I.
You are completing training
and want to understand which Green Card path fits your specialty and practice plans.
For physicians
U.S. Green Card strategy for physicians
Where you trained, where you practice, and whether you carry a J-1 home residency requirement all change which pathway fits. Our attorneys help doctors untangle the options and build a plan around your timeline.
- Physician NIW, EB-2 NIW, EB-1A and PERM under one strategy
- J-1 waiver and Green Card planned together, not separately
- Flat fees quoted upfront, with payment plans
- Ex-USCIS officer review available on your petition
/Find your path
What Green Card options does a physician typically have?
Physicians have a unique Green Card path unavailable to most professionals. The Physician NIW allows self-petition without labor certification in exchange for five years of service in a designated underserved area or VA facility. You can file before completing the service, while other options — including EB-2 NIW, EB-1A, and EB-2 PERM — may be a better fit depending on your experience and career stage.
Common starting points for physicians:
II.
You want to file a Physician NIW
and you are working or planning to work in an underserved area or VA facility.
III.
You are a research-track physician
at an academic medical center building toward the EB-1A or standard EB-2 NIW.
/Available pathways
Your Green Card options
Physician NIW
The Physician NIW lets physicians self-petition without labor certification by committing to five years of full-time clinical practice in a designated shortage area or VA facility. You can file before completing the service, but the Green Card cannot be approved until the requirement is met. Best for physicians practicing or planning to practice in an HPSA, MUA, or VA setting.
EB-2 NIW
For research-active physicians whose work has national impact. The EB-2 NIW suits physicians with a strong research profile alongside clinical work, including publications, grants, clinical trial leadership, or public health contributions. It allows you to self-petition with no underserved-area requirement and no employer sponsorship.
EB-1A
For physicians with national or international recognition in their field. The EB-1A is designed for academic physicians and clinician-scientists with cited publications, major grants, society leadership, selective fellowships, board positions, or media recognition. It has the highest eligibility standard, but also offers the fastest Green Card path for most countries.
Meet our experienced attorneys
Our immigration lawyers are more than credentialed. They are personally committed to your outcome. Only 1% of attorney applicants are selected to work with Manifest, and they bring the care, insight, and precision needed to craft complex cases at the highest level.
Jeff Joseph
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
30+ Years of Experience
Gregory Boult
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
25+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Rami Lee
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
18+ Years of Experience5,000+ Cases Filed*
Evan J. Law
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
17+ Years of Experience1,300+ Cases Filed*
Ana Senior
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
14+ Years of Experience1,200+ Cases Filed*
Lahaina Araneta McBeth
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
12+ Years of Experience4,800+ Cases Filed*
Avalon L. Paul
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Ana Gabriela Urizar
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
10+ Years of Experience15,000+ Cases Filed*
Amanda Mitchell
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
9+ Years of Experience2,500+ Cases Filed*
Nicole Gunara
PRINC. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
7+ Years of Experience1,700+ Cases Filed*
Henry Lindpere
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience700+ Cases Filed*
Bruna Maciel Soledade
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
5+ Years of Experience1,150+ Cases Filed*
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Our approach
Why clients trust Manifest's immigration lawyers
Here is what our clients get on every Manifest case.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour, and payment plans are available.
03
J-1 waiver and Green Card as one plan
Many physicians need a J-1 home residency waiver before a Green Card. We plan the waiver and the petition together rather than treating them as two unrelated filings.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour, and payment plans are available.
03
J-1 waiver and Green Card as one plan
Many physicians need a J-1 home residency waiver before a Green Card. We plan the waiver and the petition together rather than treating them as two unrelated filings.
01
Ex-USCIS officer review
Available as an add-on for Silver and Gold plans, and automatically included in the Platinum plan. An attorney with USCIS adjudication experience reviews your petition before it leaves our office.
02
Flat fees, no surprises
One price, quoted upfront on your strategy call. We do not bill by the hour, and payment plans are available.
03
J-1 waiver and Green Card as one plan
Many physicians need a J-1 home residency waiver before a Green Card. We plan the waiver and the petition together rather than treating them as two unrelated filings.
*Representative image - not actual Manifest lawyer or client
/Success stories
Helping physicians build their future in the U.S.
From J-1 waivers and NIW petitions to H-1B and Green Card approvals, we've helped physicians across specialties navigate complex immigration pathways with confidence.
/Testimonials
What our clients say
Discover how Manifest has helped clients navigate the visa process and read their success stories.
Very professional, Simon and Dan responded to my clarifications with satisfaction. prepared my case with detailed documentation and got my approval from USCIS. Highly recommended for individuals looking for GC process under employment-based category
Gurinder Singh
I have worked with Dan and Simon directly, and my experience has been like no other. It feels like I'm talking with actual people who care about my case. Any questions I had, they were happy to assist me with in a very short time and make sure everything was clear before moving on to the next thing. I will definitely be working with them again in the future.
Sandra Rocha
I had an amazing experience with Manifest Law from the first intake interview, through a fast and professional process of working on the file, to a straightforward approval of my case. Catlea Bobis is a superstar attorney, and I recommend everyone considering trusting your case to professional support like I had with Catlea and the entire team at Manifest Law.
Irina Batukhtina
*Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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/FAQs
Common questions physicians ask about Green Card options
Should I file a Physician NIW or an EB-2 NIW?
It depends on where you practice and what your record looks like. The Physician NIW is built around a five-year commitment to full-time clinical work in a designated shortage area or VA facility, and does not ask you to document national impact. The standard EB-2 NIW has no underserved-area requirement but does expect a research footprint — publications, grants, trial leadership, or public health contributions. A strategy call is the fastest way to tell which one your record supports.
Do I need an employer sponsor for any of these?
Not for the Physician NIW, the standard EB-2 NIW, or the EB-1A — all three are self-petitions, so you file on your own behalf and are not tied to one employer. The EB-2 PERM route does require an employer sponsor and a labor certification.
Can I pursue more than one of these at the same time?
Yes. Filing more than one petition is common where the record supports it, and it can protect your timeline if one path moves slowly. Whether it makes sense for you depends on your evidence and your priority date, which is something to work through on a strategy call.
How much does the whole process cost end to end?
Manifest quotes a flat fee upfront on your strategy call rather than billing by the hour, and payment plans are available. The exact figure depends on which pathway you file and which service plan you choose.
Money-back guarantees and refunds are subject to the terms of the selected service plan and engagement agreement.
