10 Approvals After RFE on November 5, 2026
A Request for Evidence (RFE) represents one of the more demanding stages of adjudication in the employment-based immigration process. When USCIS issues an RFE, a petition undergoes additional scrutiny, and further evidence or clarification may be requested regarding the applicant’s qualifications and eligibility under the applicable immigration standard. Successfully navigating this stage requires an evidentiary record that remains organized, internally consistent, and directly responsive to the concerns raised during review.
The following success stories highlight 10 approvals after RFE review, consisting of 8 NIW approvals and 2 O-1A extension approvals. Several cases presented circumstances that added complexity to adjudication, including multiple service center transfers, applicants with non-STEM academic backgrounds, relatively modest scholarly records, and petitions initially filed without recommendation or testimonial letters.
Cases With Inherent Challenges
Multiple Service Center Transfers
Three petitions underwent multiple transfers between the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center during adjudication. Such procedural movement can add administrative complexity because the evidentiary record must remain clearly organized and internally consistent throughout review across different service center operations.
Non-STEM Academic Backgrounds
Two approvals involved applicants holding non-STEM academic degrees. These cases demonstrate that a non-STEM academic background does not necessarily prevent successful adjudication, provided that the applicants' professional qualifications, scholarly contributions, and supporting evidence satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements.
NIW Approvals After RFE (8)
#1: NIW in Plant Agriculture
This NIW approval involved a Geneticist, born in Nepal and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Plant Agriculture, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 7 publications and 117 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 8 recommendation letters and 1 testimonial letter were submitted as part of the RFE response.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#2: NIW in Biophysics
This NIW approval involved a Physics Instructor, born in Nepal and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Physics Lecturer. Filed in Biophysics, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a relatively limited scholarly record consisting of 2 publications and 29 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 7 recommendation letters were submitted with the RFE response.
The petition underwent transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#3: NIW in Electrical Engineering
This NIW approval involved a Senior Market Solutions Engineer in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Electrical Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1304 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 54 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing proceeded without recommendation letters and included 4 testimonial letters.
The petition underwent transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with upfront premium processing.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#4: NIW in Computer Vision
This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. Candidate (Research Assistant), born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Research Scientist in industry. Filed in Computer Vision, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 769 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The initial filing included 2 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters, while 3 additional recommendation letters and 1 testimonial letter were submitted with the RFE response.
The petition underwent transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#5: NIW in Metabolite-Regulated Cellular Metabolism
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Associate, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Metabolite-Regulated Cellular Metabolism, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1910 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 6 publications and 166 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 5 recommendation letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.
The petition was transferred from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#6: NIW in Medical Oncology
This NIW approval involved a Post-Graduate Year 2 Internal Medicine Resident in industry, born in Nigeria and residing in the United States, who proposes to advance to a Post-Graduate Year 3 Internal Medicine Resident in industry. Filed in Medical Oncology, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held an MBBS degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 10 publications and 76 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 3 recommendation letters were submitted with the RFE response.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with upfront premium processing.
Notable: Approved in a non-STEM field.
#7: NIW in Internal Medicine
This NIW approval involved a Hospitalist, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same role in industry. Filed in Internal Medicine, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1771 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held an M.D. degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 13 publications and 161 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 2 recommendation letters and 2 testimonial letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with upfront premium processing.
Notable: Approved in a non-STEM field.
#8: NIW in Biostatistics
This NIW approval involved a Biostatistics Manager Level 05 in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same role. Filed in Biostatistics, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1989 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 10 publications and 70 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The initial filing proceeded without recommendation letters and included 2 testimonial letters, while 3 recommendation letters were submitted with the RFE response.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with upfront premium processing.
O-1A Extension Approvals After RFE (2)
#9: O-1A Extension in Clinical Medicine
This O-1A extension approval involved an Orofacial Pain Specialist, born in the United Kingdom and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Clinical Medicine, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2623 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 19 publications and 287 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial filing included 4 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters, while 3 additional recommendation letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.
The petition was adjudicated through the California Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#10: O-1A Extension in Artificial Intelligence
This O-1A extension approval involved a Principal Research Scientist in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Artificial Intelligence, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM0034 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 61 publications and 6,664 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The filing included 4 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters.
The petition was adjudicated through the California Service Center with upfront premium processing.
The key to our success is the way in which we present supporting evidence and provide the highest quality petition letters. With over 70,000 I-140 EB-1 ( EB-1A Alien of Extraordinary Ability; EB-1B Outstanding Researcher or Professor), EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) and O-1 approvals, our firm has acquired substantial information about USCIS decisions, which gives us significant advantage over firms that only handle a small number of cases.
Based on our close track of USCIS internal memoranda, AAO decisions, and judicial review decisions, we have unique insight into the USCIS adjudication trends. Not only do we apply this insight into our approaches to our clients' cases, but we also carefully review all RFEs (Requests for Evidence), NOIDs (Notices of Intent to Deny), approvals, and denials issued on our cases so that we can further increase our understanding of USCIS strategies and decision-making processes. With the insight, we are able to advise our clients on the best ways to proceed with their petitions.
While other petitioners and attorneys may still use templates to draft recommendation letters or petition letters, our clients' recommendation letters and petition letters are tailored to their individual credentials to best persuade a USCIS officer that our clients meet the requirements of the category they are applying under and therefore their petitions deserve to be approved. To provide the best EB-1 and EB-2 NIW services, our law firm only selects attorneys who have received their professional Juris Doctor degrees from the top law schools in the U.S. and who have garnered rigorous analytical skills through years of experience.