Green card

Green card

National Interest Waiver

Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers

Entrepreneurs, Researchers, Physicians, Industry experts, Innovators, STEM professionals

Almost any worker

• You must hold an advanced degree (master's or higher), possess a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive work experience, or demonstrate exceptional ability in your field by showing at least 3 of 6 requirements, such as maintaining membership in professional associations and earning recognition for your contributions to your industry from peers or professional organizations.

• Demonstrate that you will work on a proposed endeavor with substantial merit and national importance, and provide evidence that you are well-positioned to advance this work.

• Must have a job offer and undergo labor certification (PERM), showing no available qualified U.S. workers.

• Skilled Workers: Job offer requires at least 2 years of training or experience.

• Professionals: Job offer requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.

• Other Workers: Job offer requiring less than 2 years of training or experience.

• Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.

• Flexible requirements, making it suitable for a variety of profiles.

• Does not require employer sponsorship or a job offer, providing significant independence.

• Eliminates the need for the lengthy labor certification process.

• Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.

• Straightforward process with clear requirements.

• Highly flexible, applicable to almost any job that aligns with your experience or qualifications based on its minimum requirements.

• Requires a high burden of proof to demonstrate both national interest and exceptional ability.

• USCIS has broad discretion in deciding whether your permanent residency aligns with the national interest.

• The labor certification process (PERM) is lengthy and time-consuming.

• Applicants are tied to the employer sponsoring the petition for most of the application process.

• Slower processing times compared to other categories, particularly for applicants from certain countries.

Not required

Required

Permanent residency

Permanent residency

Every 10 years

Every 10 years

24-30 months¹

Three stages, totaling about 36-48 months¹

45 business days

15 business days²

Yes

Yes

¹Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.

¹Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.

²Available for only one stage of the process, with minimal impact on the overall processing time.