🇺🇸 Whoa, They Changed the Visa Rules AGAIN?!😲

Welcome back to America Unlocked’s Newsletter, your weekly dose of visa know-how and community vibes 💥. This week, we're dropping some truth bombs about the latest visa rule changes—it's like Uncle Sam decided to bust out a surprise headspin in the middle of our immigration routine! 😵‍💫 But don't worry, we've got your back. We'll break down all the new moves and help you stay on beat with your American Dream. 🎶

And hey, if you decide to join our America Unlocked membership, we can focus on your case in detail. The community support, plus all the info and killer tips in the Knowledge Base will help you nail that visa application! ✨🔨

This Week’s Routine:

1. 🇺🇸 What’s new: EB-2 NIW visa requirements update —what does it mean for your petition?

2. 📖 Self-sponsored visa know-how: Matter of Dhanasar – the three key requirements for EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW).

3. ☕️ Tea party: 📣 Visa Bulletin for Jan 2025 📣 New: Progress logs 📣 Last call: Mixer Party!

Come on in!

Policy changes were just issued by USCIS last week that go into effect immediately. If you're working on an EB-2 NIW petition, here are some things you’ll want to know about.

First up, your education now needs to align with your professional experience. Sounds like a big shift, yes, but honestly, it’s kind of been the unspoken rule anyway—strong arguments for the connection were already a must in the past.

Next, recommendation letters are getting a bit of a makeover. Letters from independent experts are not as desirable anymore. Instead, letters from collaborators or people who know the work you’re actually doing will now carry more weight. After all, who can endorse you better than someone who’s been in the trenches with you? This is something we've been preaching all along so if you're following our advice, you're golden. 🌟 Also, make sure you have evidence to back up any claims in those letters. With these changes, the letters by themselves are not evidence enough.

There are a few of other notable changes. When describing your Proposed Endeavor, you’ll need to explain it in a way that even your grandma could understand. No more fancy jargon!

Also, if you’re an entrepreneur, the creation of jobs is no longer sufficient. You’ll need to show exactly how it will benefit America as a whole. Basically, Uncle Sam wants to see the big picture, not just the bottom line.

Just a heads-up, these updates even apply to petitions already submitted and still awaiting a decision. Head over to the USCIS website for the full scoop.

Overall, it sounds like a lot of changes, but what they really did was turn a lot of the unspoken rules into official ones.

Source: USCIS.gov

Back in the day, getting the EB-2 NIW visa was like trying to climb Mount Everest in flip-flops 🩴 super tough! Mr. Dhanasar is an aerospace engineering researcher and educator who was denied an EB-2 NIW visa. He appealed the decision and it eventually made its way to the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) which ended up overturning the original denial in 2016.

That landmark decision set a new precedent for EB-2 NIW visas—making it more accessible for talented people and establishing three key requirements (or "prongs") for self-sponsored applicants:

• Substantial merit and national importance of your work: Your proposed endeavor (your mission in the U.S.) must be something that truly matters on a national scale. Think big 🔑. The key is showing how your work will benefit American society, improve lives, or contribute to the greater good.

• Sufficient evidence showing you're well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor: This includes your education, skills, achievements, higher salary 💰, opinion letters, and any other factors that prove that you are well-suited for your proposed endeavor.

• The benefits of granting the visa outweigh the national interest in protecting American workers (⚖️ Balancing Test): This means that you must show that your work has a significant enough impact on society and cannot be easily replicated by a U.S. worker.

As long as you can meet these requirements, you're well on your way to obtaining an EB-2 NIW visa! It’s all about connecting the dots between your amazing work and the potential positive impact it has on the U.S. Keep this in mind as you put together your case. 💼

Feeling like this is a lot to take in? It can seem overwhelming at first. But hey, don’t stress—that’s exactly why we created the America Unlocked membership! Picture a toolkit full of resources, a community that’s got your back, step-by-step courses, pro tips, and a Knowledge Base that’s packed full of answers!

Jump in and take on the whole process with “I’ve got this!” energy and a whole community of support behind you. Get all the details right here! 🚀

The best thing about America Unlocked is hands-down the amazing community we have!! We’re a squad of go-getters, dreamers, and hard-working people all chasing the same goal—making the American dream a reality. 💪✨ 

Joining our community isn’t just helpful—it’s like finding a group of friends who just get it. If you haven't joined yet...we’re saving you a seat! 😊

📣 VISA BULLETIN UPDATES FOR JAN 2025 - DISCUSSION

The America Unlocked community is buzzing 🐝 with support! See how our members are helping each other understand the Visa Bulletin. Join the conversation and collaborate with other members to clarify doubts and offer guidance. We’re in this together! 🤝

📣 MEMBERS NOW HAVE A DEDICATED SPACE TO TRACK AND LOG PROGRESS!

You know that feeling when you look back and realize how far you’ve come? That’s what progress logs are all about—except way cooler because you get to share the ride with people who totally get it. Think of it like your personal journal, but with a built-in cheer squad. 🎉 

Members outline their goals—big or small, they all count! They update progress (even the baby steps) and keep themselves accountable with the community’s help!. We’re all powering through this together! One member’s wins are basically motivation fuel for everyone else. 💪✨

We’re here to celebrate every step, cheer our members on, and help keep pushing that needle forward. 🪡 ➡️

📣 LAST CALL: MIXER PARTY!

Hey, hey—it’s Thursday, January 23rd! 🗓️

TODAY our very first LIVE online event at America Unlocked is going down, and we’re beyond excited to see our members there. 🚀 

This will be an exciting collaborative brainstorming session 🧠! We’ll discuss member goals and work together to create a clear roadmap for their next steps in the visa process. 🌟

✨ Why Wait? Your Journey Starts Now! ✨ 

Your dreams are valid. Your potential is extraordinary. And your American story is just getting started. We can't wait to welcome you into our incredible community! 🎉 🗽