EB-2 National Interest Waiver · Self-help

EB-2 NIW for Startup Founders and Entrepreneurs

Founders are a natural fit for the NIW because there's no employer to sponsor them — but a venture's promise has to be evidenced, not asserted. A written plan, traction, and outside interest (customers, users, investors) all speak to whether you're well-positioned. petitionadvisor checks your documents against the Dhanasar standard and flags where a founder profile is clearly supported and where it reads as aspirational.

  • The business plan as evidence: objectives, timeline, national-benefit story
  • Traction signals: customers, users, investment, letters of intent
  • Why national importance has to reach beyond your own company
  • Being well-positioned: your track record plus a credible path to execute

Check your documents before you file

See which parts of your petition meet the three-prong standard and which are thin — informed by patterns from 3,700+ real AAO decisions.

Start your document check

Self-help tool. Not legal advice. We don't predict approval odds.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need revenue or investment to qualify?

There's no fixed bar, but evidence of traction — users, customers, investment, or third-party interest — helps show you're well-positioned to advance the endeavor.

PetitionAdvisor is a self-help document tool. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not represent you. Information here is general and not a substitute for advice from a licensed immigration attorney.

Self-help, not legal advice. PetitionAdvisor compares your own document to publicly available USCIS standards. It is not legal advice, not a prediction of whether your petition will be approved, and not a substitute for a licensed immigration attorney. You prepare and file your own petition. If your situation involves an RFE, a denial, an appeal, possible removal or inadmissibility, or anything contested, please consult a licensed immigration attorney. PetitionAdvisor is not a law firm and does not represent you.