Donald Trump’s presidential win brought great uncertainty concerning the flow of immigration. Given that areas such as Silicon Valley brim with technological talent brought by industrious individuals outside the United States, Trump’s pending presidency prompts discussion regarding rigid immigration restrictions and its detriment to including talented, well-educated immigrants in our country’s workforce. However, in late 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) paved an increasingly accommodating path for talented immigrants to independently apply for National Interest Waivers (NIWs).
Longstanding Obstacles
For highly educated foreigners eager to live and work in the United States, National Interest Waivers facilitate the process by which one seeks approval to work and ultimately, establish permanent residence through a category labeled EB-2, which focuses on employment. Unfortunately, a stringent test imposed by the USCIS’s Administration Appeals Office (AAO) prevented thousands of promising immigrants from applying for NIWs.
The AAO’s decision to relax its stipulations connects with regulations imposed by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). These rigid regulations discouraged many immigrants from self-petitioning for NIWs, though their education and skill set deemed them qualified applicants.
Under the NYSDOT, applicants must:
1. Seek work in a field of “substantial intrinsic merit.”
2. Demonstrate that benefits of work serve a national interest.
3. Demonstrate that disadvantages affect the national interest if the applicant undergoes the more intensive labor certification process.
Though the test contains three stipulations, its inflexibility makes compliance difficult, as seen in Matter of Dhanasar. While showing promise as a talented aerospace engineer from India, Mr. Dhanasar still failed to meet requirements due to the NYSDOT’s rigidity.
The AAO Eases Restrictions
After Mr. Dhanasar’s notification of denial regarding his NIW, the AAO reviewed his case and ultimately agreed to replace rules of the NYSDOT with the following:
1. The applicant’s line of work contains substantial merit and national significance.
2. The applicant is capable, through circumstances and qualifications, to advance his or her line of work.
3. Holistically, waiving requirements related to EB-2 benefits United States interests.
An Exciting Development
The AAO’s decision provides hope that more talented immigrants seek approval to work and live in the United States, particularly within Silicon Valley and beyond. As a result of relaxed restrictions, we anticipate applications from thousands of immigrants for NIWs. Should you or anyone you know have questions regarding immigration and this new development, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal at 408-916-1125.
