H-1B to Green Card in 2026: PERM, NIW and EB-1 Routes

H-1B status does not automatically become a Green Card, but its dual-intent framework can support a carefully timed employment-based immigration strategy.

H-1B status does not automatically become a Green Card, but its dual-intent framework can support a carefully timed employment-based immigration strategy.

The “EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW” decision cannot rest on a simple count of publications, awards, or degrees. Both categories may allow a qualifying person to file Form I-140 without an employer sponsor or PERM labor certification. However, USCIS applies a…

The short answer is that some EB-2 NIW physician experience article petitions may be prepared without submitting a USMLE result, but that does not mean a foreign-trained physician may practice clinical medicine in the United States or that every doctor…

An EB-2 NIW for software engineers may be viable without academic papers, citations, or a doctorate. USCIS does not list peer-reviewed publications as a mandatory requirement. However, the absence of publications does not remove the need for persuasive evidence. A…

Short answer, yes. Private-sector employment does not exclude a person from EB-2 National Interest Waiver consideration. NIW is not reserved for academics or researchers. Still, a senior title, famous employer, or high salary does not establish eligibility by itself. USCIS…

Qualifying for EB-2 NIW with a master’s degree may be possible; a doctorate is not a general requirement. A qualifying U.S. master’s degree or foreign equivalent may support the underlying EB-2 classification as an advanced-degree professional. However, the degree alone…

You cannot reliably answer “Am I qualified for EB-2 NIW?” by looking only at your degree, publication count, citations, or job title. EB-2 National Interest Waiver eligibility does not depend on a single scorecard. USCIS first examines whether you qualify…

Short answer: Yes. A person without a Q1 publication may qualify for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver. USCIS does not impose a Q1-journal requirement or a minimum publication count. The case must still establish the underlying EB-2 classification and all…

Short answer: An h-index of 3 is neither sufficient by itself nor automatically too low for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver. USCIS does not publish a minimum h-index. The real question is whether the work behind that number shows credible…