Isenção de Interesse Nacional (NIW) para alunos graduados no programa STEM e empresários
Kyle Huffman • December 1, 2022
Em 21 de janeiro de 2022, a administração Biden anunciou mudanças na política
para a adjudicação de pedidos por Isenção de Interesse Nacional (NIW), para titulares de diplomas avançados (mestrados e doutorados), nos campos de STEM (ciências, tecnologia, engenharia e matemática). As mudanças visam expandir o acesso ao visto de isenção de interesse nacional (NIW), aplicando regras exclusivas às petições que se enquadram nos campos STEM.
A nova regra emitida no manual de políticas do USCIS não altera os requisitos fundamentais para o NIW, que estão em vigor desde a decisão do processo de Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dez. 884 (AAO 2016). Os candidatos que buscam uma isenção de interesse nacional ainda terão que provar que os três critérios a seguir são atendidos:
- O empreendimento proposto contribuirá para a melhoria de fatores chaves na vida americana e será significativo para o país (mérito substancial e importância nacional).
- O requerente é qualificado para avançar no empreendimento proposto.
- Em suma, seria benéfico para os Estados Unidos dispensar os requisitos de uma oferta de emprego e certificação de trabalho (Labor Certification) pelo Ministério do Trabalho americano.
Embora a nova regra não altere fundamentalmente os requisitos para o visto NIW, ela fornece várias considerações específicas que podem tornar os pedidos de NIW mais acessíveis nos campos de STEM.
As mudanças causarão repercussões mais perceptíveis no segundo e terceiro critérios. Especificamente, ter um diploma avançado em um campo STEM, particularmente um mestrado ou doutorado, foi considerado um fator positivo, de importância, para determinar se o candidato está bem qualificado para avançar no empreendimento proposto. Em muitos casos, ter o diploma avançado por si só não será suficiente para provar que o candidato é qualificado para avançar no empreendimento proposto. Mas, juntando-se o diploma avançado STEM com evidências adicionais como cartas de referências de especialistas reconhecidos na mesma área, evidências de titularidade de patentes ou propriedade intelectual para tecnologias STEM e evidências de publicações de pesquisas em artigos acadêmicos, reforçam o grau avançado no campo STEM, ao provar ao oficial de imigração que o requerente está bem qualificado para avançar no empreendimento proposto.
A nova regra também prevê que, se o objetivo proposto envolve pesquisa e desenvolvimento de tecnologias novas e emergentes, que tenham o potencial de aumentar a competitividade dos Estados Unidos na escala econômica global, bem como pesquisa e desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias com potencial para aumentar a segurança nacional dos EUA, é um fator positivo muito forte para decidir se seria benéfico para os Estados Unidos dispensar a exigência de certificação de trabalho.
Cada caso de NIW é único. Não há uma única combinação de diploma e objetivo proposto que garanta uma aprovação, pois há muitos outros fatores que determinam um pedido NIW. Mas, com essas novas regras em vigor, indivíduos com mestrado e/ou doutorado em um campo relacionado a STEM, com um projeto proposto visando aumentar a competitividade econômica e a segurança nacional dos Estados Unidos, agora terão vários fatores positivos fortes pesando a favor de uma aprovação da petição e uma chance muito maior de sucesso.
Se você tiver alguma dúvida sobre como as novas regras para graduados em STEM que solicitam o NIW significam para você, agende uma consulta com um de nossos advogados experientes.
Será um prazer trabalhar com vocês!
Este blog não se destina a ser um aconselhamento jurídico e nada aqui deve ser interpretado como estabelecimento de uma relação cliente-advogado. Por favor, agende uma consulta com um advogado de imigração, antes de agir baseado em qualquer informação lida neste blog.
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Kyle Huffman
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