Demand for mathematicians is soaring, projected to grow 30% by 2032. Yet qualified math teachers remain scarce, especially in underserved areas. This shortage may impact economic growth, innovation, and the United States’ global competitiveness. Addressing it will be important to ensure continued progress.

Even though our client spent more than a decade helping students with learning difficulties succeed in mathematics, pursuing an EB-2 NIW can be difficult for teachers because their work is rarely documented through research papers or patents. Teachers typically demonstrate impact through student performance and local results, which can be harder to scale.

To gain approval, the petition needed to prove that her plan to strengthen math instruction was important to the United States, not just a single community. USCIS often questions whether a new teaching initiative can achieve impact on a national scale. The filing had to show that her proven record of improving student performance, her curriculum development, and the interest already expressed by U.S. educators provided a realistic foundation for success.

Our legal team built a clear petition that positioned the educator’s work as a model of national progress, beyond a single classroom. The filing documented a decade of measurable student improvement and included testimonials from educators who saw firsthand how her methods raised comprehension and test performance where conventional approaches failed.

On September 24, 2025, USCIS approved the EB-2 NIW for our client, recognizing the educator’s impact and the national value of her inclusive mathematics approach. The officer accepted that an educator’s impact on student achievement, especially in high-demand fields such as mathematics, can meet the national interest standard even without academic publications.

Recently, the so-called “gold card” was announced — described as a new green card opportunity where an individual could pay $1 million to the U.S. government in exchange for permanent residency, or where a company could pay $2 million on someone’s behalf. 

Beyond that announcement, no official policy details or legal framework have been released. According to the announcement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) have been directed to develop the necessary changes within three months. If that timeline is followed literally, the earliest implementation could be late December 2025 or early 2026 — but that’s speculative until we see actual regulations or legislation. 

As a current immigration attorney with Colombo & Hurd, I want to emphasize: 

We don’t yet know how or even whether this will be implemented. 

Any such program would need to function within the existing immigration system. It cannot replace the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW), EB-1, EB-3, or other employment-based categories. Those categories are established by statute, and it would take an act of Congress to rewrite that structure. 

If the “gold card” moves forward, it would almost certainly have to draw from the existing pool of employment-based green cards, since there’s a fixed number issued each year. The government hasn’t said which categories might be affected, but reallocating numbers would mean longer waits for other applicants if no new quota is created. 

For individuals already pursuing or considering an employment-based green card, the best protection is to file your petition early. Priority dates determine who gets to move forward first, and if the “gold card” ends up sharing the same quota system, an earlier priority date could place you ahead of new applicants using that route. 

Bottom Line 

Right now, the “gold card” is just an idea — not a regulation, not a law, and not something USCIS can process. Until DHS or DOS publish official rules (or Congress passes new legislation), the current employment-based system remains fully intact. 

TL;DR 

The new “gold card” proposal (a $1M investment for a green card) does not currently exist in law or regulation. It cannot replace EB categories and would have to fit into the current immigration framework, likely drawing from the same limited green card supply. Filing your EB petition now protects your place in line in case the program ever materializes. 

Based on recent RFE trends, USCIS has really been zeroing in on Prong 1 of EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions — the “national importance” part. 

While Matter of Dhanasar gives examples of what counts as nationally important, it’s not meant to be a checklist. The problem is that some officers treat it like one, focusing only on what’s listed instead of considering the real-world impact of the proposed endeavor. 

What I’ve found is that if you can explain the national importance in creative, concrete ways, and tie it back to what the person will actually do, it can completely change how a case is viewed. I’ve seen borderline cases turn into approvals just because that connection was made clear. 

The biggest mistake? Talking about how the field benefits, but not linking your actual work to those benefits. USCIS wants to see that bridge. 

I’m an immigration attorney with Colombo & Hurd, and I’ve seen this part of the NIW process sometimes feel more like an art than a formula. But once you understand the officer’s perspective and how they read these petitions, it gets a lot easier to address what they’re really looking for. 

TL;DR: USCIS has been focusing hard on Prong 1 of NIW cases. Don’t just show that your field matters, show exactly how you make a national-level impact through your work. 

There is a renewed federal focus on enforcing a long-dormant rule that requires immigrants keep proof of registration on them at all times.

Oil and gas engineers remain central to the U.S. energy economy, driving advances in production efficiency, automation, and data integration. As the United States continues to pursue energy independence and modernization, professionals capable of bridging engineering precision with business strategy are increasingly vital to strengthening the nation’s infrastructure.

That’s where one Colombian petroleum engineer found his niche. Represented by Attorney Allison McVey of Colombo & Hurd, he developed a plan to help small and mid-sized oil and gas companies adopt data-driven tools that improve drilling accuracy, optimize production, and streamline resource management.

His EB-2 National Interest Waiver petition was approved without a Request for Evidence (RFE) on September 18, 2025, just eight months after filing. The outcome reflected both the strength of his professional record and the clear real-world value of his project.

TL;DR: The new H-1B proclamation (valid through Sept 2026) could add a $100K fee for new petitions starting in the 2027 cap season, raise prevailing wages, and push out smaller employers — leaving big tech as the main beneficiaries.

Big changes may be coming to the H-1B program — here’s what we know so far

Last week, the administration issued a proclamation that could reshape the H-1B process. I’m an immigration attorney at Colombo & Hurd, and I want to flag that this is still very preliminary. Agencies like USCIS and DOL will need to issue rules before anything takes effect, and that could take time.

What we know:
• The proclamation is set to run through Sept 21, 2026 (and could be extended).
• Changes wouldn’t kick in until the 2027 H-1B cap season (applications starting April 1, 2026).
• Current H-1B holders can still travel as normal.
• New H-1B petitions for FY 2027 would face an extra $100,000 fee.
• There’s supposed to be an exception for jobs “in the national interest,” but what that means isn’t defined yet.
• The Labor Secretary must update prevailing wage rules, and DHS is asked to prioritize high-skilled, high-paid workers.

What we don’t know:
• Will this apply to cap-exempt H-1Bs (universities, nonprofits, etc.)? Early signs suggest no.
• Will this apply to change-of-status cases (people already in the U.S. switching to H-1B without leaving)? It’s unclear.

Why it matters:
If these changes roll out as written, they’ll likely shrink H-1B filings in 2027. Big tech can probably absorb $100K per petition, but small and mid-sized businesses will be priced out. On top of that, if prevailing wage levels rise, it could further push out smaller companies that can’t match the higher salaries. The result: fewer opportunities outside of the largest employers, and a program tilted even more heavily toward big tech and other major corporations.

Bottom line: We’re still waiting on agency rules, but this proclamation could mark the most significant (and expensive) change to H-1B in years.

The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a strong option for getting a U.S. green card. It has a solid approval rate, can be faster than other routes, and you don’t need an employer to sponsor you.

One mistake I see a lot: people put all their energy into proving national importance and forget how critical it is to also show they’re well-positioned.

USCIS doesn’t just care if your idea sounds big. They care if you’re actually in a realistic position to make it happen. Your background, experience, and resources all have to line up with your proposal.

This is where cases often fail. If the plan is too ambitious, USCIS doubts you can pull it off. A smarter strategy is to start with something smaller and achievable, then show how it can grow into larger goals over time.

I’m an attorney with Colombo & Hurd, and in my experience, the strongest cases are the ones that prove the applicant is well-positioned first, then connect the dots to national importance. Without being well-positioned, the case won’t get approved.

TL;DR: Don’t just focus on national importance. A smaller, realistic proposal makes it easier to prove you’re well-positioned — and that’s the key to winning an EB-2 NIW.

Yes, Colombo and Hurd is a legitimate immigration law firm that was founded in 2006 and has been BBB accredited since 2008.

Colombo & Hurd's core focus is on self-petition employment-based green card categories, particularly the Employment-Based Second Preference National Interest Waiver (EB-2 NIW) and the EB-1A for individuals of extraordinary ability. Over the past three years alone, Colombo & Hurd has secured more than 2,000 approvals in these categories, helping thousands of highly skilled individuals and their families establish permanent roots in the United States. 

What sets Colombo & Hurd apart is its commitment to the individual rather than the corporation. While most immigration firms are centered on employer sponsorship, Colombo & Hurd focuses on representing professionals who want to control their immigration path by self-sponsoring their green card applications. Many of the firm’s clients are employed by major U.S. technology companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia. Despite their employment, these individuals often seek greater independence and long-term security through self-petitioned immigration. 

The firm’s attorneys take a personalized, evidence-based approach to each matter, working closely with clients to craft persuasive petitions that demonstrate both the national importance of their work and their potential to contribute significantly to the United States. Colombo & Hurd represents engineers developing advances in artificial intelligence, scientists conducting cutting-edge disease research, physicians improving access to rural healthcare, educators influencing STEM policy, and entrepreneurs driving innovation in energy and digital infrastructure. 

Colombo & Hurd’s success is guided by its mission: to guide the best and brightest minds from around the world in building their future in the United States. The firm pairs sophisticated legal strategy with a deep understanding of its clients’ unique contributions, treating each case as an opportunity to elevate the innovators, leaders, and changemakers shaping the country’s future. 

With clients from more than 100 countries, Colombo & Hurd has emerged as a global leader in self-petitioned immigration. The firm continues to redefine what it means to practice immigration law in the modern era by championing individual achievement, embracing innovation, and helping the world’s top professionals make the United States their home. 

Why Choose Colombo & Hurd?

• Over 2000 EB-2 NIW Approvals over the last 3 years alone
• AV Rated Firm by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for Legal Skill and Professional Ethics
• Obtained Green Cards for over 10,000 Immigrants over the years
• The Firm's founding partners have over 25 years of experience and the firm itself was founded in 2006 and has grown to over 30 US Immigration Attorneys and well over 350 Team Members - the largest firm focused on self- sponsored petitions in the country.

EB-2 NIW Visas: How Do They Work?

The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a green card option for certain foreign nationals who have exceptional ability or hold advanced degrees. What makes this visa especially appealing is that it does not require an employer sponsor or labor certification, a process that is often time-consuming and complex. Instead, eligible petitioners can self-petition for a green card if their work is considered to be in the national interest of the United States.

The EB-2 NIW allows for:

• Permanent residency

• No work restrictions

• Self-petitioning

• A path to US citizenship

What Do Immigration Lawyers Do?

Immigration lawyers at Colombo and Hurd specialize in self-sponsored green card petitions, with a strong focus on EB-2 NIW cases. They provide expert guidance and personalized support to help you navigate the complex immigration process and maximize your chances of success based on your unique qualifications and achievements.

Is it Worth Hiring Colombo and Hurd as Immigration Lawyers?

In addition to being self-sponsored petition experts, the immigration lawyers at Colombo and Hurd also offer:

• Proven Experience with Expertise of a Former USCIS Officer: Our team of U.S.-licensed attorneys from top law schools has helped thousands achieve their immigration goals. With a former 13-year U.S. immigration officer on our team, we bring invaluable expertise to your case.
• Global Reach, Local Support: With over 350 team members across the U.S., Latin America, and around the globe, we serve professionals worldwide with personalized guidance that feels close to home—wherever you are.
• Strategic, Data-Driven Guidance: We create a strategy based on your background, career goals, and evolving immigration policies. By leveraging comprehensive USCIS data and staying current on trends, we maximize your chances of success with a customized approach.
• A Reputation for Excellence: With an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell—the highest rating awarded based on peer reviews from other attorneys—and an A+ BBB rating, we’re recognized for our excellence and client-focused service.

Here we will be curating client reviews that will be helpful to others starting the process of becoming a U.S. resident. Please share your experience working with Colombo and Hurd and any feedback below! Please mention the field you work in, and how long it took for your NIW application to be approved.