Success Story: NIW Approved Despite RFE! We Helped a Research Staff Secure Immigration Success

Client’s Testimonial:

“I appreciate your help throughout the time.”

On August 12^th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Research Staff in the Field of Vehicle Automation (Approval Notice).

General Field: Vehicle Automation

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Staff

Approval Notice Date: August 12^th, 2025

Processing Time: 20 months, 16 days

Case Summary:

We are pleased to announce the approval of an I-140 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition for our client, an expert in the field of vehicle automation.

The Client’s Profile and Proposed Endeavor
The client holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering and is an expert in vehicle automation. The client’s proposed endeavor is to continue conducting research on designing state-of-the-art control algorithms to facilitate vehicle automation in order to alleviate traffic congestion, minimize energy usage, and ensure safe interactions between road users. This important research contributes to the development of intelligent transportation systems that are vital to the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of U.S. roadways.

The client is currently employed as a research staff at a U.S. national laboratory, where the client continues advancing work in vehicle automation and control systems.

Demonstrating the Client’s Significance
To establish eligibility for the NIW, we presented extensive evidence demonstrating that the client is well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor. The petition highlighted the client’s strong academic background and impressive research record, including:

12 peer-reviewed journal articles (5 of them first-authored), 6 peer-reviewed conference papers, and 2 technical reports.
A total of 450 citations to date, reflecting the global influence of the client’s work.
At least 30 peer reviews for leading journals and conferences, underscoring the client’s recognized expertise in the field.

Additionally, the client’s research has been supported by major funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), both of which fund projects of substantial national relevance.

The petition also included compelling recommendation letters from established experts in the field, who emphasized the originality, impact, and importance of the client’s research.

“It is evident that [Client’s] work is worthwhile for any developed nation seeking to improve its ability to implement autonomous driving solutions at scale.”

A Favorable Outcome
The I-140 NIW petition was approved despite receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE), underscoring the strength and clarity of the client’s profile and proposed endeavor. This successful outcome recognizes the client’s contributions to the advancement of autonomous vehicle systems and to building a safer, more efficient transportation infrastructure in the United States.

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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).

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