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Immigration Visas

EB-2 Visas
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What is an EB-2 Visa

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The EB-2 visa is a second-preference employment-based immigrant visa (green card) for individuals who are:

  1. Professionals with advanced degrees, or

  2. Individuals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.

This visa category leads directly to a green card, and while it generally requires employer sponsorship, there’s a special exception (the National Interest Waiver) that allows self-petitioning in some cases.

 Key Benefits:

  • Path to permanent residency

  • National Interest Waiver allows for self-petition (no job offer required)

  • Ideal for researchers, physicians, professionals, and entrepreneurs

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Everything you need to know about EB-2 Visas

There are three main ways to qualify:

EB-2A: Advanced Degree

You must have:

    • A U.S. master’s degree or higher, or

    • A foreign equivalent, or

    • A bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of progressive work experience in the field

    • Must be applying for a job that requires an advanced degree

    • Must be sponsored by a U.S. employer

    • Requires a PERM labor certification (unless waived)

EB-2B: Exceptional Ability

  • You must show a degree of expertise significantly above what’s normally encountered in your field (sciences, arts, or business)

  • Must meet at least 3 of 7 criteria, such as:

    1. Academic records

    2. Letters from employers

    3. Membership in professional associations

    4. Recognition in your field

  • Requires employer sponsorship and PERM labor certification

National Interest Waiver (NIW)

  • For individuals who can demonstrate their work has substantial merit and national importance

  • Waives the need for an employer or PERM process

  • You must show:

    1. Your work has national importance

    2. You’re well-positioned to advance your field

    3. It’s in the national interest to waive the job offer and labor certification

  • Common among researchers, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, and climate/tech specialists

  • Generally longer than EB-1, especially for countries like India or China

  • Premium processing available for NIW and PERM-based cases

  • Wait times vary by country and visa bulletin status

  • You haven’t met in person in the last 2 years (without a valid exception)

  • You or your fiancé(e) are already married

  • You fail the background or financial checks

  • You don’t meet the education or experience requirements

  • Your employer doesn’t complete the PERM process (unless using NIW)

  • Your work doesn’t rise to the level of national interest (for NIW)