Does it matter if my mother is a U.S. citizen?

No. The EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) is a merit-based path: what matters is your professional qualifications and the importance of your work to the national interest of the United States. Having a U.S. citizen mother has no bearing, positive or negative, on that evaluation.

This is because the EB-2 NIW looks at your professional and academic background and the impact of your work, not family ties. A U.S. citizen relative may be relevant in family-based petitions, which represent a separate immigration path with its own criteria, but that does not mix with the EB-2 NIW requirements.

• The EB-2 NIW is centered on merit and national interest.
• Family ties neither help nor hurt under this path.
• Kinship with a citizen may matter in family-based petitions, separately.

If you want to explore more than one path, it is worth understanding the differences between family-based and employment-based routes. Confirm up-to-date requirements through the official source (USCIS) or a qualified professional to choose the right strategy for your situation.

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.