EB-2 covers three routes: the Advanced Degree Professional category (a master's or higher, or a bachelor's plus five years of progressive experience, with a permanent job offer); Exceptional Ability (a comprehensive record of achievement in sciences, arts, or business, with a job offer); and the National Interest Waiver (NIW), which waives the job offer and labor certification requirement for those who can show their work is in the national interest of the United States.
Among the three NIW prongs, the proposed endeavor is often the one that decides a case. It requires showing the work has substantial merit and national importance, with a clear, well-evidenced narrative of what you specifically plan to do — not just letters describing your significance in general terms. Strong petitions pair a detailed work plan with letters of support, concrete evidence, evidence of industry recognition, and, where available, quantifiable economic or social impact.
We assess which EB-2 route fits — employer-sponsored or self-petitioned NIW — build the record, and file the I-140. PERM-based EB-2 cases add the labor certification process ahead of the I-140 filing; NIW self-petitions can move directly to the I-140.