bobsnodgrass

I am transferring to the US in February on an L1 visa. My wife will have an L2 visa, and she is going to file for a EAD (permit to work). I understand this takes 90days, after which she can work freely.

At the same time as filing for her EAD should she consider applying for an independent visa in her own right (she has skills potentially classed as specialist)? This will give us an insurance against me losing my L1 visa through redundancy etc I guess?

Any help/comments most appreciated.

Michael E. Piston

Your wife can and should apply for permanent residency on her own petition if she is eligible to do so. Note that the standard for an "alien of extraordinary ability" is that she be "among the small percentage who has risen to the top of his/her field", while the standard for a national interest waiver is, among other things, that she have made contributions to, or achievements in, her field, that "greatly exceed" an ordinary professional in her field.