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 story highlights the potential for individuals in the arts to achieve success through dedication, strategic planning, and a strong case for national interest.
It illustrates how anyone can potentially put together a winning case for EB2 NIW, even thouse outside of the Sciente, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.
In this blog post I will summarize the takeaways from our conversation.
Shifting Focus to the Arts
George’s Professional Background
George is a freelance trombone player in London, specializing in commercial music and musical theater. He covers for musicians who are unable to perform regularly and also arranges music. His journey to the US began with family visits to Florida at age nine and continued with two J1 summer work travel programs, during which he worked for The Walt Disney Company and networked with bright musicians. Despite setbacks such as work authorization restrictions and the pandemic years, George remained determined to explore opportunities in the USA.
Overcoming Challenges in the Music Industry
Competitive Environment in the UK vs. Positive Experiences in the US
George described the competitive environment in the UK as one of the reasons to search for a legal immigration route to the US. In contrast to that professional hostility, the evergreen optimism of Americans attracted his attention. After ruling out other paths such as an EB-1A green card or an O-1 visa, George decided to apply for an EB2 with a National Interest Waiver. His proposed endeavor involved starting a nonprofit or LLC to share British musical theater and music in general with Americans, aiming to make British music more accessible and enhance cultural exchanges.
Demonstrating National Importance
Making the Case for the Arts
George explains how an artistic project can demonstrate national importance and benefit the economy indirectly. He highlights the importance of introducing young people to music from around the world, particularly from Britain. Using government documents, executive orders, and bills supporting arts funding and education as evidence, George tailored his petition to showcase the project’s potential results and funding possibilities.
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The Application Process
Dedication and Detailed Evidence
Applying for a green card through the NIW program required understanding the basics and putting in significant work. George spent countless hours watching videos, taking notes, and writing his petition. He was also a member of our EB2 online course and took advantage of all the content it has to offer to DIY petitioners. In his application, George highlighted his profile and credentials, including performances in theater shows, playing music for the King’s coronation, scholarships, awards, and memberships in professional associations. He emphasized the importance of detailed evidence and letters of recommendation to strengthen his case (by the way…he had 20 referece letters!).
Choosing the NIW Category
Decision and Do-It-Yourself route
George chose the NIW category over the EB1 category because he did not see an easy path to meet the necessary EB-1A Extraordinary Ability requirements. For his EB-2, he developed a cultural exchange nonprofit project to demonstrate national importance. After consulting with immigration lawyers and facing high fees (one of them quoted $18,000!), George decided to take matters into his own hands and crafted a DIY petition with the help of Oscar’s Green Card course.
Navigating the Immigration Process
Waiting for the Priority Date
Approval and Future Plans
Because he wanted to get a fast response, George submitted his I-140 case to USCIS using Premium Processing. He received approval for premium processing on June 7th and is now waiting for his priority date to move to begin consular processing. He does not really mind the current long wait because he has things to settle in London before moving to the US. In the UK, when one becomes an expat, they must inform the government and repay student loans.
Conclusion
George’s journey demonstrates that with perseverance, strategic planning, and a compelling case, individuals in the arts can achieve success through the EB2 NIW process. His story is a testament to the importance of dedication and the belief that anything can be of national interest if a strong case is made.