How Many Citations Publications Do I Need for an EB 2 NIW?

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers several alternatives for foreign nationals seeking a US green card based on employment. An advantage of employment-based visas is the possibility to live and work anywhere in the United States legally.

How many citation publications do EB-2 NIW applicants need? Read on to find a realistic overview.

Employment-based Second Preference vs. National Interest Waiver – Understanding the Documentation

The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a subset of the EB-2 visa category that allows applicants to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements of standard EB-2 visas.

NIW applicants do not depend on a US employer’s willingness to apply with USCIS on their behalf, as they can self-petition a visa.

Foreign applicants who opt for applying based on an advanced degree must have at least a baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree plus “five years of post-baccalaureate, progressive work experience in the field.” Documental evidence may include:

“An official academic record showing that you have a US advanced degree or a foreign equivalent degree, or
An official academic record showing that you have a US baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent degree, and
Letters from current or former employers showing that you have at least 5 years of progressive post-baccalaureate work experience in the specialty”

NIW applicants who decide to apply based on exceptional ability must show “a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business.” In this process, the applicant must have at least three of the following elements:

“Official academic record showing that you have a degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning relating to your area of exceptional ability
Letters from current or former employers documenting at least 10 years of full-time experience in your occupation
A license to practice your profession or certification for your profession or occupation
Evidence that you have commanded a salary or other remuneration for services that demonstrates your exceptional ability
Membership in a professional association(s)
Recognition for your achievements and significant contributions to your industry or field by your peers, government entities, professional or business organizations
Other comparable evidence of eligibility”

To determine an EB-2 applicant’s eligibility for an NIW, USCIS relies on a three-pronged approach:

Whether the applicant’s proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance
Whether the applicant is well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
Whether the endeavor would be beneficial to the United States in a way to permit the waiver of a job offer and labor certification