9 I-140 Approvals After RFE or NOID on August 10, 2026
A Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) represents one of the most demanding stages of adjudication in the employment-based immigration process. When USCIS issues an RFE or NOID, the petition enters a heightened level of review in which the adjudicating officer may request additional documentation, clarification of the applicant’s qualifications, or a more persuasive explanation connecting the submitted evidence to 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 adjudication.
The following success stories highlight 9 I-140 NIW approvals after RFE or NOID review. Several cases involved circumstances that added complexity to adjudication, including multiple service center transfers, petitions involving applicants without advanced degrees, and limited or no recommendation or testimonial letters.
Cases With Inherent Challenges
Multiple Service Center Transfers
Several petitions were transferred between the Texas Service Center and the Nebraska Service Center during adjudication, with some undergoing more than one transfer before approval. Such procedural movement adds complexity because the evidentiary record and legal arguments must remain clear and consistent throughout review by different service center operations.
Limited or No Supporting Letters
Several petitions relied on relatively few recommendation or testimonial letters, while two proceeded without any supporting letters. In these cases, objective evidence such as academic credentials, publication records, citation impact, professional experience, and the documented significance of the applicants’ work assumed greater importance in establishing eligibility.
NIW Approvals After RFE or NOID (9)
#1: NIW in Computer Science
This NIW approval involved a Master's student (Graduate Research Assistantship), born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to become an Assistant Professor. Filed in Computer Science, the petition received a NOID from the Nebraska Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant did not hold an advanced degree and qualified through the exceptional ability pathway. At filing, the applicant demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 3 publications and 229 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 3 recommendation letters and 1 testimonial letter.
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 NIW approval after NOID review through the exceptional ability pathway while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#2: NIW in Robotic Systems and Intelligent Perception
This NIW approval involved a PhD student (Graduate Research Assistant), born in Bangladesh and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Filed in Robotic Systems and Intelligent Perception, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant holds a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 3 publications and 52 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.
The petition was transferred from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.
#3: NIW in Semiconductors and Microelectronics
This NIW approval involved a Process Engineer IV in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Semiconductors and Microelectronics, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant holds a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 4 publications and 103 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2022. The filing was supported by 1 recommendation letter 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.
#4: NIW in Electrical Engineering
This NIW approval involved a Commercial Sales Engineer in industry, born in Bangladesh and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Electrical Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX5133 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant holds a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 10 publications and 110 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 transfers from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center and then back to the Texas 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 Cancer Immunology
This NIW approval involved a PhD student, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Scientist in industry. Filed in Cancer Immunology, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant did not hold an advanced degree and qualified through the exceptional ability pathway. At filing, the applicant demonstrated a scholarly profile consisting of 4 publications and 55 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing proceeded without recommendation letters and was supported by 2 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 through the exceptional ability pathway while undergoing multiple service center transfers.
#6: NIW in Biomedical Engineering
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, born in Pakistan and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Biomedical Engineering, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant holds a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 8 publications and 107 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 2 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.
#7: NIW in Computer Vision
This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. Student Researcher, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to become an Assistant Professor. Filed in Computer Vision, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant holds a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly profile consisting of 4 publications and 65 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing proceeded without any supporting letters.
The petition was transferred from the Texas Service Center 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.
#8: NIW in Mass Communication
This NIW approval involved an Assistant Professor in Strategic Communication, born in Pakistan and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Mass Communication, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1988 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant holds a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly record consisting of 25 publications and 104 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.
#9: NIW in Public Health
This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Health System Research, born in Ethiopia and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Pediatric Infectious Disease and Nutrition. Filed in Public Health, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1988 before approval was ultimately secured.
The applicant holds a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated an extensive scholarly record consisting of 61 publications and 2,427 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The filing proceeded without any supporting letters.
The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center without premium processing and was approved in 758 days.
Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review without recommendation or testimonial letters.
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.