EB-2 NIW Guide 2026: requirements, costs and timelines (in Spanish)
8 min read
If you are an engineer and dream of living and working in the United States, you have probably been told you need a company to sponsor you. With the EB-2 NIW that is not the case: you can obtain permanent residence on your own merit, with no job offer and without speaking English.
What is the EB-2 NIW?
The EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) is a green card category for professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose work benefits the national interest of the United States. The key word is waiver: the government waives the job offer and labor certification requirement, because it considers that your contribution is valuable in itself.
Why does it fit engineers so well?
Engineering is, by definition, a field of impact: infrastructure, energy, software, manufacturing, artificial intelligence. Engineers often have exactly what the EB-2 NIW values — solid technical training, projects with measurable results and a field in strategic demand in the U.S. That makes it easier to demonstrate the three prongs USCIS requires.
The challenge is usually not whether you meet the requirements, but how to present your career. That is where a good strategy makes the difference.
Who qualifies? The two pathways
There are two routes to qualify:
Pathway A — Advanced degree or equivalent
- A master's, postgraduate degree or doctorate in engineering or a related field.
- Or a bachelor's degree in engineering plus 5 years of progressive experience.
Pathway B — Exceptional ability (3 of 6)
- Professional license, high salary, memberships, awards, publications or leadership roles.
- With at least three of these six criteria, this pathway is a strong alternative.
Do you qualify as an engineer?
A specialist reviews your profile with you. Free, and with no commitment.
How much does it cost and what does it include?
The legal fees are clear, with a complete written breakdown, and cover the legal strategy, case building and responses to USCIS (RFE/NOID). We map out the plan with you; the attorneys design the legal strategy tailored to you. Official USCIS fees, translations and the academic evaluation are separate — and we detail them in writing before we start, with no surprises.
How long does it take?
The total time averages around 1.5 years and depends on the Visa Bulletin and your country of origin. The Department of State publishes it every month, with availability by country and category: that is where you can see whether your priority date is already current. There are premium processing options to speed up some stages of the process.
How to apply, step by step
The process is clear, with a dedicated specialist at every stage: free consultation, plan, documentation, building the petition with licensed attorneys, filing with USCIS, and approval. You can see the complete 7-step process here (in Spanish).
Frequently asked questions
No. The national interest waiver removes the job offer and labor certification requirement. The engineer is the petitioner in their own case.
It is not a requirement to obtain the green card through the EB-2 NIW. The entire process with Rumbo is handled in Spanish.
Yes. An academic evaluation is carried out that equates your degree to the U.S. system; in many cases a bachelor's degree plus 5 years of progressive experience meets the requirement.
On average about 1.5 years, depending on the Visa Bulletin and your country of origin. We give you a realistic expectation from the first consultation.
This article is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Rumbo is not a law firm: we work with licensed, independent immigration attorneys, who carry out the legal work on each case.