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New EB-2 NIW visa will be available for Canadian trade workers to move to the US

New EB-2 NIW visa will be available for Canadian trade workers to move to the US
New EB-2 NIW visa will be available for Canadian trade workers to move to the US

Recently, reports have been circulating on Canadian social media about a “new EB-2 NIW visa for Canadian skilled workers,” which opens a direct path to obtaining a US green card and subsequent citizenship after five years.

It is claimed that this applies to the following categories of workers:

  • welders;
  • heavy equipment operators;
  • electricians;
  • heating, ventilation, and air conditioning specialists;
  • concrete workers;
  • supervisors;
  • project managers;
  • contractors and business owners.

According to the common wording, this opportunity provides:

  • a permanent US green card;
  • the right to work in any state;
  • the right to apply for US citizenship after five years.

Official information about EB-2 and NIW

According to the official description on the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, the Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB-2) category is intended for:

  • members of professions who have an advanced degree (usually a master's degree or higher, or their equivalent), or
  • persons with “exceptional ability” in science, art, or business whose activities are substantially beneficial to the United States.

Typically, this category requires:

  • a job offer from a U.S. employer;
  • labor certification (PERM), which confirms that there are not enough qualified workers in the U.S. for the position.

National Interest Waiver (NIW) is described as an exception within the EB-2 category that allows:

  • waive the requirement for a sponsoring employer;
  • waive labor certification (PERM),

if the applicant can demonstrate that their activities are of “substantial value and national importance” to the United States. USCIS documents treat the NIW as a way to apply within the EB-2 category, rather than as a separate visa.

Official materials indicate that an applicant claiming NIW must still meet the general EB-2 requirements (advanced degree or exceptional ability). The available descriptions of NIW do not highlight separate requirements or special conditions related exclusively to the citizenship of a particular country.

See the video for more details.

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