Chelsea Wright
Jan 26, 2026
What USCIS Really Means by “National Interest”
Many applicants misunderstand “national interest.”
USCIS is not looking for good intentions or personal career growth. They want to see measurable value to the United States.
This usually means showing:
• A clear problem your work addresses
• Why the U.S. benefits from your solution
• Evidence that you’re well-positioned to execute it
National interest must be explained and proven, not assumed.
I’ll explain how officers evaluate this in simple terms in future posts.
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