• Overview
  
  
• Criteria
  
  
• Documents
  
  
• FAQ
  
  

There are no established rules or statutory standards regarding what is considered as 'National Interest'. USCIS considers each case on an individual basis. Government has become increasingly strict in its interpretation of what it considers to be in the national interest. Application(s) that would have been approved just five or six years ago are now being denied. Moreover, different USCIS service centers have different approaches and requirements.

While determining whether an admission of an alien would be 'in the national interest', the following factors may be considered:

• Whether the alien's admission will be benefit the American economy.
  
  
• Whether the alien's admission will improve the working conditions and wages of US workers.
  
  
• Whether the alien's admission will improve training and educational programs benefiting US under-qualified workers and children.
  
  
• Whether the alien's admission will help create more affordable housing for the young, aged or poor US residents.
  
  
• Whether the alien's admission will improve the environment and lead to better usage of natural resources.
  
  
• Whether the alien's admission is requested by an interested US government agency.
  
  
• Whether the alien will help improve the health care.
  
  

Alien must meet one or more of the above criteria to be considered for NIW petition.

Following three factors are considered in determining whether an alien will substantially benefit the national interests of the United States:

1. Alien seeks work in an area of "substantial intrinsic merit".
   
   
2. Alien's work must have a benefit which will be "national in scope". In other words, alien's perspective contribution will provide benefits that impact on a national scale, rather than bring benefits to a limited region in the US.
   
   
3. Alien must "serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than would an available US worker having the same minimum qualifications".
   
   

This 3 part test was established by USCIS Associate Commissioner after the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) case in 1998.

NIW applicants establish themselves as having some unique and exceptional skill, experience, or knowledge that sets them apart from their professional peers. Documents stating that he/she possesses a certain level of competence is not sufficient to receive a NIW. Proficiency greater than mere competence is expected for seeking NIW.

National Interest Waiver cases require that the emphasis rest with the overall value and potential of the alien's individual contribution to the US - not the fact that he/she is merely working in a field of high national interest. The alien must be a key or critical member of the team and the team function would be severely impacted without this member.

Many graduate students who have not had enough time or experience as a researcher or engineer and have done little, outside the work required to complete the degree should not qualify for NIW just because they are working in cutting edge technology and it is so significant that it must be in the national interest. NIW classification is not designed for all graduate researchers to qualify.