President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” creates new opportunities for quantitative analysts, fintech developers, and economists to qualify for self-sponsored immigration under EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW). The executive order acknowledges the critical role these professionals play in driving innovation, economic growth, and international leadership in the United States, recognizing the industry’s crucial contribution to the nation’s economic development and global standing.
The purpose of this executive order is “to support the responsible growth and use of digital assets, blockchain technology, and related technologies across all sectors of the economy.” With these goals, the executive order presents a significant opportunity for finance and fintech professionals to obtain a U.S. green card through the EB-2 NIW pathway. Using this executive order to support their petitions, professionals whose work impacts financial stability, AI-driven investing, or economic growth, among other areas, may demonstrate that their work is in the national interest and qualify for an EB-2 NIW.
The EB-2 NIW pathway allows individuals with exceptional abilities or advanced degrees to bypass the labor certification process if their work benefits the United States. An essential component of qualifying for NIW is demonstrating that your work is in the national interest.
Rachel Slomski, Immigration Attorney at Colombo & Hurd, shares how this executive order represents an invaluable opportunity for professionals in the finance industry to pursue permanent residency via the EB-2 NIW:
“The financial industry has always been important to the United States, and this Executive Order reflects new directions which financial professionals can take to contribute to the industry and the nation, implementing advanced technologies and bringing their unique skill sets to contribute to the country.”
Professionals in these areas can highlight how their work contributes to the national interest in several areas.
For example, finance and fintech professionals can demonstrate national interest by showcasing how their work in developing and implementing risk management strategies, ensuring regulatory compliance, or promoting financial inclusion contributes to the stability of the U.S. financial system.
The executive order highlights areas such as “taking measures to protect Americans from the risks of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs),” “providing regulatory clarity and certainty built on technology-neutral regulations, frameworks that account for emerging technologies, transparent decision making, and well-defined jurisdictional regulatory boundaries,” and “protecting and promoting fair and open access to banking services for all law-abiding individual citizens and private-sector entities alike.”
Professionals can demonstrate the national importance of their work on financial stability by:
- Developing and implementing risk management strategies that contribute to the stability of the U.S. financial system.
- Ensuring regulatory compliance with U.S. financial regulations, such as the Dodd-Frank Act or the Bank Secrecy Act, to maintain the integrity of the financial system.
- Developing financial products or services that promote financial inclusion and access to underserved communities.
Furthermore, in the AI-driven investing area, finance and fintech professionals can demonstrate national interest by explaining how their work in algorithmic trading, portfolio optimization, risk analysis, or developing innovative technologies and methodologies contributes to the efficiency of the U.S. financial system and the growth of the U.S. economy.
The executive order establishes a Working Group, chaired by the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto, which “shall consider provisions for market structure, oversight, consumer protection, and risk management.”
Professionals can demonstrate the national importance of their work on AI-driven investing by:
- Developing and implementing algorithmic trading strategies that contribute to the efficiency and stability of U.S. financial markets.
- Creating portfolio optimization models that help investors make informed decisions and contribute to the growth of the U.S. economy.
- Developing and implementing risk analysis models that help investors and financial institutions manage risk and make informed decisions, aligning with the goals of the Working Group.
- Incorporating AI, and other innovative technologies and methodologies, to further enhance the efficiency, stability, and growth of the U.S. financial system, demonstrating broader national importance.
Finance and fintech professionals can also demonstrate national interest by highlighting how their work in areas like economic modeling, financial innovation, or entrepreneurship can promote economic growth, innovation, and job creation in the United States.
According to the executive order: “The digital asset industry plays a crucial role in innovation and economic development in the United States, as well as our Nation’s international leadership.”
Professionals can demonstrate the national importance of their work contributing to economic growth by:
- Developing and implementing economic models that help policymakers and businesses make informed decisions about economic development and growth.
- Developing new financial products or services that promote economic growth and innovation, aligning with the economic growth goals of the U.S.
- Entrepreneurs can establish or work for startups that contribute to economic growth and job creation in the U.S.
NIW Success for Finance Professionals
Colombo & Hurd has helped hundreds of finance professionals working in diverse areas successfully obtain NIW approvals. Here are a few examples:
- NIW Approval for a Professional with a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Mathematics – The approval of a financial mathematics professional with a proposed endeavor to address the scarcity of affordable housing in the United States has significant national importance. By utilizing her experience in the construction sector, she aims to contribute to mitigating the growing shortage of low-cost housing for low-income individuals. This approval demonstrates how finance professionals can contribute to national priorities, such as affordable housing.
- NIW Approval for a Professional with a Master’s Degree in Applied Finance – The approval of an applied finance professional with a proposal to impact the U.S. automotive electric vehicle industry by implementing innovative solutions for automotive electrification and telecommunications has significant national importance. This endeavor aims to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, increase competitiveness, and create new job opportunities, ultimately contributing to the economic development of the country. This approval demonstrates how finance professionals can drive innovation and economic growth in key industries.
- NIW Approval for a Professional with a M.B.A. in Finance – The approval of a finance professional with an endeavor to design and implement highly customized and efficient production systems tailored specifically for small and medium-sized manufacturers across the United States has significant national importance. This endeavor aims to revolutionize production processes, increasing efficiency and competitiveness. This approval demonstrates how finance professionals can drive economic growth and innovation in the manufacturing sector.
- NIW Approval for a Professional with a Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engerineering – The approval of a software engineering professional with an endeavor to boost efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the U.S. business sector, primarily targeting small and medium-sized enterprises in healthcare and finance, by creating a talent incubator to meet the high demand for IT and software development skills in the U.S. has significant national importance. This endeavor aims to address the shortage of skilled tech professionals, driving innovation and economic growth. This example relates to the executive order goals, as it involves the development of digital technologies and talent, which can support the growth of digital assets and blockchain technology across various sectors.
These examples demonstrate how professionals working in a variety of areas related to finance and fintech can contribute to national priorities, drive innovation, and support economic growth, aligning with the executive order goals.
Future Opportunities for Finance and Fintech Professionals
The immigration attorneys at Colombo & Hurd are experts at crafting compelling arguments tailored to current executive orders and policies. Ms. Slomski provides insight on how this executive order and other current initiatives provide opportunities to develop strong arguments in support of our clients:
“This Executive Order, and other similar initiatives, present an opportunity to develop additional National Importance arguments for our clients, by showing their work aligns with national priorities. We can highlight the contributions finance and fintech professionals have made to financial security and economic innovation, demonstrating the importance of bringing this expertise to the United States.
The Executive Order acknowledges the importance of fintech in today’s economy. We can leverage this order to demonstrate how our clients’ work aligns with national priorities, contributes to the economy, and benefits the nation.”
The executive order has opened up new avenues for finance and fintech professionals to secure permanent residency in the United States through the EB-2 NIW pathway. By understanding the implications of Trump’s executive order and demonstrating how their work contributes to financial stability, AI-driven investing, economic growth, and innovation, professionals in these fields can showcase their national importance and take advantage of new opportunities for self-sponsored immigration under EB-2 NIW.
