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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about evaluating your EB-1A or EB-2 NIW profile and reviewing your petition.

General

What pathways does Emeritas evaluate?

Two employment-based green card pathways that don't require a job offer or labor certification: EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) and EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver). EB-1A requires sustained national or international acclaim demonstrated through at least 3 of 10 regulatory criteria under 8 CFR 204.5(h)(3). EB-2 NIW requires an advanced degree or exceptional ability plus a proposed endeavor that meets the three-prong Dhanasar test. Many applicants qualify for — and file — both concurrently.

Do I qualify?

That's exactly what our Profile Evaluation answers. It assesses your evidence against BOTH pathways — EB-1A and EB-2 NIW — using each one’s own legal test, tells you which pathway or pathways your evidence currently meets the threshold for, and lays out the trade-offs between them so you can decide with your attorney.

How is this different from free EB-1A or NIW checkers online?

Free tools typically offer a simple checklist — you check boxes and get a generic score. Emeritas analyzes your actual evidence narrative, verifies claims against public data, identifies specific RFE risks, provides document checklists per criterion (EB-1A) or per Dhanasar prong (NIW), suggests specific evidence from your country and field, and delivers a downloadable report you can immediately start implementing.

Is this legal advice?

No. Emeritas is an informational evaluation tool, not a law firm. No attorney-client relationship is created. You should consult a qualified immigration attorney before filing. Our reports are designed to help you make more informed decisions.

EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)

What is EB-2 NIW?

EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) is a US immigration category for professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose work serves the national interest. Unlike standard EB-2, it does not require a job offer or labor certification. You must demonstrate that your proposed endeavor meets the three-prong Dhanasar test: substantial merit and national importance, you are well positioned to advance it, and it would benefit the U.S. to waive the job offer requirement.

What is the difference between EB-1A and EB-2 NIW?

EB-1A requires extraordinary ability — sustained national or international acclaim and being among the small percentage at the very top of your field. EB-2 NIW requires exceptional ability (a lower threshold — 'significantly above that ordinarily encountered') plus a national interest argument for your proposed work. EB-1A focuses on past achievements; NIW focuses on your proposed future endeavor and its national importance. Many applicants file both concurrently.

What is the Dhanasar test?

Matter of Dhanasar (2016) established the current three-prong test for NIW: (1) your proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, (2) you are well positioned to advance the endeavor, and (3) on balance, it would benefit the U.S. to waive the job offer requirement. This replaced the older NYSDOT framework.

Do I need a master's degree for NIW?

You need either an advanced degree (master's or higher, or a bachelor's plus 5 years of progressive experience in the same specialty) OR evidence of exceptional ability meeting 3 of 6 criteria under the regulation. The advanced degree route is more straightforward for most applicants.

Can I file both EB-1A and EB-2 NIW?

They are separate categories with different standards and a different evidence focus, and your evidence can meet the threshold for one or for both. Our Profile Evaluation assesses your evidence against each pathway’s own test so you can see where you stand on both. Which pathway to pursue is your decision, and one worth making with a qualified immigration attorney.

Profile Evaluation

What do I get for $49.99?

One evaluation covering BOTH pathways: your evidence runs through the full EB-1A assessment (10 criteria, Kazarian two-step) AND the full EB-2 NIW assessment (Dhanasar three prongs). You get a threshold verdict for each pathway measured against its own legal test, the complete detailed analysis for both, evidence assessment, document checklists, the trade-offs between the two for your situation, and what each pathway still needs from you.

Why did the price change from $69.99?

We consolidated our profile products in August 2026. The former $69.99 evaluation covered a single pathway you had to choose in advance. The Profile Evaluation now covers BOTH pathways and includes the recommendation on which to pursue — at $49.99, less than the old single-pathway price. If you paid $69.99 or $99.99 recently, your evaluation was delivered at the price and scope offered at the time; reach out to hello@emeritas.pro with any questions.

How long does it take?

About 15 minutes to fill out the form, plus 1-2 minutes for the evaluation to process. You can download your PDF report immediately.

Can I upload my CV?

Yes. On the last page before submission, you can optionally upload your CV. We cross-reference it against your responses to find qualifications you may have overlooked.

What if my score is low?

A low score doesn't mean you can't pursue your pathway (EB-1A or EB-2 NIW) — it means you need to build your profile before filing. Your report includes a specific action plan with immediate next steps, evidence suggestions, and a projected score showing what you could reach with improvements. If one pathway is weak, the report will often suggest whether the other pathway is a better fit for your profile today.

Petition Review

What is a petition?

An EB-1A or EB-2 NIW petition is the formal application (Form I-140) submitted to USCIS. It includes a petition letter arguing your case, supporting exhibits, expert recommendation letters, and evidence for each criterion you claim (EB-1A) or for each Dhanasar prong (NIW). Our Petition Review covers both pathways.

Why would I pay to have my petition reviewed?

An attorney reviewing an EB-1A or NIW petition before filing charges $1,000-$3,000+. Our review identifies the same issues — RFE vulnerabilities, evidence gaps, weak arguments, exhibit problems — for $147. Think of it as a second opinion before you file.

What do I get for $147?

A detailed audit covering: per-criterion assessment, exact RFE language USCIS would likely issue, missing evidence and documents to add, expert letter quality review, final merits narrative assessment, exhibit gap analysis, priority fixes ranked by impact, and a filing readiness assessment with estimated timeline.

Does my petition need to be in a specific format?

Upload it as a text-based PDF. Scanned or image-based PDFs cannot be processed.

RFE Response Review

What is an RFE?

A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a notice from USCIS asking for additional evidence to support your petition. It is not a denial — it is an opportunity to strengthen your case. You typically have 84 days to respond.

What does the RFE Response Review do?

You upload three documents: your original petition, the RFE letter from USCIS, and your draft response. We cross-reference all three to check whether every concern raised in the RFE is addressed in your response, identify gaps, and flag red flags before you submit.

Can I upload a scanned RFE letter?

Yes — the RFE letter from USCIS can be a scanned PDF. However, your original petition and draft response must be text-based PDFs (not scanned).

What do I get for $197?

A concern-by-concern review showing which RFE issues are fully addressed, partially addressed, or not addressed. Plus: red flags, consistency check (does the response contradict the original petition?), priority fixes, and a submission readiness assessment.

Payment & Access

Can I get a refund?

Reports are generated and delivered immediately, so refunds are generally not available after an evaluation is complete. Two exceptions: (1) Money-back guarantee on Petition Review and RFE Response Review — if the review does not identify at least one actionable improvement, email hello@emeritas.pro within 7 days of purchase for a full refund. (2) Technical failure — if the service fails to produce a result, contact us for a re-run or full refund. We acknowledge refund requests within 24 business hours and aim to resolve them within 72 business hours. Full details in our Terms of Service.

Do you offer group discounts?

Yes — when 3 people apply together using a shared group code, everyone gets 20% off the Profile Evaluation.

Is my data secure?

Yes. All data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS). Payment is processed by Stripe — we never see your card details. Uploaded documents are processed in memory and not stored after the evaluation is complete.

Still have questions? Use the feedback button on our site or contact us at hello@emeritas.pro