Are you a professional working in a field with National Interest? EB-2 NIW may be right for you

Green card without sponsorship and without attorneys:
you can do it too!

About me: A DIY applicant with a successful green card petition

My name is Oscar and I am just a scientist who a few years ago decided to apply for EB2 NIW permanent residency in the US. Even though I had no other help than a couple of friends who had gone through similar processes, and what I could find online, I ended up sending my application to USCIS.

No lawyers. No high commissions, or long waits. Just the government fees and the processing time as published in the official bulletins. I received my approval in a few months. In this website I tell you more about my case and about this green card category.

I have direct experience with the following visas and green cards: J-1, F-1, F-1 on OPT, H-1B, EB-2 NIW and EB-1. As you can see, I had quite the experience with the US immigration system! 

Besides my own case, I have reviewed more than 100 petitions and have helped dozens of applicants win their EB-2 NIW self petitions through my online course.

What can you find on this website?

In this site I compiled all the information I wish I had when I started this journey of Green Card petitioning. You can also find me on my YouTube channel Oscar’s Green Card

Not legal advice

I am a scientist, not a lawyer. This website is just for educational, motivational purposes, and is not legal advice. You are free to use this information at your own risk. 

Latest Posts

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Approval rates per country for EB-2 in the last decade
We frequently discuss the approval rate statistics for EB2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) or for the general EB-2 category. The EB2 category is the overarching class to which NIW green cards belong to....
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USCIS info on new ETA-9089
USCIS adopts new version of ETA-9089
Over a year after the Department of Labor issued a new version of form ETA-9089, USCIS has finally adopted it for EB-2 NIW petitions. The changed happened on November 6 and is reflected on the official...
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FY2024 Q3 approval data EB2 NIW
Fiscal Year 2024 Quarter 3 approval data
USCIS just published the data for approval rates in the employment-based green card categories. This includes approval and denial rate data for the EB2 NIW category. In the National Interest Waiver category,...
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Cost of lawyers for EB2 NIW petitions
If you’ve ever looked into applying for a green card through the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) or EB1A Extraordinary Ability categories, you’ve likely encountered the high costs associated with...
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The Labor Shortage trap: avoid this common mistake in EB2 NIW
When crafting an EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition, it’s crucial to understand which arguments will strengthen your case and which can severely weaken it. One of the most common mistakes...
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George EB2 NIW
EB2 NIW Success: George, an Artistic Endeavor Can Win
Recently I sat down with George, a musician who successfully navigated the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) process, for an interview for my YouTube channel. George is an EB2 NIW online course member! His...
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Cristina EB2 NIW success mental health
EB2 NIW success: Cristina, a mental health counselor
Cristina was born in Venezuela and is also a European citizen. She is a mental health counselor who recently received approval from USCIS for an I-140 in the EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) green card...
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Pasha, smart manufacturing engineer who obtained an EB2 NIW approval without lawyer
Pasha, a smart manufacturing engineer
Pasha is a Russian PhD student in SMART manufacturing engineering in North Carolina. Even before graduating as a Doctor he decided to pursue an EB2 NIW green card by himself, without a lawyer, so he and...
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USCIS fee increase summary table
USCIS increases all fees: the effect on EB2 NIW
We knew it since January 2023: USCIS had plans to increase processing fees all across the board. The final rule is now public and in this article we will discuss the main changes and how the fee increase...
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Approval rates per quarter in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023
EB2 NIW Approval Rates are going down
USCIS has issued the data for I-140 approvals for the full Fiscal Year 2023 that ended in September 2023. The agency publishes this data on a quarterly basis and it is a good way to follow trends on percentage...
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EB2 NIW Success Story: Ali, securing the Internet of Things
Ali is a cybsercurity professional who recently obtained his I-140 approval towards an EB2 NIW green card. In this category, the petitioner must prove he is an advanced degree holder (or a person of extraordinary...
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Premium Processing fees increase in 2024
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that Premium Processing fees will increase in 2024. This increase will take into account the inflation rate from June 2021 to...
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