Colombia One interviews actress and Upgrade2USA co-founder Marcela Carvajal about the consultancy’s U.S. residency pathways. Credit: @Upgrade2USA

Colombian actress Marcela Carvajal is one of the founders of Upgrade2USA, a consultancy helping Latin American professionals pursue legal career opportunities and U.S. residency. In an exclusive interview with Colombia One, she explained how the initiative is opening new pathways for qualified professionals looking to build a future in the United States—some of which may be more accessible than many realize.

The idea for Upgrade2USA emerged about two years ago after Carvajal connected with Colombian immigration attorney Lilia De La Torre, who helped her obtain U.S. residency. Together with entrepreneur Andrés Felipe Gómez, they identified a gap in the immigration process, where many professionals either overlooked employment-based visa opportunities or paid high fees for services that did not fully support their applications. “Many people think they don’t qualify for EB-1 or EB-2 visas, but in many cases they do—they just need guidance,” Carvajal told Colombia One.

Upgrade2USA and employment-based U.S. residency pathways

Employment-based visas, including the EB-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW), are among the legal pathways available for professionals seeking permanent residency in the United States. However, Carvajal said many people assume these options are reserved exclusively for celebrities, major business owners or internationally recognized figures, leading them to dismiss their chances before exploring whether they qualify.

Carvajal said Upgrade2USA works alongside immigration attorneys rather than acting as a law firm. She noted that the consultancy’s legal guidance is supported by an immigration attorney with more than 30 years of experience. The team helps applicants strengthen the evidence supporting their cases, including business plans for investment and national interest visas, while providing guidance on the immigration pathways that may best fit each individual’s profile.

“We collaborate with that evidence, with business plans for investment visas or national interest visas. We do it alongside the person’s attorney because we are not lawyers. We have legal advisers, but we are not lawyers. We help strengthen the process and can provide guidance on which visa might be possible,” Carvajal said.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency that oversees the country’s lawful immigration system, updated its policy guidance for EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions in January 2025. The agency clarified that applicants must first demonstrate they qualify for the underlying EB-2 visa category before requesting a waiver, reinforcing the importance of documenting professional achievements and meeting the eligibility requirements throughout the application process.

Why many professionals underestimate their qualifications

Carvajal said that while a strong career, business, or professional recognition can be important, they are only part of a much broader evaluation. She explained that many applicants already have qualifications that could support an employment-based petition but need to present their experience and achievements in a way U.S. immigration officials can properly assess.

The actress also encouraged prospective immigrants to explore legal pathways before traveling to the United States. She said entering the country without authorization can significantly complicate future immigration options, particularly as asylum cases have become increasingly difficult to pursue successfully.

Members of the Upgrade2USA team. Credit: @Upgrade2USA

Her recommendation comes as legal immigration continues to represent one of the main pathways to permanent residency in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of State, federal immigration law provides for at least 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas each fiscal year, with additional visas becoming available in some years through the redistribution of unused family-sponsored visas.

Carvajal added that many applicants mistakenly believe a successful business, financial resources or professional recognition alone are enough to qualify for an employment-based visa. Instead, she said U.S. immigration authorities evaluate multiple factors, making it essential to build a comprehensive application supported by strong evidence.

“It’s not just having a business, having the money or winning an award. There are many factors that U.S. immigration authorities consider,” she said.

Bridging the gap between experience and recognition

Asked whether Colombian professionals are competitive enough to succeed in the U.S. labor market, Carvajal said she believes many already possess the qualifications needed to pursue employment-based immigration. The challenge, she said, is demonstrating those achievements in a way U.S. immigration officials can properly understand and evaluate.

“We have a very strong academic level, but it has to be demonstrated in the language of immigration officers. There is a bridge that not everyone understands. What is considered important in one country may not be understood in another, so you have to explain those achievements and their significance,” she said.

Professional accomplishments that carry significant weight in Colombia or elsewhere in Latin America may not be immediately recognizable to U.S. immigration officers, making documentation and contextual evidence an important part of many employment-based petitions. Under USCIS guidelines, officers evaluate not only whether evidence has been submitted, but also its quality, relevance and the totality of the record when determining eligibility.

Carvajal said the consultancy begins by assessing whether a candidate’s profile is suitable for an employment-based immigration pathway before any formal process begins. According to her, not every case qualifies, and part of the team’s role is identifying when an applicant is unlikely to meet the requirements. She added that Upgrade2USA focuses exclusively on U.S. residency pathways rather than tourist visas.

Carvajal said the consultancy begins by evaluating whether a candidate’s profile is suitable for an employment-based immigration pathway before any formal work begins, acknowledging that not every applicant qualifies. She added that Upgrade2USA specializes exclusively in U.S. residency pathways rather than tourist visas, emphasizing that each case depends on a person’s actual professional background and achievements.

Expanding legal pathways for Latin Americans

As employment-based immigration continues to evolve, Upgrade2USA is also expanding the pathways it can offer prospective applicants. Carvajal said the consultancy has begun working alongside MCC USA, a workforce recruitment company that connects international workers with U.S. employers seeking to fill labor shortages through employment-based immigration programs. She said the partnership is designed for applicants pursuing job-sponsored immigration opportunities, complementing the consultancy’s existing work on evidence-based petitions.

Despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. immigration policy, Carvajal argued that legal opportunities remain available for qualified professionals. She said public attention often focuses on cases involving irregular migration, overshadowing the employment-based pathways that continue to exist for applicants who meet the legal requirements.

“Beyond the fear, there are many Latin Americans who meet all the legal requirements and have all the qualifications to live in this country,” Carvajal told Colombia One.

She said the consultancy ultimately hopes to help prospective immigrants make informed decisions based on legal opportunities rather than uncertainty, encouraging applicants to understand their options before dismissing the possibility of building a career in the United States.

“We want to replace fear with knowledge—to shine a light into what often feels like a dark room filled with frightening stories because they involve illegal immigration,” Carvajal concluded.