How do I know if I meet the ‘substantial benefit to the U.S.’ criterion of Dhanasar?

In the EB-2 NIW, the substantial benefit to the United States element of the Dhanasar framework requires you to show that your field and your work have the potential to produce results that matter to the country as a whole, not just to a particular group, company, or region.

To determine whether you meet this point, the path is to gather concrete evidence that your contribution is likely to have broad impact. What typically supports this argument includes:

• Recognition from experts and peers in your field.
• Work, projects, or research with applications beyond the local scope.
• A clear connection between your work and the country’s challenges or priorities.

The idea is to link what you do to a benefit that goes beyond private interest and reaches national interest. Because the evaluation is done case by case, it is worth checking the updated criteria with USCIS and aligning with a specialist on how to frame your evidence.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.