Our Top 4 EB2 NIW Frequently Asked Questions
As you can imagine we get quite a few questions about our United States EB2-NIW Startup Investor Program. We thought it would be great to provide clarity on the top 4 that we see over and over again!
What is the EB2-NIW Visa Program?
The EB2-NIW Program is a fast track program for accomplished business people looking to obtain residency in the United States. The EB2 NIW Visa itself is a visa that grants a foreign national lawful permanent residency without the requirement of an employment offer. The job offer requirement is waived if the candidate can prove that his permanent residence in the U.S. would be of “national interest” and would benefit the country. The Empowered Startups EB2 NIW Startup Investor Program matches qualified international applicants with R&D opportunities in their field of expertise. Empowered then secures the required support from a United States research institution, becomes the liaison for the R&D work, and provides business incubation for the startup that the R&D is supporting.
What are the Advantages of the Program?
- Full concierge service from Empowered to determine the appropriate domain in which you would like to innovate, negotiate and secure your NIW qualifying R&D with a motivated and supporting research institution, as well as coordinate your R&D plan including a partnership with a leading research entity.
- Empowered Startups will act as your business incubator and liaison for all R&D work.
- Empowered startups will secure required letters of support from your United States research institution that state why & how your startup is most definitely in the national interest of the United States.
- No labor certification is required
- Families are welcome
- No language requirement
- Fully refundable
Who Can Qualify for the EB2 NIW Visa Program?
To successfully obtain an EB2 NIW Visa, an applicant must show:
- That their proposed endeavor is of “substantial merit and national importance” (Empowered will ensure this is achieved)
- That they are “well-positioned” to execute their proposed endeavor (Empowered will ensure this is achieved)
- That, on balance, it would be in the national interest to waive the job offer (Empowered will ensure this is achieved)
“Substantial merit and national importance” can be shown by starting a venture and conducting R&D in a variety of different fields including education, health, biotech, pharma, manufacturing, technology, science, and business. The applicant doesn’t need to demonstrate the economic benefits of their work but may, instead, frame their proposal in terms of its broader impact on the social good. Bringing a large number of jobs through opening a new type of factory in an economically struggling region, for example, could be seen as an endeavor of national importance, despite its local scope.
The applicant needs to demonstrate that they are “well-positioned” to successfully execute their project. (Empowered’s incubation program ensures this is made clear to USCIS).
In addition to the above, the applicant must show that they have either the foreign equivalent of an advanced degree or an exceptional ability (this could be a variety of things).
Tip: It’s important to be sure that the advanced degree is actually equivalent to its U.S. counterpart. For example, in certain countries a law degree can be obtained at the baccalaureate level and, therefore, would not be considered an advanced degree.
When is the best time to apply?
Now. The United States is in the process of rolling out several phases of premium processing for EB2 NIW applications and working on clearing backlogs. The sooner you apply, the sooner you will be eligible for premium processing.
How much does it cost?
The all inclusive price for the program is $175,000 USD – Of which part is invested in Research & Development in a domain in which you have expertise, capitalization for your new company, corporate accounting and legal fees, immigration legal fees, and incubation fees.
