EB-2 National Interest Waiver
Discuss your professional background, proposed work and the evidence to organize for a NIW assessment.
Bring your experience and proposed work into focus.
Discuss your professional background, proposed work and supporting evidence with our team.
Request a consultationWhat is the EB-2 National Interest Waiver?
The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a way to get a U.S. green card in the EB-2 category without a job offer and without PERM labor certification. You file the petition yourself, because your proposed work benefits the United States.
It suits professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability: researchers, engineers, doctors and health professionals, IT and data specialists, and entrepreneurs with a strong plan.
Who qualifies?
- 01
EB-2 eligibility
A master’s degree or higher, or a bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive experience in your field — or “exceptional ability” shown by several types of evidence.
- 02
Merit and national importance
Your proposed work has substantial merit and national importance, for example in health, technology, science, education or the economy.
- 03
Well positioned to advance it
Your education, track record, plan and progress show that you can actually carry out the work.
- 04
A waiver benefits the U.S.
On balance it benefits the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification. USCIS updated its guidance in January 2025 and has reviewed cases more strictly since.
The NIW process, step by step
- 01
Profile review and plan
We review your CV and help you define a clear, specific proposed endeavor for your work in the U.S.
- 02
Evidence and letters
Degrees, experience letters, publications or projects, citations, awards, media, and independent recommendation letters.
- 03
I-140 petition
Filed with USCIS; premium processing is available for an extra government fee.
- 04
Visa Bulletin, NVC and interview
After approval, you wait for your priority date. Bangladesh is in the EB-2 “rest of world” line: in the November 2026 bulletin the final action date was 1 April 2025. Then the NVC stage and the interview in Dhaka.
Family
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 receive green cards with you. Children who are close to 21 may be protected by the Child Status Protection Act — check with our child age (CSPA) calculator.
Your preparation, step by step
- 01
Start with your CV
Summarize qualifications, career progression and the work you intend to pursue in the United States.
- 02
Explain the proposed work
Describe the problem you plan to address, intended beneficiaries and practical next steps.
- 03
Map evidence to achievements
Organize projects, publications, professional recognition and independent evidence relevant to your plan.
- 04
Prepare assessment questions
Identify missing evidence and discuss the scope of a professional case assessment.
Common questions
Do I need a job offer for NIW?
No. That is the main difference from regular EB-2 and EB-3. You still need to show a credible plan for your work in the U.S.
How long does NIW take?
The I-140 can be decided in weeks with premium processing or months without it. The longer part is usually the Visa Bulletin wait for your country, followed by NVC and the interview.
Is NIW approval guaranteed?
No. Approval depends on the evidence and USCIS’s assessment, and refusals have increased since 2025. We tell you honestly if your profile is not ready yet.
Can I enquire before my documents are ready?
Yes. Start with a short summary of your background and questions. We can discuss which documents to prepare next.
What happens after I send an enquiry?
Use the consultation form to share your preferred service, language and contact details. GVS can discuss your circumstances and the service scope. Current clients can sign in to their portal.
How do I confirm costs and timing?
Ask for a written breakdown of service fees, third-party costs and responsibilities. Timing and outcomes depend on the case and relevant authorities; the website does not promise approval or a fixed completion date.
Official information
General information, not legal advice. Visa Bulletin dates change every month.
Useful next steps
Related reading
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