Yes. EB-2 NIW and EB2-NIW refer to exactly the same thing: the national interest waiver within the second preference of employment-based immigration in the United States. The spelling variations are simply a matter of style — with or without a hyphen, with or without a space — and they do not change the meaning or the category.
The NIW stands for National Interest Waiver, the waiver that allows you to petition for a green card without a job offer and without labor certification, when the applicant’s work has merit and national importance. You may encounter references such as EB-2 NIW, EB2 NIW, or EB2-NIW; all are equivalent.
- EB-2 NIW, EB2-NIW, and EB2 NIW are all the same category.
- NIW stands for National Interest Waiver.
- The spelling varies, but the concept and the criteria are the same.
Since NIW requirements are evaluated case by case, it is worth checking the updated requirements at the official source and analyzing your profile with a specialist, regardless of which spelling you encounter.
Learn more about EB-2 NIW
- Category
- EB-2 NIW Green Card
- Self-petition
- Allowed (no sponsor needed)
- PERM
- Waived
- Processing
- 12-36 months
About the author
Victoria Harper
Editor-in-Chief
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.