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Houston Immigration Lawyers > Blog > EB-2 Visa > The Benefits Of A National Interest Waiver

The Benefits Of A National Interest Waiver

ImmigrationPolicy

A National Interest Waiver – or “NIW,” for short – is an immigrant arrangement that offers a wide variety of unique benefits.

Going over these benefits and how they affect one’s life in the United States, while speaking with an immigration lawyer, will allow an immigrant to live a good life in the United States.

What Is A National Interest Waiver? 

A National Interest Waiver is, just as the name suggests, a waiver. This waiver, when obtained, allows an immigrant to live and work in the United States, without needing to obtain a labor certification or permanent job offer.

For example, if an immigrant obtains an NIW along with an EB-2 visa, they can enter and live in the United States while starting their own business or pursuing their own venture.

The above is true, even if the immigrant does not have a job offer or labor certification which, with a standard immigration visa, they would need if they wanted to live/work in the United States.

What Are The Benefits Of A National Interest Waiver? 

A wide variety of benefits are available to immigrants who obtain an NIW. Some of the most notable, of these benefits, are as follows:

  • If an immigrant obtains an NIW, then doing so will often take less time than obtaining labor certification.
  • If an immigrant obtains an NIW, they can work on their own projects and goals.
  • If an immigrant obtains an NIW, then they do not need labor certification.
  • If an immigrant obtains an NIW, they can be self-employed, if they choose to do so.
  • If an immigrant obtains an NIW, then they do not need a permanent job offer.
  • If an immigrant obtains an NIW, they can switch jobs with ease, compared to other arrangements.

Every single one of the benefits outlined above allows an immigrant to live, and work, in the United States, in a manner that aligns with their wishes and goals.

Just as an example, if an immigrant doesn’t want to have a permanent job but, instead, wants to be self-employed, then an NIW will allow them to do so.

Outside of that possibility, a wide variety of other, equally flexible and open-ended, possibilities arise, when an immigrant obtains an NIW.

How Can An Immigrant Obtain A National Interest Waiver? 

To obtain an NIW, an immigrant must:

  • Demonstrate that the endeavor they have proposed has substantial merit.
  • Demonstrate that they are well-positioned to advance their proposed endeavor.
  • Demonstrate that it would benefit the United States to give them an NIW.
  • Demonstrate that the endeavor they have proposed is of national importance.

If an immigrant can demonstrate the above, and if they satisfy the visa requirements that they are applying for, then it is very likely that they will be able to obtain an NIW.

Speak With A Houston EB-2 Visa Lawyer 

If you would like to obtain an EB-2 NIW visa, so that you can live and work in the United States without a permanent job offer or labor certification, you must work with a lawyer.

Speak with a Houston EB-2 visa lawyer at BBA Immigration and we will help you obtain an EB-2 visa, along with an NIW that goes along with this visa.

Sources: 

uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-6-part-f-chapter-5

uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-second-preference-eb-2

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