A Request for Evidence (RFE) represents one of the most demanding stages of adjudication in the employment-based immigration process. When USCIS issues an RFE, the petition enters a heightened level of review in which the adjudicating officer seeks additional clarification, stronger evidentiary support, or a more persuasive explanation connecting the applicant’s accomplishments to the applicable immigration standard. Successfully navigating this stage requires a record that remains organized, internally consistent, and directly responsive to the concerns raised during adjudication.

The following success stories highlight 11 I-140 approvals achieved after RFE review. These approvals include five EB-1A petitions and six NIW petitions. Several cases involved multiple service center transfers, applicants residing outside the United States, petitions supported without supporting letters, prior adverse filing history, and non-premium processing timelines extending well beyond standard adjudication periods. Together, they demonstrate that favorable outcomes remain achievable when the evidentiary record remains coherent, responsive, and aligned with the applicable legal standard.

Cases With Inherent Challenges

Related Adjudicative Challenges

Some approvals involved petitions with related adjudicative complications, including earlier RFEs, withdrawals, denials, or related filings that required careful positioning. In these circumstances, the successful petition needed to present eligibility clearly, address the concerns raised during review, and maintain a coherent evidentiary record without relying on assumptions from any prior filing history.

Multiple Service Center Transfers

Several petitions were transferred between the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center before final adjudication. Such procedural movement introduces additional complexity because the evidentiary record must remain persuasive and internally consistent throughout review by different adjudicators.

Limited or No Supporting Letters

Multiple approvals proceeded without recommendation letters, testimonial letters, or both. In these cases, the petition necessarily relied more heavily on objective evidence such as publication record, citation history, peer-reviewed scholarship, professional experience, and documented expertise to establish eligibility.

EB-1A Approvals After RFE (5)

#1: EB-1A in Biochemistry

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Research Associate, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Biochemistry, the petition followed a complex procedural history in which the first EB-1A petition received an RFE from Officer XM1291 and was withdrawn, the second EB-1A petition received an RFE from Officer XM1767 and was denied, and the subsequent filing received another RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a strong scholarly profile consisting of 11 publications and 536 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. 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 multiple prior adverse outcomes, including a withdrawn petition, a denied petition, and an additional RFE during the successful filing, while also undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#2: EB-1A in Chemical Biology

This EB-1A approval involved a Chemical Biologist, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to become a Scientist in industry. Filed in Chemical Biology, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1884 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM bachelor's degree and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 17 publications and 748 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The filing was supported by 4 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 Organic Chemistry

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same role. Filed in Organic Chemistry, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1728 before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 21 publications and 462 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2020. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

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

#4: EB-1A in Computational Biology

This EB-1A approval involved a Principal Bioinformatician in industry, born in Iran and residing in the United Kingdom, who proposes to work as a Senior Computational Biologist. Filed in Computational Biology, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX0718 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated an extensive scholarly record consisting of 41 publications and 2,526 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing proceeded without any supporting letters.

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

Notable: This approval is notable for securing EB-1A approval after RFE review without recommendation or testimonial letters while the applicant was residing outside the United States.

#5: EB-1A in Materials Science

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Associate, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to become a Senior Scientist, Formulation Development in industry. Filed in Materials Science, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1982 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 11 publications and 144 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.

NIW Approvals After RFE (6)

#6: NIW in Immunology

This NIW approval involved an Associate Research Scientist, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Immunology, the applicant initially filed an NIW petition, followed by an EB1A petition. The NIW has been approved, while the EB1A received an RFE from Officer XM1291 and remains pending.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 14 publications and 524 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2021. The filing proceeded without any supporting letters.

The petition was adjudicated through the Texas Service Center without premium processing and was approved in 699 days.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval without recommendation or testimonial letters while a separate EB-1A petition remains pending after the issuance of an RFE.

#7: NIW in Environmental Engineering

This NIW approval involved a Senior Environmental Chemist in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same role. Filed in Environmental Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1747 before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 7 publications and 53 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing proceeded without any supporting 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.

#8: NIW in Kinesiology

This NIW approval involved an Assistant Professor of Physical Education Teacher Education, born in South Korea and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same role. Filed in Kinesiology, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2064 before approval was secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly profile consisting of 18 publications and 34 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing proceeded without any supporting letters.

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

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review without recommendation or testimonial letters.

#9: NIW in Computer Science

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. student, born in Bangladesh and residing in the United States, who proposes to become a Postdoctoral Researcher. Filed in Computer Science, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 9 publications and 59 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The filing proceeded without any supporting 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 Genetic Epidemiology

This NIW approval involved a Genetic Epidemiologist, born in Nigeria and residing in the United States, who proposes to become a Postdoctoral Researcher. Filed in Genetic Epidemiology, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1926 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and presented a developing scholarly profile consisting of 2 publications and 13 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and 2 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.

#11: NIW in Clinical Medicine

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Scientist, born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Clinical Medicine, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2417 before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held an M.D. degree and demonstrated a scholarly profile consisting of 15 publications and 51 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. 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.