What indirect costs can be included in an EB-2 NIW petition?

It helps to start by adjusting the premise: the EB-2 NIW does not evaluate a cost spreadsheet, nor does it require a financial dossier. What matters is the merit of your work and its national importance, along with your ability to advance the proposed endeavor. Cost figures are not a formal requirement.

That said, cost-related information can appear as supporting context when it helps illustrate the structure and feasibility of what you are proposing. In that secondary role, indirect costs typically cover, in qualitative terms:

• Infrastructure and support services that sustain the activity.
• Research and development support, such as laboratory maintenance or team costs.
• Training and professional development of the people involved in the project.
• Technical or scientific partnerships and collaborations.

The goal is to use this information to strengthen the feasibility narrative, not to turn the petition into an accounting exercise. Because each case is evaluated individually, avoid stating specific figures and confirm what is actually required with USCIS or a qualified specialist before assembling your petition.

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.