What is an EB2 Visa in the USA?

The EB-2 Visa is an immigrant visa that falls under the “employment-based” category. It provides a US Green Card to people with exceptional ability or advanced degrees based on their job skills. This covers two main groups: people with advanced degrees (or a bachelor’s and 5 years’ experience) or those who can demonstrate exceptional ability in fields like science, arts, or business.

How much investment is needed for an EB2 Visa?

For the visa EB2, you don’t need to invest any money, unlike the EB-5 Investor Visa, which requires a minimum investment of $800,000 or $1,050,000. The core qualifications for EB-2 are based on your skills, such as exceptional ability, an advanced degree, a labor certification process, or work deemed in the national interest (if you apply for EB-2 NIW).

What are the EB2 Visa requirements?

To meet the EB2 Visa requirements, you must meet one of the two qualifications: exceptional ability or an advanced degree. For a standard EB-2, you need a US employer, a job offer, and to meet the PERM labor certification requirement. For the EB-2 NIW, the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) must consider your work to benefit the national interest of the country.

Who is eligible for an EB-2 Visa?

The EB-2 preference category is available for professions holding advanced degrees, exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, or those who qualify for a National Interest Waiver (NIW). Unless applying via an NIW, the EB-2 Visa requires a labor certification process.

What is the difference between EB-1 and EB-2 Visa categories?

The EB-1 and EB-2 are both employment-based immigrant visas that lead to a Green Card. The main difference is in the level of achievement. EB-1 is for priority skilled workers, while EB-2 is for professionals holding exceptional ability and advanced degrees. The EB-2 is more accessible to highly qualified experts, but it is prone to backlogs, especially for India and China.

How does the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) work?

Standard EB-2 requires a job offer and a permanent labor certification (PERM). The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a subtype of EB-2 and a self-petition immigrant visa designed for applicants whose work holds national importance and substantial merit, benefiting the job market.

What are the job offer requirements for an EB-2 Visa?

You need a full-time job offer (not a temporary or contract position) from a US employer. The job itself must require you to possess exceptional ability or provide relevant information from official academic record showing your expertise. In other words, your qualifications must match the job’s requirements when you apply for employment-based immigrant visas.

What is the EB-2 Visa processing time in 2025?

The average EB2 Visa processing time is 18 months to a couple of years. To process Form I-140 faster, you can pay $2,805 for premium processing and reduce the waiting time to 15 business days for a standard EB-2 Visa application or 45 business days for EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions.

How much does an EB2 Visa cost?

The total EB2 Visa cost includes multiple fees. For foreign nationals with regular processing, these include Form I-140 ($715) for self-petitioners, Form DS-260 ($345), and Form I-864 ($120) for the Affidavit of Support. Other costs to expect are $300 for a small employer, $600 for a regular petitioner, or $0 for a non-profit organization.

How hard is it to get an EB2 Visa?

Getting an EB-2 Visa is difficult but achievable. Government agencies set high standards, especially regarding the labor certification requirement or other comparable evidence. If your expertise significantly aligns with the EB-Visa requirements, you are more likely to get approved.

How do I go from EB-2 Visa to Green Card?

The EB-2 Visa makes you eligible for a Green Card or permanent residency. After your EB-2 Visa application is approved, you can file for an adjustment of status or consular processing to receive your Green Card. You can apply for naturalization in five years and become a US Citizen. After all, many people are looking for a Plan B passport to boost their career prospects.

What is the process to adjust status from EB-2 to Green Card?

To adjust your status from EB2 Visa to Green Card, you must be in the United States and your priority date must be current. You will then file Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status) with USCIS and provide any required documents, like a medical exam and biometrics. In some cases, you may need to file for work and travel permits. Finally, you may schedule an interview with a USCIS officer.

What are the disadvantages of EB2 Visa?

The EB-2 Visa, a type of employment-based immigration, has drawbacks. Applicants must prove expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered, which can be difficult. Most require labor certification, and the process is lengthy. It’s also tied to a specific job, limiting flexibility unless applying through the National Interest Waiver (NIW).

What is the PERM labor certification for EB-2 Visa?

Before an employer can even start the actual immigration paperwork with USCIS, they usually have to go through a process called PERM Labor Certification with the US Department of Labor. The PERM labor certification proves that they couldn’t find a qualified US worker with the necessary expertise, advanced degree, or exceptional ability. So they need other workers from foreign countries to fill that gap. The US employer promises to provide a fair wage for the specific job.

Can you get US Citizenship on an immigrant visa?

Not directly. First, you must obtain a Green Card, which is available via the EB-2 Visa. After five years and meeting the eligibility requirements, you can apply for US citizenship. The United States allows dual citizenship, so you can use this opportunity to get a second citizenship if your home country allows it.

EB-2 Visa: A Comprehensive Guide for Green Card Applicants

Are you someone with exceptional ability or advanced degrees looking to immigrate? Then the EB-Visa may be the perfect choice. The EB-2 is an immigrant visa for employment-based immigration. Foreign nationals use it to apply for a Green Card and gain a lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

To obtain an EB2 Visa status, you only need a US employer sponsorship, a valid job offer, and a labor certification application. For the EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver), a subtype of the EB-2, you can bypass the job offer and labor certification for faster processing times.

The EB-2 has various benefits, including career flexibility, faster processing, and easier travel. “It allows you to take control of your own immigration,” explains Patricia Casaburi, CEO at Global Citizen Solutions.

Navigating the immigrant petition involves a time-consuming application process, but we are here to help. This article offers detailed guidelines on eligibility criteria, costs, civil documents, and more. Read more about:

What is EB2 Visa in USA?
EB-2 Visa Benefits
EB2 Visa Requirements
How much does EB2 Visa cost?
EB2 Visa Processing Time

What is EB2 Visa in USA?

The EB-2 Visa is an immigrant visa for non-US citizens with exceptional ability or an advanced degree. It is a pathway to a Green Card, allowing successful applicants to gain lawful permanent residence.

The EB2 is available in two sub-categories:

Advanced degree professional: It prioritizes applicants with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or higher, plus five years of progressive work experience in a specific field.
Exceptional ability: It indicates extraordinary abilities well beyond what is typically found in the sciences, arts, or business. You must also fulfill any conditions outlined in the labor certification.

A US sponsor must secure a permanent employment certification (PERM) prior to filing the immigrant petition. However, this prerequisite can be avoided by filing National Interest Waiver petitions. EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) is a subtype of the EB-2 standard visa that allows you to self-petition without a job offer or labor certification.

EB-2 Visa: Quick Overview
Visa type	Employment-based, second preference
Qualified applicants	People with exceptional ability or advanced degrees
PERM Labor Certification	Required (unless applying for National Interest Waiver)
Green card	Yes, upon approval
Processing time	9 months or over (varies by case and location)
Common occupations	Engineers, doctors, professors, researchers, data scientists, economists, etc.

EB-2 Visa Benefits

The EB2 Visa provides many advantages, such as:

Ability to gain a permanent resident card (Green Card)
Broader eligibility, with option for self-petition
Family sponsorship
Access to in-state college tuition fees
High mobility and travel options

According to the GCS Global Residency and Citizenship report, the United States is one of the top destinations for immigration migration, taking the 18th spot in overall ranking. It is a popular country due to its high quality of life and various investment opportunities.

EB2 Visa Requirements

To meet the eligibility criteria, the US employer must apply for a PERM labor certification unless the foreign national has secured a National Interest Waiver (NIW). The EB-2 Visa requires foreigners to fall under one of the following categories:

Exceptional ability
Advanced degree
National Interest Waiver (NIW)

Each category has its own requirements and documentation for the application process.

Exceptional ability

To qualify for the EB-2 Visa, the applicant must possess exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. They meet the labor certification requirements outlined by the US Government.

For example, applicants who qualify for exceptional ability can include visual artists, engineers, architects, physical therapists, mental health experts, lawyers, doctors, etc.

Advanced degree

Foreign professionals must deliver an official academic record showing an advanced degree, certificate, diploma, or equivalent foreign degree. For example, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science would be an excellent fit for a Data Scientist. The EB-2 Visa also requires a letter from a former or current employer indicating five consecutive years of work experience after obtaining the degree.

National Interest Waiver (NIW)

The EB-2 National Interest Waiver is another employment-based immigrant visa designed for foreigners whose work is considered of national interest in the United States. Applicants must demonstrate national importance and substantial merit. The National Interest Waiver (NIW) doesn’t require a permanent labor certification application. Foreigners can self-petition without a US sponsor; in other words, they can apply on their own behalf. An Immigration attorney can compile all the documents and supporting evidence to boost your case with the USCIS Officer.

How much does EB-2 Visa cost?

The total EB-2 Visa process comes with multiple government fees. For a standard EB-2, the employer pays the petition fee for Form I-140 ($715) and a new Asylum Program Fee, which is $600 for larger employers and $300 for small employers or $0 for a non-profit organization. The USCIS immigrant fee for petitions for Alien workers costs $235.

If the foreign national applies outside the US (consular processing), they will pay the Form DS-260 fee ($345). Those who adjust status within the US (Form I-485) pay a separate fee for that application at about $1,440. In most cases for the EB-2 Visa, where the employer is a large corporation, you don’t need an I-864 Affidavit of Support.

Note: Additional fees, such as optional premium processing ($2,805), medical exam fees ($200-$500), and legal services, can increase the total costs.

EB2 Visa Processing Time

Thetotal processing time for EB-2 Visa is divided into three separate stages: the immigrant petition (Form I-140), PERM labor certification, and adjustment of status (or immigrant visa application).

The average processing period is about 18 months for immigrant petitions, sometimes taking a couple of years due to backlogs for applicants from countries such as India and China. Premium processing expedites the status application and reduces the waiting time to 15 days for standard EB-2 I-140s and 45 business days for EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW).

The priority date marks your position in the Green Card approval timeline. Since limited visas are available, the priority date acts as a “reservation” date for your immigrant visa number. If the Visa Bulletin shows “C” for your category or country, it means the visa numbers are available and you can continue with your final Green Card application.

Upon approval from an officer at USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services), you will receive an EB-2 Visa status, allowing you to live in the United States as a permanent resident. The waiting period varies on a case-by-case basis.

If you submit your visa application from a foreign country, your case will be moved to the National Visa Center (NVC), which will schedule an interview. The turnaround time will vary depending on your home country.

Note: Every year from 1 October to 30 September, the US immigration law provides about 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas divided into five preference categories. If the demand exceeds the available visas, you will experience longer processing times.

Pros	Cons
– Broader eligibility, option for NIW – Fast-track residency – Family benefits	– Strict qualification requirements – Complex apllication process – Job dependency (in most cases)

How to apply for the EB-2 Visa?

The application process involves a couple of steps.

Get a PERM labor certification. Your US sponsor must obtain a PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor. This is done a year before filing your immigration petition.
Collect the necessary documents. After obtaining a labor certification, applicants must submit evidence of exceptional ability or an advanced degree. The sponsor will also need A Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.
File the Form I-140. The sponsor will file the immigrant petition, pay the filing fees, and deliver it to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Attend appointments. The USCIS may schedule an interview or a biometrics appointment. Successful applicants receive an interview notice that includes the relevant location and date, as well as a list of additional documentary evidence. Bring these documents to your interview.
Prepare and file your application for a Green Card. After Form I-140 gets approved, foreign nationals can apply to get a Green Card, which makes them a lawful permanent resident.

Check the visa availability before applying. EB-2 employment-based immigrant visas have an annual numerical limit. While the EB-2 is open to all nationalities, only 7 percent of those Green Cards can go to people from a single country annually.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.

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