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Is there a specific quota for the EB-2 NIW?

The EB-2 NIW has no exclusive quota: it shares availability within the second employment-based preference. Since limits and wait times change, always check the official source or a specialist before planning your petition.

Written by

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Updated on June 29, 2026
1 min read
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The EB-2 NIW does not have its own exclusive, separate quota. It is a pathway within the second employment-based preference of the United States immigration system and, as such, shares visa availability with other petitions in that same category. There is no separate window reserved solely for the NIW.

In practice, green card availability in employment-based immigration is organized into preference categories, each with its own queue and processing pace. As a result, the EB-2 NIW may be subject to waiting times that vary depending on demand and processing flow over time, without any numerical limit exclusive to it.

  • There is no exclusive NIW quota: it shares the EB-2 category.
  • Availability follows the employment preference system.
  • Waiting times may vary depending on demand within the category.

Because limits and queue times change over time, this is information worth checking with the official source or a specialist at the time of your petition, rather than assuming a fixed number. That way you can plan based on the current situation, not an outdated reference.

Learn more about EB-2 NIW

Category
EB-2 NIW Green Card
Self-petition
Allowed (no sponsor needed)
PERM
Waived
Processing
12-36 months
All about EB-2 NIW

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.

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Is there a specific quota for the EB-2 NIW?

The EB-2 NIW has no exclusive quota: it shares availability within the second employment-based preference. Since limits and wait times change, always check the official source or a specialist before planning your petition.

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