I'm an aunt living in Chicago.

A few days ago, I received a call from my cousin in Korea. He's an IT developer and wants to prepare for a U.S. green card.

"Sister, I heard that NIW is the best option these days?"

As soon as I heard that, my curiosity kicked in.

I started looking for posts on Missy Cafe, reading materials from U.S. immigration lawyers, and asking friends various questions.

To cut to the chase, let me tell you: NIW is not easy.

However, it's not impossible either. At first, I thought, "If I just find a good lawyer, won't they handle everything for me?" But that's not the case.

No matter how skilled a lawyer is, they can't create experience that doesn't exist.

Ultimately, what matters most is the experience and achievements you have, and how well you can present them.

So, what is NIW? Simply put, it's a system that allows individuals recognized as beneficial to U.S. national interests to apply for a green card without a company sponsor.

That's why many people are interested.

You don't have to worry about company politics, and if you change jobs after getting a sponsor, the risk of your green card being complicated is reduced.

However, there's a common misconception.

"Isn't it only for PhDs?" I used to think that too.

But as I researched, I found that while there are many professors, researchers, and PhD holders, there are also approved cases for engineers, doctors, nurses, AI developers, semiconductor experts, entrepreneurs, and even in the arts.

Ultimately, what's more important than the degree is this: 'Why does this person need to be in the U.S.?' Convincing them of this is key.

For example, let's say you're a developer. Saying, "I'm good at coding" won't impress the reviewers much.

But if you say, "The technology I developed can increase productivity for U.S. companies, create new jobs, and contribute to the advancement of specific industries," it changes the narrative when you provide objective data.

So, it seems that NIW is not just about submitting a lot of documents, but about crafting a compelling story.

Having many publications doesn't guarantee approval, and having few doesn't mean you'll be denied.

You need to combine project experience, patents, media coverage, recommendation letters, and actual achievements into one cohesive story.

Speaking of recommendation letters, there's something interesting.

It's much more persuasive when a recognized expert in your field objectively states, "This person's skills can benefit the U.S." rather than a close boss or professor saying, "They are a diligent person."

There are definitely fields that the U.S. is particularly interested in these days.

Fields like AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, biotech, healthcare, energy, and data analysis are continuously reported to have a shortage of workforce.

So, these areas tend to receive relatively more attention.

However, that doesn't mean other professions are excluded.

If you can explain how your business contributes to U.S. employment or how your unique expertise benefits American society, there are consistent approval cases in other fields as well.

What I felt most strongly while researching this is one thing.

The internet is filled with stories like, "Someone got approved on the first try," or "Someone was denied," and believing those can actually lead to more confusion.

What's important is not someone else's qualifications, but how objectively you analyze your own experience and prepare strategically.

So, I told my cousin.

"Don't start by looking for a lawyer; first, organize your experience. Include projects, awards, patents, publications, and everything you did at your company."

NIW is definitely not an easy path. But it's also not an impossibly difficult one.

I believe it's a system worth challenging for those who prepare properly.

NIW is not a competition to boast about qualifications, but rather a battle of how convincingly you can show "Why does the U.S. need me?"

I've rambled on, but I hope this helps some people.