Attorney fees for a national interest waiver green card can be pricey. Even when you are self-petitioning for an EB-2 NIW yourself, you are still faced with the $700 Form I-140 filing fee for USCIS. Lucky for you, there are some things that you can do to prepare for your NIW petition that are free or low-cost. For example, you might be able to show that you are well positioned through memberships without spending too much money. Well positioned through memberships Whether a foreign national is applying for the EB2 NIW or the EB1A extraordinary ability green card, one of the categories that can be established fairly easily is memberships. Becoming a member of a professional organization, or more than one, might be an excellent way to show a broad network of colleagues in the United States. Of course, the topic of this article is to discuss how to do so without spending too much money. When professional organization dues are less expensive, an EB2 NIW candidate may be more apt to join more than one organization. OK, Google Searching for what professional organization is appropriate for one’s career may involve some internet browsing. Tying “free membership professional organizations” in the search bar can lead to websites like Job Stars can lead to lists of professional memberships by career category. Finding low-cost organizations to join that have the word “National” or “American” in their name can be a bonus. This can be one method to show that one is well positioned in the United States in an obvious manner. There is another step... National interest waiver seekers should not forget to search for the bylaws and include them with your petition. Along with the membership card or the “welcome to the group email,” an EB-2 NIW candidate can also attached bylaws of the professional organization to their green card petition as supporting evidence. Locating the membership requirements, ethical standards, and grounds for disqualification in the bylaws of the professional group can help to establish that they require outstanding achievements of their members. Communicate with your EB2 NIW Lawyer Whether you are working with a national interest waiver attorney near you, or one whom you have retained through a remote law firm, it can be wise to communicate your current memberships with professional organizations, so that they can be used as evidence for your green card petition. Your EB-2 NIW lawyer may be willing to brainstorm with you about some memberships in your industry that might be appropriate for your green card case. |