Success Stories: USCIS Ultimately Approves EB-1A Petition for Band Leader from India Nearly 16 Months After Filing

 

Client’s Testimonial:

“My I-140 petition has been approved […] Thank you for all your guidance and support through the process. We're very satisfied customers.”

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On March 14^th, 2016, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a Band Leader in the Field of Music (Approval Notice).

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General Field: Music

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Band Leader

Country of Origin: India

Service Center: Texas Service Center (TSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Rhode Island

Approval Notice Date: March 14^th, 2016

Processing Time: 15 months, 27 days

 

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Case Summary:

Our client, an acclaimed musician internationally recognized for his experimental rock music, contacted us to help him get one step closer to a green card. North America Immigration Law Group (WeGreened.com) carefully evaluated his credentials and determined that one way to do so would be via EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability).

Based on our client’s qualifications, we established that he satisfied at least three out of the 10 EB-1A requirements set in place by the USCIS. We based our well-composed petition on these criteria:

1. Published material in professional or major trade publications or other major media: We used a variety of published articles and reviews of our client’s work to demonstrate that he has achieved high standing in the music world.
2. Judge the Work of Others: Our client has served as an album reviewer for top entertainment websites on numerous occasions. His established standing in the music world lent credibility to the website.
3. Original Contributions of Major Significance: Our client’s roles as band leader, composer, instrumentalist, and producer has resulted in music that has had an enormous impact on the diversification of musical genres.

To further fortify our EB-1A petition packet, we urged our client to contact other well-known members of the music industry and request for recommendation letters. We needed these experts to attest to the value of our client’s music to the field of experimental music, and confirm that he will continue to contribute to the American music industry. Our client managed to obtain six strong testimonials, all of which supported his EB-1A petition. Here are several quotes:

• “[Client] is the creative force behind… one of the best and most important doom-rock bands around today. His formidable talents have been widely acclaimed by critics for online music sites […] [Client’s] eclectic tastes give [band] a unique sound that blends several genres and traditions.”
• “I’m sure you can see that they are an immensely creative band led by leader [Client]. They constantly push musical boundaries and are consistently hailed by critics around the world as influential and groundbreaking.”
• “[Client’s] proven record of significant musical exploration indicates continued high-level work in the future. I have no doubt that he will play a leading role in the future of heavy psychedelic music. Work such as that of [Client] in [band] is critical to the field since it is artists like [Client] who push boundaries and expand options for other musicians. His work is considered among the best in the genre and is influential across a range of musical styles.”

The USCIS spent nearly 16 months adjudicating this EB-1A case before granting their approval. When the case was considered outside of the normal processing time, we raised service requests and sent follow-up emails on our client’s behalf to inquire about the progress of his case. We are pleased that the USCIS ultimately approved our client’s petition, and we congratulate him on this milestone. North America Immigration Law Group would like to thank our client for selecting our firm to represent his EB-1A petition, and we wish him all the best with his I-485 application: the final step in the green card process.

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