NIW Proposed Endeavor vs. Proposed Employment: What Is the Difference?

What is a proposed endeavor?

A proposed endeavor describes the specific work, project, research program, or business activity you plan to advance in the United States. It should explain the problem, planned methods, anticipated outcomes, and the broader relevance of that work. “Working as a data scientist” is a job title; “developing and validating interpretable methods to detect coordinated financial fraud for audit-risk assessment” is a more specific proposed endeavor.

Specificity does not mean inventing a guaranteed result or locking yourself into a single employer. The endeavor must be credible and supported by your record and realistic plans.

What does proposed employment mean?

Proposed employment refers to a contemplated job, research appointment, organizational role, or other work arrangement through which the person expects to perform the endeavor. It may be supported by an employer letter, job description, research appointment, collaboration plan, or evidence of an independently pursued activity.

An NIW petition seeks a waiver of the job-offer and labor-certification requirements. A fixed U.S. employer or signed offer is therefore not invariably required. However, evidence of realistic future work can help demonstrate the applicant is positioned to advance the endeavor. Proposed employment is a practical implementation pathway, not a separate Dhanasar prong.

Their roles in the three Dhanasar prongs

Prong one assesses the proposed endeavor itself: whether it has substantial merit and national importance, including its prospective impact. It is not enough to say that the occupation or industry is important.

Prong two asks whether this applicant is well positioned to advance that endeavor. Work arrangements, documented progress, prior achievements, collaborators, funding, and interested users may help. Prong three asks whether, on balance, the United States would benefit from waiving a job offer and labor certification. A current or future role may be relevant, but an employment offer is not a prerequisite for the waiver.

Two examples: research and Startup founders

Researcher: Proposed endeavor—develop and validate accounting-grounded fraud detection methods and publish the findings for use in U.S. audit-risk assessment. Proposed employment—apply for research positions at U.S. universities or laboratories, with evidence of credible collaborations or research plans. The application should explain how the work can be advanced even if a particular appointment has not been finalized.

Founder: Proposed endeavor—build and deploy a cybersecurity product that addresses a defined problem affecting U.S. critical infrastructure. Proposed employment—serve as the founder or technical lead of the Startup. Company formation alone does not establish the national importance of the specific endeavor.

Avoid two common NIW mistakes

First, do not equate the proposed endeavor with a generic occupation, an impressive resume, or a list of broad national priorities. Second, do not substitute an unsupported future job title for a realistic implementation plan. Keep the petition, personal statement, independent letters, and supporting evidence consistent in material facts while allowing each witness to speak from their own knowledge.