In some years, fewer than the total number available are granted – such as in 2006, when only 21,911 EB-2 visas were distributed – while in other years, the total number includes a backlog from the year before, as was the case in 2011 when the total number of EB-2 visas granted reached 66,831. In order to qualify for this type of employment visa, you must be able to supply evidence to prove that you fall into one of the following two subcategories:
Professional Holding an Advanced Degree:
For the purposes of this category, an “advanced degree” is one beyond the level of baccalaureate, such as a master’s degree or doctorate held by a medical doctor or lawyer. It is not enough, however, to show your diploma: You must additionally be able to demonstrate that you have a minimum of five years of progressive experience in the profession.
Person with Exceptional Ability:
“Exceptional ability” may include skills in the fields of science, art, or business, but it must be at the level of being recognized as possessing expertise well in excess of what is routinely encountered in your chosen field.
Guidance With EB-2 Visa Applications
Before an individual may apply for an EB-2 visa, his or her prospective employer must act as a sponsor by filing an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, Form I-140, as well as obtaining labor certification to prove that the position cannot easily be filled by hiring from the local economy. These requirements can sometimes be dismissed, however, by petitioning for a National Interest Waiver based on evidence that it would serve the interests of the United States for the individual to be permitted to immigrate.
At Fayad Law, P.C., we explore all such options for helping our clients expedite their cases, and we encourage you to contact us now for a consultation with a Virginia immigration lawyer who can answer your questions and help you get the process started. We work with clients around the world and international businesses. We also serve clients in person at our Virginia offices in Fairfax and Richmond.
