Work that matters.
A future in the U.S.
Explore an employment-based green card strategy built around your expertise, proposed endeavor, and potential benefit to the United States.
Evaluation form opens on Airtable.
Two ways to meet the underlying classification.
Education and professional experience
A qualifying U.S. advanced degree or foreign equivalent may meet this requirement. A U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent plus at least five years of progressive post-degree experience in the specialty can also qualify. The proposed endeavor must align with the qualifying profession.
Expertise above the ordinary
Exceptional ability in science, arts, or business requires evidence of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered. Applicants generally must meet at least three regulatory evidence criteria, with the full record assessed for eligibility. The expertise must relate to the proposed endeavor.
Connect your work to a broader U.S. benefit.
Merit & national importance
Explain the specific endeavor you propose to pursue and why its prospective impact matters. An important industry alone does not establish the national importance of your particular work.
Well positioned to advance it
Show how your education, skills, track record, progress, plans, and available support position you to carry the endeavor forward.
The balance favors a waiver
Explain why the United States would benefit from waiving the job offer and labor certification requirements in your circumstances.
A clear plan makes the evidence meaningful.
Beyond job titles and degrees
Researchers, engineers, health professionals, entrepreneurs, and other professionals may have potential NIW cases. No profession automatically qualifies, and a degree alone is not enough.
Tari Law can help evaluate how your record supports a focused endeavor and identify gaps before filing. Depending on the facts, EB-1 may also merit consideration.
From questions to a considered plan.
Discuss your goals
Tell us about your background, immigration history, and timeline during a consultation with Payam Tarifard.
Identify the evidence
We discuss the available options, potential issues, and documents needed to evaluate your case.
Plan the next step
If we agree to representation, we define the scope of work and develop a filing strategy for your circumstances.
Answers before you begin.
Can I file without an employer?
Yes. An NIW applicant may self-petition. The waiver removes the job offer and PERM labor certification requirements if the legal standard is met.
Is NIW only for researchers?
No. The framework can apply to different professions and endeavors. Each case must establish the underlying EB-2 classification and all three waiver requirements.
Do recommendation letters guarantee approval?
No. Letters can help explain your work, but their value depends on their detail, credibility, and support from the rest of the evidence.
Can I work as soon as my NIW petition is filed?
Filing or approval of an I-140 does not itself authorize employment or confer lawful status. Work authorization and the green card process require separate analysis.
See whether NIW fits your profile.
Discuss your circumstances with immigration attorney Payam Tarifard.
Evaluation form opens on Airtable.