Case Summary:  

We are pleased to announce the I-140 EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a researcher working at the intersection of biomedical science and advanced medical imaging. The client holds a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering, and the petition presented a focused, research-driven endeavor aimed at improving how clinicians detect and diagnose serious diseases through better imaging performance.

As an expert in biomedical science, the client’s proposed endeavor is to continue developing advanced PET/CT and PET/MR image reconstruction and processing techniques to enhance image quality and defect detection. The petition explained that these improvements can strengthen diagnostic imaging for high-impact conditions such as cardiac disease, neurological disorders, and tumors by reducing limitations that can degrade image clarity and interpretability.

To show the client is well-positioned to advance this endeavor, we emphasized both technical expertise and a record of peer-recognized research output. At the time of filing, the client had published 7 peer-reviewed journal articles (including 4 first-authored), 3 peer-reviewed conference articles (including 1 first-authored), and 5 abstracts (including 2 first-authored). The client’s work had been cited 62 times. We did not present these figures as automatically sufficient. Instead, we framed them as evidence that independent researchers have found the work useful enough to reference and build upon, which is particularly meaningful in an applied imaging field where influence is often demonstrated through adoption of methods and continued citation in later studies.

The petition also documented at least 38 completed peer reviews. We positioned this as a strong indicator of professional trust because review invitations typically go to researchers with recognized subject-matter expertise who can evaluate novelty, rigor, and technical correctness for the broader community.

In addition, the petition included evidence of major research support from the National Science Foundation. We used this as further objective context that the client’s research direction aligns with research priorities that are competitively supported and tied to broad public benefit.

For the current employment context, the petition described the client’s background in senior-level algorithm and reconstruction engineering roles in the medical imaging space, and the client’s plan to continue this work by pursuing a reconstruction scientist role in the United States or a similar research-focused position. This helped reinforce that the client’s proposed endeavor is a continuation of established expertise and that the client is positioned to keep advancing the work.

The petition was further supported by 2 letters of recommendation from experts in the field. These letters helped translate specialized technical contributions into clear significance by explaining why the client’s imaging reconstruction and processing work is considered valuable, how it advances the field, and why continued progress in this area matters for improving diagnostic imaging outcomes. The letters were presented as corroboration that aligns with the objective record of publications, citations, peer-review service, and research support.

“His skill set is irreplaceable, given its immense benefits to improving medical imaging technology, diagnostic precision, and healthcare efficiency. When his research achievements are taken into consideration with his peer review responsibilities, it is clear that [Client] must be allowed to carry out his research uninterrupted so that the United States is able to fully benefit from its value.”

USCIS approved the NIW petition, reflecting a well-supported presentation of the endeavor’s substantial merit and national importance, the client’s strong positioning to advance the work, and the broader benefit of allowing the client to continue developing PET/CT and PET/MR imaging reconstruction innovations without the constraints of the traditional job offer process. We are proud to have guided this client to success and look forward to the client’s continued contributions to improving medical imaging quality and diagnostic capabilities in the United States.