Why the Proposed Endeavor Matters in an EB-2 NIW Petition

The proposed endeavor is one of the most important parts of an EB-2 National Interest Waiver petition. It explains what the applicant intends to accomplish in the United States and provides the foundation for showing why waiving the normal job-offer and labor-certification requirements would benefit the country.

A strong proposed endeavor is not simply a description of the applicant’s profession. It should identify a specific plan, the problem the applicant intends to address, the activities the applicant will perform, the people or industries that may benefit, and the broader impact expected from the work.

USCIS evaluates National Interest Waiver petitions under the three-part framework established in Matter of Dhanasar. The petitioner must establish that:

  1. The proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance;
  2. The applicant is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor; and
  3. On balance, it would benefit the United States to waive the job-offer and labor-certification requirements.

The applicant must also first qualify for the underlying EB-2 classification as either an advanced-degree professional or a person of exceptional ability.

A Proposed Endeavor Is More Than a Job Title

A common mistake is to describe the proposed endeavor only through a job title.

For example, the following statement is too general:

“My proposed endeavor is to work as a software engineer in the United States.”

This statement identifies an occupation, but it does not explain what the applicant will actually do, which problem the work will address, or why the work may have broader importance.

A stronger version would be:

“My proposed endeavor is to develop and implement cybersecurity systems that help small and medium-sized healthcare organizations protect sensitive patient information, reduce their exposure to ransomware attacks, and improve compliance with federal data-security requirements.”

The stronger version identifies:

  • The applicant’s field;
  • The intended activities;
  • The target beneficiaries;
  • The problem being addressed; and
  • The expected impact.

1. Define the Endeavor Clearly and Specifically

The proposed endeavor should begin with a direct statement explaining exactly what the applicant plans to do in the United States.

A useful formula is:

My proposed endeavor is to [perform specific activities] for [target organizations, industries, communities, or beneficiaries] to address [identified problem] and produce [expected results or broader benefits].

For example:

“My proposed endeavor is to design and implement data-driven supply-chain systems for small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers to reduce inventory shortages, improve operational efficiency, strengthen domestic production, and increase resilience against supply-chain disruptions.”

The statement should be specific enough for an immigration officer to understand the plan but broad enough to permit reasonable professional growth. An applicant should avoid defining the endeavor so narrowly that it depends entirely on one employer, one contract, or one short-term project.

2. Distinguish the Endeavor from the Applicant’s Occupation

USCIS focuses on the specific proposed endeavor, not merely the general importance of the applicant’s profession or industry. A field may be nationally important, but that does not automatically establish that every activity performed within the field has national importance.

For example, stating that artificial intelligence, healthcare, construction, or cybersecurity is important to the United States may provide useful context. However, the petition must still explain how the applicant’s particular work within that field is expected to create a broader impact.

The proposed endeavor should answer:

  • What will the applicant actually do?
  • How will the applicant perform the work?
  • Who will benefit from it?
  • What problem will it address?
  • What results could it produce?
  • Why could those results matter beyond one employer or client?

USCIS guidance emphasizes the prospective impact of the specific endeavor when evaluating national importance.

3. Explain the Problem the Endeavor Will Address

A persuasive proposed endeavor identifies a real and significant U.S. problem, need, or opportunity.

Depending on the applicant’s field, the problem might involve:

  • Cybersecurity threats;
  • Healthcare access or quality;
  • Energy efficiency;
  • Infrastructure resilience;
  • Supply-chain disruptions;
  • Workforce shortages;
  • Advanced manufacturing;
  • Artificial intelligence;
  • Environmental sustainability;
  • Food security;
  • Education and professional training;
  • Public safety;
  • Financial inclusion; or
  • Economic development.

The petition should support the existence and significance of the problem with objective evidence. This may include government reports, federal initiatives, legislation, industry research, academic studies, labor statistics, economic data, or reports from recognized professional organizations.

Evidence should not merely show that the overall field is important. It should help connect the identified national need to the applicant’s particular plan.

4. Demonstrate Substantial Merit

Substantial merit can arise in areas such as business, science, technology, culture, health, education, or entrepreneurship. The proposed endeavor does not necessarily need to produce an immediate financial benefit to have substantial merit.

To explain substantial merit, the applicant should describe the practical value of the work. For example, the endeavor may:

  • Improve public health outcomes;
  • Increase efficiency or productivity;
  • Reduce costs or waste;
  • Protect sensitive information;
  • Develop useful technology;
  • Create or preserve employment;
  • Strengthen U.S. competitiveness;
  • Improve access to essential services;
  • Train qualified professionals; or
  • Advance scientific or technical knowledge.

The applicant should explain these benefits in concrete terms and avoid relying entirely on broad claims such as “my work will help the economy” or “my project will benefit the United States.”

5. Establish National Importance

National importance does not necessarily require the applicant to work for the federal government or operate throughout every state. The analysis focuses on the endeavor’s potential prospective impact.

An endeavor may have national importance when it has broader implications within a field, industry, region, public-policy area, or economically significant activity. Depending on the facts, national importance may be supported by evidence that the endeavor could:

  • Influence practices across an industry;
  • Address a federal or national priority;
  • Produce significant economic benefits;
  • Create substantial employment opportunities;
  • Improve the performance of an important U.S. sector;
  • Advance a critical or emerging technology;
  • Improve public health or public safety;
  • Strengthen underserved communities; or
  • Generate methods, research, tools, or knowledge that others can use.

USCIS clarified its NIW guidance in January 2025, including how officers evaluate whether a proposed endeavor has national importance. The analysis is tied to the specific endeavor rather than the general importance of the occupation.

Local Work Can Still Have Broader Importance

An endeavor does not automatically lack national importance because the applicant begins in one city or state. Many projects start locally.

However, the applicant should explain why the impact is expected to extend beyond a limited group of clients. For example, a locally based project may:

  • Use a model that can be replicated in other locations;
  • Address a problem shared by communities across the country;
  • Serve an industry with national economic importance;
  • Produce research or methods that can be adopted by others;
  • Train professionals who will work in multiple organizations; or
  • Support a broader federal or state initiative.

6. Describe How the Endeavor Will Be Carried Out

A strong plan explains not only what the applicant wants to accomplish but also how the applicant intends to accomplish it.

The proposed endeavor should describe the applicant’s planned activities, such as:

  • Providing consulting or professional services;
  • Conducting research;
  • Developing products, systems, or methodologies;
  • Establishing or expanding a business;
  • Training employees or professionals;
  • Publishing research or technical guidance;
  • Collaborating with universities, companies, nonprofits, or government organizations;
  • Implementing pilot projects;
  • Commercializing technology; or
  • Serving underserved organizations or communities.

The plan may include short-, medium-, and long-term stages.

Example Implementation Timeline

First 12 months: Establish professional operations, develop partnerships, identify clients or research collaborators, and begin pilot projects.

Years two and three: Expand the number of participating organizations, refine the methodology, measure results, publish findings, and train additional professionals.

Years four and five: Scale the program into additional markets or regions, form broader institutional partnerships, and increase the endeavor’s industry or public impact.

The timeline should be realistic and supported by the applicant’s qualifications, resources, contacts, and existing progress.

7. Identify the Intended Beneficiaries

The proposed endeavor should clearly identify who is expected to benefit.

Potential beneficiaries may include:

  • U.S. businesses;
  • Government agencies;
  • Hospitals and healthcare providers;
  • Universities and research institutions;
  • Small and medium-sized businesses;
  • Manufacturers;
  • Students and professionals;
  • Low-income or underserved communities;
  • Consumers;
  • Workers; or
  • Participants in a particular industry.

The applicant should explain the relationship between the proposed activities and the benefits expected for these groups.

For example, a cybersecurity specialist might help small healthcare providers improve data protection. A supply-chain expert might help domestic manufacturers reduce shortages. An energy engineer might help commercial buildings reduce consumption and improve grid resilience.

8. Include Measurable Goals

Measurable goals make the proposed endeavor more credible. They show that the applicant has considered how progress may be evaluated.

Depending on the endeavor, possible measurements include:

  • Number of organizations served;
  • Number of professionals trained;
  • Percentage reduction in operational costs;
  • Improvement in productivity;
  • Reduction in energy use or emissions;
  • Number of systems developed or implemented;
  • Amount of investment raised;
  • Number of jobs created;
  • Number of research publications or presentations;
  • Number of patents or technologies commercialized;
  • Geographic expansion; or
  • Improvement in access, safety, quality, or efficiency.

Applicants should avoid unrealistic guarantees. Projected outcomes should be presented as reasonable goals supported by evidence, not as certain results.

9. Connect the Plan to the Applicant’s Background

The proposed endeavor must be credible in light of the applicant’s education, experience, achievements, and professional record.

The applicant should explain how previous work has prepared them to carry out the plan. Relevant evidence may include:

  • Academic degrees;
  • Professional experience;
  • Leadership positions;
  • Successful projects;
  • Publications and citations;
  • Patents or intellectual property;
  • Awards and recognition;
  • Licenses and certifications;
  • Media coverage;
  • Client results;
  • Funding or investment;
  • Contracts or letters of intent;
  • Professional memberships;
  • Conference presentations;
  • Letters from experts; or
  • Evidence of demand for the applicant’s work.

The endeavor should appear to be a logical continuation or expansion of the applicant’s career—not a plan invented solely for the immigration petition.

10. Support the Plan with Independent Evidence

A proposed endeavor statement should not stand alone. It should be supported by documentary evidence showing that the plan is realistic and that the applicant has already taken meaningful steps toward it.

Useful supporting evidence may include:

  • A business or professional plan;
  • Letters of interest from potential clients;
  • Letters from prospective collaborators;
  • Employment offers related to the endeavor;
  • Consulting agreements;
  • Research plans;
  • Grant applications or awards;
  • Proof of business formation;
  • Market research;
  • Financial projections;
  • Product-development records;
  • Proof of participation in accelerators or incubators;
  • Intellectual-property documentation;
  • Professional licenses or certifications; and
  • Evidence of previous success performing similar work.

Entrepreneurial NIW cases may rely on different forms of evidence than traditional academic or employment-based cases. USCIS recognizes that evidence in entrepreneur petitions may be unique to the applicant and the proposed business activity.

11. Align the Endeavor with U.S. Priorities

A proposed endeavor may be strengthened by showing that it supports documented U.S. priorities.

Depending on the field, the petition may refer to priorities involving:

  • Critical and emerging technologies;
  • Artificial intelligence;
  • Cybersecurity;
  • Semiconductors;
  • Advanced manufacturing;
  • Clean energy;
  • Climate resilience;
  • Public health;
  • Infrastructure;
  • Food and water security;
  • Domestic supply chains;
  • Rural development;
  • Workforce development; or
  • Support for small businesses.

Government priorities should be used carefully. Merely mentioning a federal program or policy is not enough. The applicant must explain how the proposed activities will actually contribute to that priority.

12. Explain Why the Endeavor Extends Beyond One Employer

An NIW petition asks USCIS to waive the normal requirement for a permanent job offer and labor certification. For this reason, the proposed endeavor should generally be framed around the applicant’s work and expected impact, rather than only around the needs of one employer.

An applicant may still work for a specific employer, and employment can be part of the proposed endeavor. However, the petition should explain how the applicant’s work has broader implications.

For example, the applicant’s work may:

  • Produce technology used by multiple organizations;
  • Improve practices across an industry;
  • Create knowledge distributed through publications or training;
  • Address a national shortage;
  • Support an important U.S. economic sector;
  • Develop a replicable professional model; or
  • Generate benefits extending beyond the employer’s internal operations.

Common Proposed Endeavor Mistakes

Using Broad and Generic Language

Statements such as “I will help the U.S. economy,” “I will advance technology,” or “I will create jobs” are generally insufficient without details explaining how those results will be achieved.

Describing Only the Profession

The applicant should not confuse the proposed endeavor with an occupational description. USCIS needs to understand the applicant’s specific future activities.

Focusing Only on Past Achievements

Past accomplishments are important because they may show that the applicant is well positioned. However, the endeavor itself must be forward-looking.

Claiming That the Entire Industry Is Nationally Important

The importance of an industry does not automatically establish the national importance of the applicant’s proposed work within that industry.

Depending on Unsupported Predictions

Claims about job creation, revenue, expansion, or social impact should be supported by a reasonable methodology, market data, prior results, contracts, or other evidence.

Presenting an Unrealistic Plan

The scale of the endeavor should be consistent with the applicant’s resources, professional history, contacts, and demonstrated capabilities.

Failing to Explain Implementation

A proposal may identify an important problem but remain weak if it does not explain the steps the applicant will take to address it.

Using the Same Template for Every Profession

A strong proposed endeavor should be individualized. A generic template may overlook the applicant’s distinctive background, planned activities, beneficiaries, and evidence.

Example of a Weak Proposed Endeavor

“I plan to work in business management and use my experience to improve companies in the United States. My work will create jobs, increase profits, and benefit the national economy.”

This statement is weak because it does not identify:

  • The types of companies to be served;
  • The business problems to be addressed;
  • The services or methods to be provided;
  • The applicant’s implementation plan;
  • The expected measurable results; or
  • Why the impact would extend beyond individual clients.

Example of a Stronger Proposed Endeavor

“My proposed endeavor is to help small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers improve supply-chain resilience through demand forecasting, inventory optimization, supplier-risk assessment, and workforce training. I will initially provide diagnostic and implementation services to manufacturers experiencing material shortages and production delays. I will then develop standardized assessment tools and training programs that can be used by additional companies and supply-chain professionals. Through this endeavor, I intend to reduce operational disruptions, improve domestic manufacturing productivity, and strengthen the ability of U.S. businesses to respond to future supply-chain emergencies.”

This version is stronger because it identifies:

  • A defined group of beneficiaries;
  • Specific professional activities;
  • A significant U.S. problem;
  • A practical implementation method;
  • A plan for broader use or expansion; and
  • Expected economic and operational benefits.

Suggested Structure for a Proposed Endeavor Plan

A well-organized proposed endeavor document may use the following structure:

1. Executive Summary

Provide a clear one- or two-paragraph explanation of the endeavor, its beneficiaries, and its expected impact.

2. Applicant’s Field and Professional Background

Briefly explain the applicant’s expertise and how it relates to the proposed work.

3. The U.S. Problem or Need

Describe the specific problem, supported by objective evidence.

4. Proposed Activities

Explain exactly what the applicant will do.

5. Substantial Merit

Describe the practical, scientific, economic, educational, health, cultural, or social value of the endeavor.

6. National Importance

Explain the endeavor’s potential broader impact and connection to U.S. priorities.

7. Implementation Plan

Present the planned stages, partnerships, resources, and timeline.

8. Expected Results

Identify reasonable and measurable objectives.

9. Why the Applicant Is Well Positioned

Connect the plan to the applicant’s education, experience, achievements, and existing progress.

10. Broader Benefits of Waiving the Job-Offer Requirement

Explain why allowing the applicant flexibility to pursue the endeavor would benefit the United States.

Final Checklist

Before submitting the proposed endeavor, determine whether the document clearly answers the following questions:

  • What exactly will the applicant do?
  • What problem will the endeavor address?
  • Who will benefit?
  • How will the work be carried out?
  • Why does the endeavor have substantial merit?
  • Why could the endeavor have national importance?
  • What broader impact is expected?
  • What evidence supports the need for the endeavor?
  • What evidence shows the plan is realistic?
  • Why is the applicant qualified to carry it out?
  • What progress has already been made?
  • What measurable results are expected?
  • Why would waiving the job-offer requirement benefit the United States?

Conclusion

A strong EB-2 NIW proposed endeavor should be clear, specific, forward-looking, and supported by evidence. It should explain more than what the applicant’s profession is. It should show what the applicant intends to accomplish, why the work matters, how the plan will be implemented, who will benefit, and why the applicant is capable of producing the expected results.

The most persuasive proposed endeavor plans connect four elements:

  1. A significant U.S. need;
  2. A specific and realistic plan;
  3. A credible path to broader impact; and
  4. An applicant with the qualifications and record necessary to advance the work.

Because every applicant’s professional background and proposed activities are different, the proposed endeavor should be individually developed and supported by evidence that matches the specific facts of the case.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Approval of an EB-2 NIW petition is not guaranteed, and each petition is evaluated according to its individual facts and evidence. Applicants should consider consulting a qualified U.S. immigration attorney regarding their circumstances.