Success Stories: Advancing Human-Centered Technologies: Postdoctoral Fellow Secures EB1A and NIW Approvals Despite RFE

Client’s Testimonial:

“Thank you so much for your tremendous help in my petitions for NIW and EB1A.”

On June 18^th, 2025, and May 7^th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) and EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approvals for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Field of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Approval Notice).

General Field: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Postdoctoral Fellow

Country of Origin: China

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Georgia

Approval Notice Date: : June 18^th, 2025 (NIW) and May 7^th, 2025 (EB1A)

Processing Time: 18 months (NIW) (Premium Processing Requested); 16 days (EB1A) (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

We are pleased to share the successful outcome of a combined I-140 petition first under the EB1A classification and subsequently under the National Interest Waiver (NIW) category for a distinguished postdoctoral fellow from China. The client is currently employed at a U.S.-based academic institution where he conducts high-impact research on intelligent building control, human-centered automation, and energy-efficient infrastructure.

Transformative Contributions in Building Systems and Automation

The client’s work spans intelligent energy management, human-in-the-loop modeling, and reinforcement learning-based optimization for dynamic building environments. His research enhances energy conservation and indoor comfort by integrating occupant behavior into advanced personalized HVAC control systems. These innovations are essential for promoting sustainable urban development and occupant-centered smart infrastructure.

He has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications, with more than 360 citations and an h-index of 11. His academic influence is also reflected in over 100 completed peer reviews for leading journals and conferences in the field of smart buildings, control systems, and energy modeling.

Independent Expert Endorsement

The petition was supported by four recommendation letters from experts in building and energy systems, each highlighting the petitioner’s contributions to intelligent and sustainable infrastructure.

One recommender, a professor of civil engineering specializing in high-performance buildings, stated:

“[Client] has particularly contributed to the development of high-performance buildings through his innovative human-centered approaches to controlling and optimizing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.”

This endorsement reinforced the national relevance and technical significance of the petitioner’s work in intelligent building systems.

A Case Strategy Anchored in Impact and Recognition

For the NIW petition, our strategy emphasized the national importance of the client’s research in sustainable building operations, energy policy, and environmental modeling. Although the petition initially received a Request for Evidence (RFE), we responded with robust supporting documentation, which led to the petition’s approval following an upgrade to premium processing.

Subsequently, we prepared and filed a separate EB1A petition that showcased the client’s original contributions, international citations, sustained peer recognition, and professional role in a U.S. institution. This petition was filed under premium processing and approved in just over two weeks.

This case exemplifies how coordinated legal strategy and a strong evidentiary record can secure dual petition approvals. We are proud to have helped this outstanding researcher advance his career in the United States. At NAILG, we remain committed to guiding exceptional professionals through every step of their immigration journey.

North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is a U.S. immigration law firm dedicated to representing corporations, research institutions, and individuals from all 50 U.S. states regarding I-140 immigration petitions. We specialize in employment-based immigration petition and have a proven record of high success rate for the categories of: EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver), EB1-A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability), EB1-B (Outstanding Researcher/Professor) and O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability).

Our Ten Thousand I-140 Approvals Provide Unprecedented Insight into the USCIS Adjudication Trend

With more than 58,000 EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW and O-1 cases approved, we have first hand information on the manner in which the USCIS adjudicate I-140 cases. As the USCIS has constantly changed its adjudication standards for the EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-2 NIW categories, our firm's huge database of successful cases gives you unprecedented insight to USCIS adjudication trends. We carefully analyze the data for all of our cases and apply the results of our analyses toward giving our clients up-to-date advice and adapting our strategies such that we remain on par with the ever-shifting landscape of immigration law in the U.S. With us, you will always have access to important updates, strategies, and information so that you can make the most informed decisions about your case.

We Have Helped Hundreds and Thousands of Clients with Credentials and Backgrounds Similar to Yours

With our exceedingly large number of successful petitions, no matter what credentials you have, no matter your background and field of expertise, no matter your visa status or nationality, chances are we have helped hundreds or even thousands of clients just like you. Our clients are usually impressed with how well we understand their research and work. Our insight and understanding stems from the fact that we have handled many cases with elements similar to yours already, and this helps us devise the best strategies for each individual petition.

Vast Majority of Clients Came to Us Because of Referrals

For years, our firm has attracted new clients based solely on word of mouth, recommendations, and the positive collaboration experiences shared with them by their friends and family. We take pride in our reputation and work hard to ensure that we provide a green card application experience that our clients are happy to share with their friends and colleagues. That is how our cumulative total of approved cases grew from 600 in 2013 to over 58,000 in 2025.