EB-2 NIW
Employment-based green card pathway for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability whose work is in the national interest of the United States.
Researchers, founders, scientists, and professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability whose contributions are of substantial benefit to the United States.
Overview
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) allows professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability to self-petition for permanent residence without employer sponsorship if their proposed endeavor has substantial merit, national importance, and the applicant is well positioned to advance it.
Employment based green cards
null
Not applicable
Yes
- Possession of an advanced degree (master’s or higher, or a bachelor’s degree plus at least five years of progressive experience) or demonstrated exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.
- The proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance.
- Substantial merit can be shown through initiatives that create jobs, drive innovation, improve healthcare or education, advance scientific or technological research, strengthen cultural or artistic institutions, or address social or environmental challenges in the United States.
- National importance means the work has broad potential impact or significance beyond the local level.
- The applicant is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor.
- Evidence may include education, skills, record of success, or relevant plans and resources.
- On balance, it would benefit the United States to waive the job-offer and labor-certification requirements.
- USCIS considers factors such as the importance or urgency of the endeavor, potential for job creation, and contributions to U.S. competitiveness and national interests.
USCIS conducts a final merits determination to assess whether, in the totality of the evidence, the individual’s qualifications and proposed endeavor justify granting the waiver in the national interest.
Process Timeline
Consular Processing timeline
Legal Fees
Government Fees
I was kicked out of the US by the government. All because I booked a one-way ticket to chase my Silicon Valley dream. The last time I tried to move to San Francisco, I never made it past the border. 12 hours in a white detention room. Six months ago, I finally decided to fight for permanence and applied for an O-1 visa. I knew this is where I needed to be if I was serious about building a trillion dollar company. But today, it became official. The US now calls me an “extraordinary individual.” Shoutout Aizada Marat, Keith Lee, Abhinav Kumar and the rest of the Alma team for making this happen.
The Alma team has been an incredible partner in handling our company’s immigration needs. They are quick to respond, supportive at every step, and always ready to guide us through what can often feel like a complex process. From visas for our staff to broader immigration legal services, Alma delivers with expertise, clarity, and care. They anticipate challenges, offer practical solutions, and make the process seamless for both our staff and our company. What stands out most is their responsiveness and the confidence they instill — we know everything is handled with precision. Alma is more than just a legal service provider; they are a trusted partner and true extension of our team. We couldn’t imagine navigating immigration without their support. Thank you, Alma!
Received this thoughtful gift from the amazing Alma team! Grateful to be part of such an extraordinary community. Thank you, Aizada Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva, for always keeping these connections meaningful. I also realized I haven’t shared updates in a while, so better late than never! Earlier this year, I received my O-1 Visa, officially recognized as an Individual with Extraordinary Ability. Yeah! This milestone wouldn’t be possible without professional guidance of Alma’s incredible team (Aizada Marat, Assel Tuleubayeva, and Luke Galland). I might even be Alma’s rare non-tech O-1 applicant, so if you’re exploring options, I can’t recommend them enough!
Getting O-1A visa is a milestone for startup founders that want to operate in the US I got mine Approved a week ago. We researched several companies who do that and decided to work with amazing company Alma , led by exceptional founders from our region Aizada Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva. The process with them was very smooth and fast, from preparing docs to filing a case. They answer to any question in minutes, explain everything in details and make the process feel like nothingburger!
This Thanksgiving, I’ve been reflecting on something I’m especially grateful for: receiving approval for my O-1A visa. This milestone gives me the freedom to fully chase my entrepreneurial dreams, and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing people who supported me along the way. A huge thank you to Team Alma for guiding me through this process. Meeting Aizada in-person sealed the deal. Her team’s support was incredible. Luke, the attorney who managed my case, was knowledgable, transparent, and extremely efficient—getting everything filed in just four weeks (a process that often takes three or more months).
A few days ago, I received awesome news that my EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition was approved. As many international students and workers in the US know, this is a significant milestone. I am very grateful to all those who helped me on this journey. I also feel honored to work with the incredible people at the MBTA, and am looking forward to continuing building a better transit system for Massachusetts. Additionally, and I think my note might get lost among numerous positive mentions of that team over the last few weeks, I want to thank Alma, and especially Aizada Marat and Luke Galland, who have been superb during the application process, and I could not recommend them enough.
My O1 Visa has officially be approved 🇺🇸 🎉 A special thanks to our customers, investors and mentors at Kaizntree for helping with all the recommendation letters! This wouldn't have been possible without you. And of course our lawyer Luke Galland who made the whole process extremely easy. Having initially filed my case with a different legal firm and having all kinds of challenges, I can say with certainty that Luke is the most dedicated immigration lawyer I have met and I'm incredibly grateful to have had him on my case. For anyone considering an O1 Visa and building their company in the US, I highly recommend reaching out to him and the team at Alma. This is another step towards continuing to scale Kaizntree and I'm excited for everything else we have on the horizon!
Received O-1A Extraordinary Ability Visa with kind support from Aizada Marat, Abhinav Kumar, Luke Galland and Alma team, and am living in San Francisco, CA. Aizada Marat and Alma team were just so responsive and supportive while preparing my O-1A petition of approx 700 pages. I used to email my queries to Aizada at night, and she used to respond back in minutes. She had mentored me in choosing Massachusetts Institute of Technology over other top global universities that admitted me for Masters Degree. Might be, because her college Harvard University is nearby and well connected to MIT, and obviously MIT being more fit for deeptech/climatetech research & breakthroughs. Deep respect for Aizada for being so supportive always, and being a great mentor & guide.
The U.S. immigration process has been anything but easy....Yet there’s beauty in this moment. The process, despite its flaws, moved faster than I’d anticipated—thanks to people at Alma, Aizada Marat, and Luke Galland, who turned the insanely complicated process into something bearable. I remember thinking, “Wow, that was fast.” Their support was a reminder that even in the most impersonal systems, there are humans who care.
After years of working with college international services, lawyer firms that had partnered with my previous and current employers, I am happy to sincerely state that Alma is absolutely the best company that I had a chance to work with! Thanks for being super responsive, quick and getting things done to satisfy your clients. What stuck with me is the empathy you guys have for your customers... Thanks for deeply understanding the pain of your clients (us) and providing the highest quality services!
My O-1A talent visa was approved in just 12 days on December 31st… I only had to provide my personal information and all the details about my work. The experts at Alma handled everything else…
🔥 BIG NEWS, GUYS! 🔥 I officially got my O-1 visa! 👏 A massive THANK YOU to the Alma team (Aizada Marat, Luke Galland, Assel Tuleubayeva)—for their outstanding work in preparing and filing my application. Your guidance, patience, and expertise made this happen. Wishing you all the success in disrupting the legal migration industry! 🙌
🇺🇸 🚀 Big news… my O-1 visa is officially APPROVED! 🎉 🇺🇸 I’m so excited to continue my journey in the U.S., supporting founders, building startup communities, and driving real impact through partnerships. Huge shoutout to Alma for their top-notch work and lightning-fast responses. Thanks to Assel Tuleubayeva, Aizada Marat and Luke Galland - what a platform to use, so simple and your speed and efficiency was so enjoyable (in what is a very demanding process!).
Getting O-1A visa is a milestone for startup founders that want to operate in the US I got mine Approved a week ago. We researched several companies who do that and decided to work with amazing company Alma , led by exceptional founders from our region Aizada Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva. The process with them was very smooth and fast, from preparing docs to filing a case. They answer to any question in minutes, explain everything in details and make the process feel like nothingburger!
A huge thank you to Team Alma for guiding me through this process. The journey started back in August when I began exploring visa options that fit my entrepreneurial path… from the moment I spoke with Aizada, I knew I’d found the right partner. Her deep knowledge and own experience as an immigrant female founder really resonated with me… Luke, the attorney who managed my case, was knowledgable, transparent, and extremely efficient—getting everything filed in just four weeks (a process that often takes months).
I got approved for my EB1A Green Card, colloquially known as the "Einstein Visa”… My EB2-India green card is predicted to be approved in a 100 years. Millions like me (including my entire friend circle) are going through the same challenges… that's when I got introduced to Alma in August 2024 and their fearless founder Aizada Marat by Karthik. Karthik told me about a vertical AI startup trying to disrupt the archaic legal industry… Aizada is painfully aware of the problem legal immigrants face… I have not seen a stronger founder-expertise-market fit…
Big milestone today: I officially filed my O-1 visa application and sent all the documents to USCIS! 🎉 It's been a long process collecting documents and pulling everything together, but finally it's done. Now, it’s time to wait for results. Huge thanks to Aizada Marat and her team. And most importantly Martian for supporting along the way.
Since I recently completed my MBA and am currently on OPT, I've been exploring visa options for staying in the U.S. beyond the STEM OPT period, because the process can take a while. I had an excellent consultation with Alma, and I can't recommend it enough. It’s completely free and provided valuable insights into different visa pathways like the H-1B, O-1, and green card.
As a founder, tackling the O-1 visa process felt like a huge challenge, and I knew I needed help to navigate it. That’s where Alma stepped in, and honestly, they exceeded all my expectations… what really impressed me was the human touch behind it all… one thing that really stood out was how they handled my recommendation letters… they took the time to really understand my story and crafted something that felt personal and compelling…
I got my 0-1A visa thanks to Alma! Their team is super responsive and really knows their stuff. They took my achievements and turned them into a killer application. If you need a talent visa, these are your go-to people. I can't thank the Alma team enough for their help - Aizada Marat Assel Tuleubayeva Shuo Chen!
I was kicked out of the US by the government. All because I booked a one-way ticket to chase my Silicon Valley dream. The last time I tried to move to San Francisco, I never made it past the border. 12 hours in a white detention room. Six months ago, I finally decided to fight for permanence and applied for an O-1 visa. I knew this is where I needed to be if I was serious about building a trillion dollar company. But today, it became official. The US now calls me an “extraordinary individual.” Shoutout Aizada Marat, Keith Lee, Abhinav Kumar and the rest of the Alma team for making this happen.
The Alma team has been an incredible partner in handling our company’s immigration needs. They are quick to respond, supportive at every step, and always ready to guide us through what can often feel like a complex process. From visas for our staff to broader immigration legal services, Alma delivers with expertise, clarity, and care. They anticipate challenges, offer practical solutions, and make the process seamless for both our staff and our company. What stands out most is their responsiveness and the confidence they instill — we know everything is handled with precision. Alma is more than just a legal service provider; they are a trusted partner and true extension of our team. We couldn’t imagine navigating immigration without their support. Thank you, Alma!
Received this thoughtful gift from the amazing Alma team! Grateful to be part of such an extraordinary community. Thank you, Aizada Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva, for always keeping these connections meaningful. I also realized I haven’t shared updates in a while, so better late than never! Earlier this year, I received my O-1 Visa, officially recognized as an Individual with Extraordinary Ability. Yeah! This milestone wouldn’t be possible without professional guidance of Alma’s incredible team (Aizada Marat, Assel Tuleubayeva, and Luke Galland). I might even be Alma’s rare non-tech O-1 applicant, so if you’re exploring options, I can’t recommend them enough!
Getting O-1A visa is a milestone for startup founders that want to operate in the US I got mine Approved a week ago. We researched several companies who do that and decided to work with amazing company Alma , led by exceptional founders from our region Aizada Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva. The process with them was very smooth and fast, from preparing docs to filing a case. They answer to any question in minutes, explain everything in details and make the process feel like nothingburger!
This Thanksgiving, I’ve been reflecting on something I’m especially grateful for: receiving approval for my O-1A visa. This milestone gives me the freedom to fully chase my entrepreneurial dreams, and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing people who supported me along the way. A huge thank you to Team Alma for guiding me through this process. Meeting Aizada in-person sealed the deal. Her team’s support was incredible. Luke, the attorney who managed my case, was knowledgable, transparent, and extremely efficient—getting everything filed in just four weeks (a process that often takes three or more months).
A few days ago, I received awesome news that my EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition was approved. As many international students and workers in the US know, this is a significant milestone. I am very grateful to all those who helped me on this journey. I also feel honored to work with the incredible people at the MBTA, and am looking forward to continuing building a better transit system for Massachusetts. Additionally, and I think my note might get lost among numerous positive mentions of that team over the last few weeks, I want to thank Alma, and especially Aizada Marat and Luke Galland, who have been superb during the application process, and I could not recommend them enough.
My O1 Visa has officially be approved 🇺🇸 🎉 A special thanks to our customers, investors and mentors at Kaizntree for helping with all the recommendation letters! This wouldn't have been possible without you. And of course our lawyer Luke Galland who made the whole process extremely easy. Having initially filed my case with a different legal firm and having all kinds of challenges, I can say with certainty that Luke is the most dedicated immigration lawyer I have met and I'm incredibly grateful to have had him on my case. For anyone considering an O1 Visa and building their company in the US, I highly recommend reaching out to him and the team at Alma. This is another step towards continuing to scale Kaizntree and I'm excited for everything else we have on the horizon!
Received O-1A Extraordinary Ability Visa with kind support from Aizada Marat, Abhinav Kumar, Luke Galland and Alma team, and am living in San Francisco, CA. Aizada Marat and Alma team were just so responsive and supportive while preparing my O-1A petition of approx 700 pages. I used to email my queries to Aizada at night, and she used to respond back in minutes. She had mentored me in choosing Massachusetts Institute of Technology over other top global universities that admitted me for Masters Degree. Might be, because her college Harvard University is nearby and well connected to MIT, and obviously MIT being more fit for deeptech/climatetech research & breakthroughs. Deep respect for Aizada for being so supportive always, and being a great mentor & guide.
The U.S. immigration process has been anything but easy....Yet there’s beauty in this moment. The process, despite its flaws, moved faster than I’d anticipated—thanks to people at Alma, Aizada Marat, and Luke Galland, who turned the insanely complicated process into something bearable. I remember thinking, “Wow, that was fast.” Their support was a reminder that even in the most impersonal systems, there are humans who care.
After years of working with college international services, lawyer firms that had partnered with my previous and current employers, I am happy to sincerely state that Alma is absolutely the best company that I had a chance to work with! Thanks for being super responsive, quick and getting things done to satisfy your clients. What stuck with me is the empathy you guys have for your customers... Thanks for deeply understanding the pain of your clients (us) and providing the highest quality services!
My O-1A talent visa was approved in just 12 days on December 31st… I only had to provide my personal information and all the details about my work. The experts at Alma handled everything else…
🔥 BIG NEWS, GUYS! 🔥 I officially got my O-1 visa! 👏 A massive THANK YOU to the Alma team (Aizada Marat, Luke Galland, Assel Tuleubayeva)—for their outstanding work in preparing and filing my application. Your guidance, patience, and expertise made this happen. Wishing you all the success in disrupting the legal migration industry! 🙌
🇺🇸 🚀 Big news… my O-1 visa is officially APPROVED! 🎉 🇺🇸 I’m so excited to continue my journey in the U.S., supporting founders, building startup communities, and driving real impact through partnerships. Huge shoutout to Alma for their top-notch work and lightning-fast responses. Thanks to Assel Tuleubayeva, Aizada Marat and Luke Galland - what a platform to use, so simple and your speed and efficiency was so enjoyable (in what is a very demanding process!).
Getting O-1A visa is a milestone for startup founders that want to operate in the US I got mine Approved a week ago. We researched several companies who do that and decided to work with amazing company Alma , led by exceptional founders from our region Aizada Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva. The process with them was very smooth and fast, from preparing docs to filing a case. They answer to any question in minutes, explain everything in details and make the process feel like nothingburger!
A huge thank you to Team Alma for guiding me through this process. The journey started back in August when I began exploring visa options that fit my entrepreneurial path… from the moment I spoke with Aizada, I knew I’d found the right partner. Her deep knowledge and own experience as an immigrant female founder really resonated with me… Luke, the attorney who managed my case, was knowledgable, transparent, and extremely efficient—getting everything filed in just four weeks (a process that often takes months).
I got approved for my EB1A Green Card, colloquially known as the "Einstein Visa”… My EB2-India green card is predicted to be approved in a 100 years. Millions like me (including my entire friend circle) are going through the same challenges… that's when I got introduced to Alma in August 2024 and their fearless founder Aizada Marat by Karthik. Karthik told me about a vertical AI startup trying to disrupt the archaic legal industry… Aizada is painfully aware of the problem legal immigrants face… I have not seen a stronger founder-expertise-market fit…
Big milestone today: I officially filed my O-1 visa application and sent all the documents to USCIS! 🎉 It's been a long process collecting documents and pulling everything together, but finally it's done. Now, it’s time to wait for results. Huge thanks to Aizada Marat and her team. And most importantly Martian for supporting along the way.
Since I recently completed my MBA and am currently on OPT, I've been exploring visa options for staying in the U.S. beyond the STEM OPT period, because the process can take a while. I had an excellent consultation with Alma, and I can't recommend it enough. It’s completely free and provided valuable insights into different visa pathways like the H-1B, O-1, and green card.
As a founder, tackling the O-1 visa process felt like a huge challenge, and I knew I needed help to navigate it. That’s where Alma stepped in, and honestly, they exceeded all my expectations… what really impressed me was the human touch behind it all… one thing that really stood out was how they handled my recommendation letters… they took the time to really understand my story and crafted something that felt personal and compelling…
I got my 0-1A visa thanks to Alma! Their team is super responsive and really knows their stuff. They took my achievements and turned them into a killer application. If you need a talent visa, these are your go-to people. I can't thank the Alma team enough for their help - Aizada Marat Assel Tuleubayeva Shuo Chen!
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We offer transparent per-visa pricing, charged upfront, so you always know the cost of each case before filing. For larger companies, we also offer monthly pricing models tailored to Growth and Enterprise clients.
Yes. For businesses that prefer flexibility, we offer a 50/50 payment plan—half upfront and half once the case progresses—so immigration support is easier to budget for.
Absolutely. We provide volume discounts for companies managing larger foreign national populations, as well as preferred rates for partners like portfolio companies of Y Combinator, Techstars, Pear VC, etc.
Your fee covers attorney expertise, paralegal support, platform access, compliance tracking, and employee communication. USCIS filing fees are not included, as they vary by visa type, and third-party costs such as education evaluations or translation services are billed separately.
Alma’s platform gives you cost projections and real-time dashboards, factoring in legal fees, USCIS fees, and premium processing. Payments are handled seamlessly through Stripe - just connect your ACH or credit card once, and everything is managed in one place.
* Service fees are refundable only if a refund is requested before the case is filed, and any refund will be adjusted based on legal work already completed by Alma Legal Services, P.C., the immigration legal services provider. USCIS filing fees are refunded in full, and any third-party costs (e.g., education evaluations, translations) are returned as charged. Platform, technology, or marketing services provided by Almaca, Inc. are not subject to this policy.
