Employment-Based (EB-2) Green Card for Advanced Degree Professionals. In 1990, Congress created the EB-2 immigrant visa category within the Immigration Act for those interested in US permanent residency. Also referred to as a second preference employment-based green card, this immigration pathway was created for foreign nationals who hold an advanced degree, exceptional abilities, or are looking to waive their labor certification requirement.
Each category has its own set of guidelines making it important to understand which visa is best for you! The three visas that fall under the second preference category include:
EB-2A: Advanced Degree
EB-2B: Exceptional Ability
EB-2C: National Interest Waiver (NIW)
The EB-2 Visa is one out of five employment-based green cards for those looking to work in the United States permanently! Click to learn more about the other employment-based visa
How to Apply:
To successfully obtain an EB-2 visa, your employer must:
- Review the instructions for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
- Complete and sign Form I-140
- Pay the filing fee (if applicable)
- Provide all required evidence and supporting documentation.
After You File:
Once your Form I-140 is received, the USCIS will process your petition. You will then be given a:
- Receipt notice confirming we received your petition
- Biometric services notice (if applicable)
- Notice to appear for an interview (if needed)
- Notice of our decision
EB-2A: Advanced Degree:
To obtain an EB-2 visa due to holding an advanced degree or equivalent which is a bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive work experience in the field.
EB-2B: Exceptional Ability:
The EB-2B was designed specifically for those who can show exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, which will greatly benefit the United States economy, cultural or educational interests, or welfare in the future. Exceptional ability means, “a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business.”
EB-3C: National Interest Waiver:
If you are requesting that that USCIS waives the labor certification (also known as a job offer) requirement because it is in the best interest of the United States, you are eligible to file a petition on your own behalf. You may do this whether you seek to classify yourself as a professional who has an advanced degree or if you have an exceptional ability.
The USCIS will review all of the evidence you submit to determine whether you have satisfied the criteria and whether it is in the best interest of the US to grant this discretionary waiver.
How to Support for Your EB-2 Visa Application Petition
It’s important to show enough and the right supporting documentation for your EB-2 Green Card. Check out these EB-2 visa evidence examples:
When applying for an EB-2 visa as a professional, you can show supporting evidence with documents such as:
- official academic records showing that you have a US advanced degree or a foreign equivalent degree
- an official academic record showing that you have a US baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent degree and letters from current
- former employers showing that you have at least 5 years of progressive post-baccalaureate work experience in the specialty
If a doctoral degree is customarily required within your industry, you must have a United States doctorate or foreign equivalent degree.
Why Legal Help for the EB-2 Visa is Important!
Applying for a US-based Green Card through employment is a huge deal and it’s important to complete your EB-2 visa application correctly to enhance your chances of approval. If you have the opportunity to apply for a Green Card, you should take advantage of legal services so that you can reach your potential. If you already have ingredients like a family member that is a US citizen, or an employer that is willing to petition for you to immigration permanently, you still need to present an application package that will convince immigration officers of your worth.
Why Hire Us to Help with Your EB-2 Application?
Attempting to get a Green Card is a crucial process. Any slight misstep could result in a refusal after all of the efforts you put into your application. We have helped thousands of individuals successfully get US permanent residence through employment-based petitions, and we can help you too.
Contact The Law Office of Elisa Kumadey for Help.
