What Is the National Interest Waiver?

The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a subcategory of the EB-2 employment-based preference category. It allows individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability to self-petition for a green card without an employer sponsor, provided they can demonstrate that their work is in the national interest of the United States.

NIW applicants file Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) as a self-petition, without the need for a PERM labor certification or a specific job offer. However, like all EB-2 applicants, NIW petitioners must still complete the immigration medical examination when filing I-485.

Medical Exam Requirements for NIW Applicants

The medical exam requirement for NIW applicants is identical to that for all other employment-based and family-based adjustment of status applicants. You must complete an examination with a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, which includes a physical examination, TB testing, required laboratory tests, and a vaccination review.

The civil surgeon completes Form I-693, seals it in an envelope, and provides it to you for submission to USCIS with your I-485. There is no special medical exam process or exemption for NIW applicants.

• Complete physical examination
• TB testing (skin test or IGRA blood test)
• Syphilis and gonorrhea testing (age 15+)
• Vaccination review and administration of missing vaccines
• Form I-693 completed and sealed by civil surgeon

Priority Date Timing for NIW Applicants

NIW applicants from most countries can often file I-485 concurrently with their I-140 petition when a visa number is immediately available. Applicants from India and China typically face longer waits due to high demand in the EB-2 category.

Schedule your medical exam when your priority date is current or close to current. The I-693 must be signed by the civil surgeon no more than 60 days before you submit it to USCIS, and it is valid for two years from the signature date. Avoid completing the exam too far in advance if your priority date is not yet current.

Self-Petition Process and the Medical Exam

Because NIW applicants self-petition, there is no employer to coordinate the medical exam process. You are responsible for scheduling and paying for your own civil surgeon examination. At ImmigrationMedicalExams.com, we work with many NIW applicants and can accommodate your scheduling needs, including expedited processing if you have an upcoming I-485 filing deadline or USCIS interview.