Do EB-2 NIW and EB-2 PERM share the same priority in the Visa Bulletin?

Yes, with regard to the visa category. Both the EB-2 NIW and EB-2 with labor certification (the pathway known as PERM) belong to the second employment-based preference. In the Visa Bulletin, they share the same availability queue for that category, with no separate priority line for the NIW.

What differentiates the two is not their position in the queue, but the path to getting there. The EB-2 PERM requires labor certification and employer sponsorship before the petition, while the EB-2 NIW bypasses those steps by relying on national interest. The priority date for each applicant, which determines their place in the queue, is established according to the rules of each pathway.

• EB-2 NIW and EB-2 PERM share the same second-preference visa allocation.
• There is no exclusive priority queue for the NIW within the category.
• The difference lies in the process before the queue, not in priority itself.

Since the pace at which the queue advances changes over time and varies by country of origin, it is worth monitoring the updated official source and evaluating your specific situation with a specialist to plan timelines realistically.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.