14 I-140 Approvals After RFE on August 21, 2026
A Request for Evidence (RFE) represents one of the more demanding stages of adjudication in the employment-based immigration process. Once USCIS issues an RFE, the petition undergoes additional scrutiny, and the adjudicating officer may seek further documentation or clarification 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 responsive to the issues raised during review.
The following success stories highlight 14 I-140 approvals involving RFE review or related adverse petition history. These approvals include 3 EB-1A petitions and 11 NIW petitions. Several cases involved circumstances that added complexity to adjudication, including related adverse petition history, multiple service center transfers, a petition without recommendation or testimonial letters, a non-STEM field, and an applicant residing outside the United States.
Cases With Inherent Challenges
Related Adverse Petition History
Two approvals involved related petition histories that included RFEs, with one petition also receiving a denial. Such histories can add complexity because each filing must independently establish eligibility under its applicable legal standard while maintaining a clear, consistent, and well-supported evidentiary record.
Multiple Service Center Transfers
Several petitions underwent service center transfers before final adjudication between the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center. Such procedural movement can add complexity because the evidentiary record must remain logically structured, internally consistent, and persuasive throughout review by different service center operations.
Limited or No Supporting Letters
Several petitions relied on a limited number of supporting letters, while one petition proceeded without recommendation or testimonial letters. In these circumstances, the evidentiary record relied more heavily on objective indicators such as academic credentials, publication records, citation impact, and professional or research experience to document the applicants’ qualifications.
EB-1A Approvals After RFE (3)
#1: EB-1A in Applied Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
This EB-1A approval involved a Senior Research Scientist in industry, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Applied Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1747 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 13 publications and 576 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The adjudication involved 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 EB-1A approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#2: EB-1A in Polymer Science and Engineering
This EB-1A approval involved an Associate in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Polymer Science and Engineering, the petition received an RFE from the Nebraska Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 13 publications and 343 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The filing was supported by 6 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The adjudication involved transfers from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center and then back to the Texas Service Center with upfront premium processing.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing EB-1A approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#3: EB-1A in Autonomous Driving
This EB-1A approval involved a Chief Executive Officer in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Autonomous Driving, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1320 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated an extensive scholarly record consisting of 10 publications and 1,744 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The adjudication involved 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 EB-1A approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
NIW Approvals After RFE (11)
#4: NIW in Radiology
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Fellow, born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Radiology, the applicant initially filed an NIW petition, followed by an EB-1A petition. The NIW has been approved, while the EB-1A has received an RFE from Officer XM1136.
The applicant held an M.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 18 publications and 460 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 1 recommendation letter and 1 testimonial letter.
The petition was adjudicated through the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval in a non-STEM field while a related EB-1A petition had received an RFE.
#5: NIW in Ecology
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in Taiwan and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Ecology, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2532 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 10 publications and 147 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#6: NIW in Conservation Biology
This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. student (Graduate Research Assistant), born in Nepal and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as an Assistant Professor. Filed in Conservation Biology, 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 10 publications and 32 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 3 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The petition was adjudicated through the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#7: NIW in Experimental Nuclear Physics
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Researcher, born in Nepal and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Experimental Nuclear Physics, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2367 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 16 publications and 433 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#8: NIW in Agriculture - Ruminant Nutrition and Pasture Science
This NIW approval involved a Professor - Ruminant Nutrition and Pasture Science, born in Ethiopia and residing in South Africa, who proposes to work as an Associate Professor - Ruminant/Animal Nutrition. Filed in Agriculture - Ruminant Nutrition and Pasture Science, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2546 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated an extensive scholarly record consisting of 110 publications and 2,015 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The adjudication involved a transfer from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center without premium processing and was approved in 915 days.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review while the applicant was residing outside the United States.
#9: NIW in Bioprocess Engineering
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Fellow, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Bioprocess Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2121 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 43 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The adjudication involved 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.
#10: NIW in Bioengineering
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Bioengineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2545 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 21 publications and 680 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The petition proceeded without any supporting letters.
The adjudication involved 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 without recommendation or testimonial letters while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#11: NIW in Biomedical Engineering
This NIW approval involved a Data Science Intern in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Senior Scientist in industry. Filed in Biomedical Engineering, the petition received an RFE from the Nebraska Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 14 publications and 723 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The adjudication involved a transfer from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#12: NIW in Transportation Engineering
This NIW approval involved a Traffic Signal Timing Engineer in industry, born in Bangladesh and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Transportation Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1984 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 7 publications and 54 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#13: NIW in Artificial Intelligence
This NIW approval involved a Software Engineer, Machine Learning in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Artificial Intelligence, the applicant secured approval through a refiled petition after the first NIW petition received an RFE from Officer XM2594 and was denied.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 5 publications and 113 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The refiled petition was adjudicated through the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval through a refiled petition after the first filing received an RFE and was denied.
#14: NIW in Materials Science Engineering
This NIW approval involved a Visiting Postdoctoral Associate, born in Pakistan and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Materials Science Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2532 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 11 publications and 231 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
The key to our success is the way in which we present supporting evidence and provide the highest quality petition letters. With over 64,000 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.