Do I need to prove that my process costs are within market standards?

The EB-2 NIW has no requirement to prove that costs are in line with market standards. Unlike investment-based immigration pathways, this category does not evaluate money spent or process expenses as an approval criterion. That type of cost analysis belongs to other visa types, not to the NIW.

What the authority examines is whether your work has merit and national importance and whether you are well positioned to continue contributing in the United States. Budgets, professional fees, and process expenses are a practical matter of your personal planning, not something that strengthens or weakens the merit of your petition.

• The NIW is not an investment pathway and does not score money spent.
• Professional fees and process costs are personal planning, not a criterion.
• The analysis focuses on the merit and national relevance of your work.

If your question is about the process costs themselves, the best approach is to check for updated information through USCIS and speak with a specialist, who can clarify figures without turning them into a petition requirement.

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.