A Request for Evidence (RFE) represents one of the more demanding stages of adjudication in the employment-based immigration process. Once USCIS issues an RFE, a petition undergoes additional scrutiny, and the adjudicating officer may request further documentation or clarification regarding the applicant’s qualifications and eligibility under the applicable immigration standard. Successfully navigating this stage requires an evidentiary record that remains organized, internally consistent, and directly responsive to the issues raised during review.

The following success stories highlight 11 approvals involving RFE review or related petition history. These approvals include 4 EB-1A petitions, 6 NIW petitions, and 1 O-1A petition. Several cases involved circumstances that added complexity to adjudication, including related petitions undergoing RFE review, multiple service center transfers, limited or no supporting letters, and an applicant residing outside the United States.

Cases With Inherent Challenges

Related Petition History Involving RFE Review

Two approvals involved applicants with related petitions that had also received RFEs. Such petition histories can add complexity because each filing must independently satisfy its applicable legal standard while maintaining a clear and consistent evidentiary record across related immigration matters.

Multiple Service Center Transfers

Several petitions moved between the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center before final adjudication. Such procedural movement can add complexity because the evidentiary record must remain logically structured, internally consistent, and responsive throughout review across different service center operations.

Limited or No Supporting Letters

Several petitions relied on a limited number of recommendation letters, while two NIW petitions proceeded without recommendation or testimonial letters. In these circumstances, the overall record must establish the applicant’s qualifications through the available documentary evidence rather than relying on a broader set of supporting letters.

EB-1A Approvals After RFE (4)

#1: EB-1A in Verification and Computer Security

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as an Assistant Professor - Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (Tenure Track). Filed in Verification and Computer Security, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1320 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 5 publications and 370 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The adjudication involved transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing EB-1A approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#2: EB-1A in Chemistry

This EB-1A approval involved an Assistant Project Scientist, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as an Assistant Professor. Filed in Chemistry, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM0205 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 13 publications and 779 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 8 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

#3: EB-1A in Machine Learning Systems

This EB-1A approval involved a Research Scientist, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Machine Learning Systems, the petition received an RFE from the Nebraska Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 8 publications and 872 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was adjudicated through the Nebraska Service Center with upfront premium processing.

#4: EB-1A in Translational Medicine

This EB-1A approval involved a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, born in Pakistan and residing in Qatar, who proposes to work as a Clinical Research Manager. Filed in Translational Medicine, the EB-1A petition received an RFE from Officer XM1884 before approval was ultimately secured. The applicant also had a related NIW petition that received an RFE from Officer XM1910 and remained pending.

The applicant held an M.B.B.S. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 16 publications and 241 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2022. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The adjudication involved transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing EB-1A approval after RFE review in a non-STEM field, with multiple service center transfers and the applicant residing outside the United States while a related NIW petition remained pending after also receiving an RFE.

NIW Approvals After RFE (6)

#5: NIW in Chemical Engineering in Sustainable Technologies

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. student (Graduate Student Researcher), born in Taiwan and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Battery Cell Engineer in industry. Filed in Chemical Engineering in Sustainable Technologies, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1910 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 4 publications and 83 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The adjudication involved transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#6: NIW in Internal Medicine

This NIW approval involved a Physician, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Internal Medicine, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2418 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held an M.B.B.S. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 6 publications and 24 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The petition proceeded without recommendation or testimonial letters.

The adjudication involved transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with upfront premium processing.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review in a non-STEM field without recommendation or testimonial letters while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#7: NIW in Computer Science

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. student (Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant), born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Filed in Computer Science, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX5110 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 7 publications and 18 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 3 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was adjudicated through the Nebraska Service Center with upfront premium processing.

#8: NIW in Biomedical Science

This NIW approval involved a Clinical Postdoctoral Ph.D., born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Biomedical Science, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2582 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated an extensive scholarly record consisting of 37 publications and 606 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

#9: NIW in Soil Science

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. student (Research Assistant), born in Nepal and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Associate. Filed in Soil Science, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2367 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 5 publications and 529 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The petition proceeded without recommendation or testimonial letters.

The adjudication involved transfers from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center and then back to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review without recommendation or testimonial letters while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#10: NIW in Artificial Intelligence

This NIW approval involved a Staff Software Engineer in industry, born in Qatar and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2416 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 254 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2022. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

O-1A Approval After RFE (1)

#11: O-1A in Dentistry

This O-1A approval involved an Associate Orthodontist in industry, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Dentistry, the applicant’s earlier O-1A petition received an RFE from Officer TX6113 before approval was ultimately secured. A later EB-1A petition also received an RFE from the Texas Service Center and remained pending before approval for the current O-1A petition was finally granted.

The applicant held a master’s degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 16 publications and 184 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was adjudicated through the California Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing the O-1A approval in a non-STEM field despite an earlier O-1A petition receiving an RFE and being approved, while a subsequent EB-1A petition remained pending following a separate RFE.