Employment-based petitions, such as EB-1 and EB-2 NIW, allow foreign nationals to obtain U.S. permanent residency (green card) based on exceptional skills or contributions. The EB-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in fields like science, arts, education, or business, outstanding professors/researchers, or multinational executives, and does not require a job offer. The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is for individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities whose work is in the national interest of the U.S., allowing them to bypass the standard job offer and labor certification process.