Irvine Employment Visa Services for EB-2 Visa Applicants

Supporting Foreign Nationals with Exceptional Abilities

To be considered for an Employment Based Second Preference (EB-2) visa, you have meet a few general requirements, as well as specific requirements for one of these categories:

• Have an Advanced Degree or its equivalent in your field
• Have Exceptional Ability
• Or qualify for the National Interest Waiver

Usually, when you petition for an EB-2 visa, you are expected to also present Form ETA-750. This is “Foreign Labor Certification,” or approved individual labor certification that the Department of Labor issues. You would also need an employer to file Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. For more information about specific requirements for EB-2, contact Yekrangi & Associates. Our firm has years of experience and has successfully helped clients with complex immigration matters for a long time.

Understanding the Family Benefits of EB-2 Visa

If you and your spouse are applying for a green card (permanent resident status), while that process is underway your spouse can file for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Your spouse can also enter the U.S. with E-21 immigrant status. Children under 21 years of age can enter on E-22 immigrant status.

EB-2 Visa Categories: Advanced Degree and Exceptional Ability

To qualify for the Advanced Degree category, you want to meet the following requirements:

• Documents proving that you hold an advanced degree from the U.S. or a foreign equivalent, --OR—records showing that you have a baccalaureate degree along with letters from employers that prove you have 5+ years of consecutive, relevant work experience in your field
• Be applying for a job that requires the advanced degree or work experience mentioned above

Defining Exceptional Ability for EB-2 Visa Applicants

The state defines Exceptional Ability as “a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business.”

To qualify for the Exceptional Ability category, you want to show that you meet at least three (3+) of the following requirements:

• A degree or equivalent related to your Exceptional Ability from a school, college, university or other educational institution
• Records to prove at least 10 years of full-time work experience
• A license / certification to practice in the profession you chose
• Records of salary or other payment you received that might be expected for someone with your exceptional ability
• Be a member in a relevant professional association
• Evidence that professional organizations, government entities or your peers have recognized you for your contributions or achievements in the field
• Other evidence that demonstrates your exceptional ability

Exploring the National Interest Waiver for EB-2 Visa

The National Interest Waiver, under the EB-2 category, is popular because it allows applicants to apply for permanent residency (a green card) without a job offer and without the time-consuming PERM PROCESS. Previously, USCIS strictly followed the “NYSDOT” Standard. As of December 27, 2016, USCIS implements the new "Dhanasar” Standard. This is broken down into a three-prong test.

All the applicants who meet the EB-2 visa application requirements should hold labor certification with the national interest waiver being this rule’s exception. National interest waiver would waive the aspect of labor certification only if the applicant proves that his presence in the country will be of great help.

USCIS points out that national interest waiver and EB-2 visa applicants should also show evidence of 3 or more of the following aspects:

1. Official documentation that indicates you are a degree holder from a recognized institution relating to your area of expertise;
2. Evidence (in the form of letters) showing full-time experience of more than 10 years in your area of specialization;
3. A professional or certification license of your occupation;
4. Proof of commanding a salary or other service remuneration for your exceptional ability;
5. Membership in a professional association;
6. Recognition by government entities, business institutions, peers or professional organizations for achieving and contributing significantly to your field; and
7. Other comparable eligibility evidence.

The foreign national’s proposed endeavor must have both substantial merit and national importance;

Here, the foreign national may put forward evidence of their work creating a significant or immediate impact on the US economy. Yet, this is not required. Thus, if the foreign national's endeavor was related to research, science, philosophy, and did not have any immediate economic benefits, but rather educational and intellectual benefits, it still may qualify.

The foreign national is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor;

Here, the foreign national, as an individual, must illustrate that they are qualified to further their proposed endeavor. In order to determine this, it is a holistic test is conducted. This test weighs a number of factors, including but not limited to: educational background, skills acquired, a record of success in related or similar fields, plans or proposed models for the endeavor, and progress thus far.

On balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements;

The National Interest Waiver does not require a job offer nor a labor certification. The labor certification process can take up to a year or more after recruiting and the prevailing wage determination is issued. Thus, the NIW is one of the fastest ways to get an employment-based green card. When USCIS adjudicates a case, they will evaluate whether the foreign national meets this prong by determining whether it would be impractical either, for the foreign national to secure a job offer or for the petitioner to obtain a labor certification. Furthermore, even if USCIS was to assume that there were other qualified workers in the United States, who are similarly situated to the foreign national, USCIS will continue to weigh whether the United States would still benefit from the foreign national's contributions (past and future). Lastly, the urgency of the foreign national's proposed endeavor must be sufficient to forgo the labor certification process.

Please note, that each of the above factors and evidence submitted is taken together and weighed on balance. Every case and applicant is unique. This is also true for each adjudicating officer that receives a National Interest Waiver case. The most important thing in this process is that you have a knowledgeable attorney evaluating and preparing your case.

Contact Yekrangi & Associates online or call (949) 478-4963. Our EB-2 Visa attorneys serve Orange County and are ready to help! Our services are available in Spanish, Farsi, and Mandarin.