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

B1B2 visa
Applying for EB2 NIW on a visitor B1/B2 visa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybOTJy6XQOs Many of my YouTube subscribers have asked me if it is a good idea to come to the United States on a visitor visa and  submit an EB2 NIW I-140 application, to...
Continue reading
Screenshot of Table A in January 2024 visa bulletin
EB2 dates advance in January 2024 Visa Bulletin
Good news for EB-2 (which includes EB2 NIW) in the upcoming January 2024 visa bulletin you can consult here. Dates move forward significantly and that means that applicants waiting to adjust status...
Continue reading
Top 10 countries by number of EB2 NIW approvals in each quarter
Top 10 countries by number of EB2 NIW approvals
In my previous blog post I went over the percentage of approvals and denials in Fiscal Year 2023. Using the same data source from USCIS, it is possible to rank the countries by number of accepted and approved...
Continue reading
Percentage of approvals and denials by quarter
Approval rates for EB2 NIW in 2023
USCIS, the agency that deals with green card processing within the federal government, publishes statistics regularly. Unfortunately, they not always provide separate numbers for the National Interest...
Continue reading
Premium Processing EB2 NIW (1)
Premium Processing for EB2 NIW: Should you use it?
I have been approached by many prospective applicants for EB-2 National Interest Waiver green card with the following question: Oscar, should I pay extra and use Premium Processing for EB2 NIW? In this...
Continue reading
Visa Bulletin October 2023
The Visa Bulletin for October 2023 allows you to use Table B
October 2023 Visa Bulletin was released by Department of State and USCIS and it comes with some news.  On one hand, Table A (Final Action Dates) does not change much for most countries. In fact...
Continue reading
screenshot Victoria Chen
Can we blame some of USCIS mistakes on influx of new officers? Victoria Chen thinks so
Victoria Chen, lawyer at the North America Immigration Law Group, has recently posted a message on her LinkedIn account voicing something that many have thought about. She brings the attention to the recent...
Continue reading
Image of family outdoors. Picture by Yan Krukau
Can your family join your EB2 NIW green card application?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJeCZdoYsCo Many prospective EB-2 NIW applicants ask if their family can join them in case their I-140 gets approved. In this article we will review how family is dealt...
Continue reading
Davide EB2 NIW success
EB2 NIW Success Story: Davide, an entomologist that went from grad student to green card holder
Davide is an Italian entomologist currently completing his PhD studies in a US University. He studied in Europe and did an internship in South Africa. Knowing that his passion was the study of insects,...
Continue reading
Canada wants you
Navigating Layoffs in the Tech Sector: The US Green Card Option and Canada's New Immigration Opportunities
In this article, we explore options available for highly skilled foreign tech workers facing layoffs in the US, including Green Card routes and new immigration opportunities in Canada. Layoffs and the...
Continue reading
denial rates appeals
Appeals for EB2 NIW: should you consider it?
If you have faced a petition denial, this guide will walk you through the appeal process, discuss timelines, costs, and success rates, providing clarity on whether an appeal is the right path for you....
Continue reading
Abhi EB2 NIW
EB2 NIW Success Story: Abhi, a cybersecurity expert
In this post, we will talk about Abhi, an expert in cybersecurity, who got his I-140 for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) green card approved in just two weeks.  We will look into how he did this,...
Continue reading