Case Summary:

The I140-NIW or National Interest Waiver is a kind of nonimmigrant visa designed for those individuals whose work is of benefit to the U.S. Such individuals who get an NIW approval, are allowed to continue their work in the U.S. without a permanent job offer or labor certification. The following regulatory criteria play an important role in the approval process are:

• Evidence of original scientific, scholarly, artistic, or business-related contributions of major significance
• Evidence of authorship of scholarly articles in the field, in professional or major trade publications or other major media
• Evidence of membership in associations in the field that demand outstanding achievement

So, when our NIW client from Nepal wanted to work with us on her case, we made sure that she not only showed that she meets at least three of the regulatory criteria, but the evidence in the aggregate also demonstrates her national and international acclaim and position at the very top of her field. Some of the facts we discovered about her which helped her win the case are:

• As an expert in the field of biomedical science, her proposed endeavor is to continue her research on analyzing the genetic networks underlying Alzheimer’s disease in order to develop early diagnostic procedures and effective treatments.
• Her research advancing her proposed endeavor is of great importance because it aids in revealing the underlying genetic factors in Alzheimer’s disease, improving methods for early diagnosis, and supporting the development of new treatments.
• In addition, her proposed endeavor has broad implications for the United States. Her research on Alzheimer’s disease directly contributes to diagnosing and treating a significant health issue in the United States.
• Her research has in fact been supported with funding from two branches of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke – as well as the NIH itself. Furthermore, her study has received funding from the Alzheimer’s Association, Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
• Her high status in the field is further demonstrated by her membership with a prestigious institution working on neurology here in the U.S.
• Her research has resulted in 4 peer-reviewed journal articles and 1 book chapter which have been cited a total of 75 times according to Google Scholar.
• She has been pursuing research directly related to her proposed endeavor of analyzing the genetic networks underlying Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases for 7 years now, giving her the necessary expertise in the field.

So, it was no surprise that even with an RFE, she got her approval in less than 11 months. We are proud to have worked with her on the case and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.