How to Build a National Interest Waiver (NIW) Brand
Unlike PERM labor certification, NIW petitions don’t require an employer. Instead, the NIW green card is self-sponsored.
You must have a project which benefits the United States. These projects usually involve scientific research, or work in areas such as healthcare, business, education, economic development, national security and business.
1. You must be an expert in your field.
When people think about branding themselves, they often think of things like logos, slogans, and website style. These are only a fraction of the ingredients needed to create a brand that is regarded as an expert. The true key to becoming an expert in a field is truly having a deep passion for the work itself. This passion will help you to keep going when things get tough and overcome your discouragement.
To become an expert in your field, you must constantly push yourself to explore new concepts, try out innovative methods and learn about the newest trends within your industry. This is a crucial part of the process as it ensures that you’re always at the forefront of your field. Experts are adventurous and not afraid to explore uncharted territory in their profession.
A major part of becoming an expert is demonstrating that you have made significant contributions to your field’s body of knowledge. This can be demonstrated through scholarly publications, books and other published works. In addition, you can also demonstrate this through letters of recommendation from reputable individuals in your field who have recognized your expertise and accomplishments.
One of the most important requirements for obtaining an NIW is showing that your endeavor will be in the national interest. This can be shown in a variety of ways, such as demonstrating that your work will benefit the economy, education, science, technology or health of the United States. Note that meeting this criterion is not a guarantee of NIW approval. USCIS will evaluate each case on a per-case basis.
The NIW process allows you to self petition and does not require a sponsoring company or job offer. Regardless, the process of obtaining an NIW is still lengthy and rigorous. Therefore, it is essential to consult with an experienced niw attorney who can guide you through the process.
2. Your work must be important.
You may be able to get a waiver of national interest without having an offer of employment if your work has a significant value for the United States. If you are conducting research to advance the field or energy efficiency, this would be beneficial for the United States, and therefore meet the criteria. This criteria can also be met if your work has a significant impact on the economy of the country. In the past, Peng & Weber has obtained NIWs for professors, Ph.D. students, professional dancers, Chinese medicine experts, business people, and more.
The USCIS will assess the significance of your endeavor to determine whether it is in the national interest and if you can be exempt from labor certification. Applicants can strengthen their case by submitting letters of recommendation from independent recommenders who are familiar with your accomplishments and the benefits of your work. Letters from peers and colleagues will carry less weight than those from independent recommenders.
Moreover, if your work has already been implemented and demonstrated to be of benefit to the nation, it will also bolster your case. Patents, conference papers, awards and other official acknowledgements can be used as evidence. In addition, it is helpful to submit evidence of the impact that your work has had on society, such as patient outcomes, improved educational or employment opportunities, reduced environmental impacts, or broader cultural understandings. This will demonstrate that your work is of significant value and that you are well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor. wegreened.com
3. Your work must be practical.
This is not an absolute criterion. It is an element that should be considered for each case. The applicant must demonstrate that their work is applicable in a practical way to the advancement of the United States’ society. For example, if an applicant’s research is focused on healthcare, they could argue that it is critical for the nation to continue to innovate in this area in order to better care for its citizens. Entrepreneurs could also make this point by showing that their business ideas are innovative and can have a substantial economic impact.
Letters of recommendation from independent sources can be a powerful tool for those in the scientific field to demonstrate their impact on the field and the importance of their work. Citation records can also be helpful to demonstrate your impact on the field.
4. Your work must benefit the United States as a whole.
In the case NIWs the petitioner has to show that their work benefits the United States as a whole, and not just the field they are in. This is an important factor when determining if the USCIS will waive its requirement that a foreign national has a job offer and undergoes a labor certification.
Specifically, the alien’s proposed endeavor must have substantial merit and national importance in the fields of business, science, technology, education, health, culture, or other areas of national interest. This is a subjective standard that will be weighed on a case-by-case basis, as there is not a set amount of economic benefit needed to qualify for an NIW.
A common way to demonstrate this is through recommendation letters from specialists in your field that can attest to your accomplishments and how your contributions will be valuable to the United States. This is a crucial part of your NIW application. It is important that you select individuals who have experience in your field and are able to provide objective wegreen and credible recommendations.
Furthermore, the letter writers should be able to express why they believe your work is of such significance and why it is different from the work of others in your field. Letters from professors and researchers who have won awards can demonstrate your expertise in the field, and highlight your unique skills.
Finally, the USCIS will also evaluate whether your proposed endeavor would be beneficial to the United States on balance in light of national need and other factors, such as the fact that there are no qualified workers available in the United States who could engage in the endeavor. This is especially true if your work is of extraordinary or critical importance to the nation. The NIW criteria are very difficult to meet but if you succeed in self-petitioning with an NIW, the rewards can be huge. Please contact us to discuss this option if you are interested.
