Persuasive Reference Letters for NIW Application with Expert Credentials and Nature of Relationship, NIW Reference, NIW petition, Persuasive Reference Letters, NIW Application, NIW Expert Credentials, Eb2 NIW Nature of Relationship

Home | William's Answers for Immigration and Visa Questions

Persuasive Reference Letters for
NIW Application with Expert Credentials and Nature of Relationship

Hi William,

I am working on to ask some experts in my field to write reference letters for my EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition. The sample reference letters in your NIW DIY package have helped me a lot for the process. I do not have many publications, how could the reference letters be written as persuasive?

Answer,

Persuasive NIW reference letters must specifically detail the applicant's unique, high-impact contributions to their field and directly link them to U.S. national interests, adhering to the Matter of Dhanasar framework. Letters should be authored by independent experts, describe firsthand knowledge of the applicant's achievements, and provide concrete examples of how the applicant is well-positioned to advance their proposed endeavor.

Many EB2 NIW applications include letters of reference. Certain testimonials written by other experts working in the alien applicant’s field may be submitted as evidence. But the letters of reference should not be the cornerstone of a successful application of EB2 NIW applications.

Also, the statements in the reference letters should be corroborated with the submitted evidence. The reference letters should explain why he or she believe that you are working in an area of substantial intrinsic merit, and your work will benefit the nation as a whole. If a reference letter merely reiterates the National Interest Waiver definitions, or merely make expansive statements for your accomplishments, this kind of reference letter is not persuasive.

For a persuasive NIW reference letter, you should clearly establish the recommender’s expertise and why their opinion carries weight. You should also define how the recommender knows the applicant, e.g., direct collaboration,, or familiarity with their published work.

For pecific achievements, you should move beyond praise to provide detailed, evidence-based examples of the applicant’s work, such as citing, specific projects, patents, or industry impact. You should also explain how the work benefits the U.S. (e.g., improving healthcare, enhancing economic competitiveness, or accelerating scientific advancement).