NIW Proposed Endeavor

The proposed endeavor is one of the most important parts of an EB2 National Interest Waiver petition. USCIS does not simply evaluate whether the applicant works in an important profession. It evaluates the specific endeavor the applicant proposes to advance in the United States.

A researcher should therefore define the proposed endeavor with enough detail for USCIS to understand what the applicant intends to do, why the work matters and how the applicant plans to advance it.

For the broader framework, review NIW for researchers.

What Is a Proposed Endeavor?

The proposed endeavor is the specific professional, scientific, technical or scholarly work the applicant intends to pursue in the United States.

It is more specific than an occupation or job title.

Examples of occupations include:

An NIW endeavor should go further and explain the particular research, technology, problem or professional objective the applicant intends to advance.

Occupation Versus Proposed Endeavor

An applicant may work as a computer scientist, but the proposed endeavor might involve developing secure machine-learning systems for health care applications.

An applicant may work as a biomedical researcher, but the proposed endeavor might involve developing improved diagnostic methods for a specific disease.

An applicant may work as an engineer, but the proposed endeavor might involve developing more efficient semiconductor manufacturing technology.

The occupation tells USCIS what type of professional the applicant is. The proposed endeavor explains what the applicant actually plans to accomplish.

Why Specificity Matters

A vague endeavor can make it difficult to establish national importance because USCIS cannot evaluate the prospective impact of work that has not been clearly defined.

The petition should normally identify:

Avoid Defining the Endeavor as a Job

Statements such as “I intend to work as a researcher at a U.S. university” may describe employment but do not necessarily define the proposed endeavor.

An NIW is not limited to a particular employer. The endeavor should normally describe the work the applicant intends to continue even if the specific employer changes.

The Endeavor Can Include Multiple Related Activities

A research endeavor may include several connected activities.

For example, an applicant might propose to:

The activities should form a coherent professional endeavor rather than an unrelated list of goals.

Proposed Endeavor Statement

Many NIW filings include a detailed statement from the applicant describing the proposed endeavor.

The statement can explain:

Past Work Versus Future Endeavor

Past achievements are important because they can demonstrate that the applicant is well positioned to advance the endeavor.

However, NIW is forward looking. The petition should explain what the applicant proposes to do in the United States rather than describing only past accomplishments.

Connect Past Research to Future Work

A strong petition often shows a logical progression from prior work to the proposed endeavor.

For example, an applicant may explain how:

Evidence Supporting the Proposed Endeavor

The applicant’s statement should be supported where possible by independent evidence.

Potential supporting evidence includes:

The Employer Is Not the Endeavor

A prestigious university or company may provide useful resources, but the employer itself is not the proposed endeavor.

The petition should explain the applicant’s work rather than relying on the reputation of the institution.

Broad Fields Are Usually Too General

Statements such as “artificial intelligence is important,” “cancer research benefits the United States,” or “cybersecurity is nationally important” address broad fields.

The NIW petition should identify the applicant’s specific endeavor within that field.

Proposed Endeavor and National Importance

The first Dhanasar prong requires substantial merit and national importance.

USCIS evaluates national importance by examining the prospective impact of the specific proposed endeavor.

Review the NIW national importance requirement.

Proposed Endeavor and the Well-Positioned Prong

The second Dhanasar prong asks whether the applicant is well positioned to advance the endeavor.

USCIS therefore needs a sufficiently clear endeavor before it can meaningfully evaluate whether the applicant has the background and resources to advance it.

Review the NIW well-positioned requirement.

Can the Endeavor Change Over Time?

An NIW applicant is not necessarily limited to one exact project for an entire career.

The petition should nevertheless present a coherent endeavor that reflects the work the applicant genuinely intends to pursue when filing.

Academic Researchers

For academic researchers, the proposed endeavor may identify a continuing research program rather than one short-term university project.

This can be particularly important for postdocs whose employers or appointments may change while their underlying research direction remains consistent.

Industry Researchers

An industry researcher may define an endeavor involving development, implementation or commercialization of technology.

The petition should distinguish the applicant’s own professional endeavor from routine duties performed solely for one employer.

Common Proposed Endeavor Problems

NIW RFE Guide for Researchers

Review how to respond to a researcher NIW RFE under the three Matter of Dhanasar prongs.

Primary Legal Sources

Define the Work Before Arguing Its Importance

A strong NIW petition begins with a clear explanation of what the applicant proposes to accomplish. National importance and the remaining Dhanasar analysis can then be tied directly to that specific endeavor.

Contact The Messersmith Law Firm to request an NIW evaluation.

This page provides general immigration information and is not legal advice.