for Evidence at no extra charge

If USCIS sends an RFE on the petition, prepares the response without an additional fee for the case itself.

A US immigration attorney runs the case

The petition is prepared and filed by a lawyer practising US immigration law, not an unlicensed consultant.

Names the price at the consultation, before work starts

The cost is quoted right after the case review — before the petition is drafted — and is not revised upward later, whatever happens along the way.

Matches the category to your profile

If the facts do not support one visa category, proposes the one the case actually fits, rather than forcing the filing into the category you asked for.

Deals with USCIS and the consulate directly

Responds to the agency's requests and prepares you for the interview personally, with no chain of intermediaries.

Ready to start?

Send an enquiry — we will check your case and help you arrange “EB-2 NIW green card in the USA — National Interest Waiver” in US. No markup on top.