For professionals who wish to immigrate to the United States without being tied to an employer, the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) are among the most attractive options. Both categories allow applicants to file for permanent residency on their own, but they differ significantly in terms of eligibility criteria and evidence requirements. In this article, we discuss the key differences between the EB-1A and NIW, the benefits o