Talent visas · 6 min read
EB-1A vs. EB-2 NIW: two self-petitions, two different tests
Both let you apply without an employer. They ask very different questions about your career.
EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are the two most common self-petitioned green cards for professionals. Neither requires a job offer, but they measure different things.
EB-1A looks back
EB-1A asks whether you have already reached the top of your field, shown through sustained acclaim. Evidence is organized around ten regulatory criteria, and meeting three is only the threshold before a final review of the whole record.
EB-2 NIW looks forward
EB-2 NIW asks whether your proposed work in the U.S. has substantial merit and national importance, whether you are well positioned to advance it, and whether waiving the usual labor certification benefits the country.
Filing both
Some professionals file both petitions, because the evidence overlaps and the waiting times can differ. Whether that makes sense depends on your record and your country of birth.
Our team maps your background against both standards before recommending where to focus.
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