A Request for Evidence (RFE) represents one of the more demanding stages of adjudication in the employment-based immigration process. When USCIS issues an RFE, a petition undergoes additional scrutiny, and further evidence or clarification may be requested 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 concerns raised during review.

The following success stories highlight 12 approvals after RFE review, consisting of 1 EB-1A approval, 10 NIW approvals, and 1 O-1A approval. Several cases presented circumstances that added complexity to adjudication, including prior petition denials, successful appeals, multiple service center transfers, non-STEM academic backgrounds, applicants with relatively modest scholarly records, and petitions initially filed without recommendation or testimonial letters.

Cases With Inherent Challenges

Related Adverse Adjudication Histories

Three approvals involved applicants with prior adverse adjudication histories, including petition denials, subsequent refiling, and successful appeals. These circumstances added procedural complexity to adjudication, requiring applicants to address earlier unfavorable outcomes while demonstrating eligibility under the applicable immigration standards.

Multiple Service Center Transfers

Three petitions underwent multiple transfers between the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center during adjudication. Such procedural movement can add administrative complexity because the evidentiary record must remain clearly organized and internally consistent throughout review across different service center operations.

Non-STEM Academic Backgrounds

Two approvals involved applicants holding non-STEM academic degrees in public health and medicine. These cases demonstrate that a non-STEM academic background does not necessarily prevent successful adjudication, provided that the applicant's qualifications and supporting evidence satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements.

EB-1A Approvals After RFE (1)

#1: EB-1A in Biomedical Science

This EB-1A approval involved a Senior Scientist in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same role. Filed in Biomedical Science, the applicant secured EB-1A approval through a refiled petition after the initial petition received an RFE from Officer XM1861 and was denied. The refiled petition also received an RFE from the Nebraska Service Center before approval was ultimately granted.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 11 publications and 2,387 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The filing included 3 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters.

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

Notable: This approval is notable for securing EB-1A approval through a refiled petition that received an RFE, following an earlier petition that also received an RFE and was denied.

NIW Approvals After RFE (10)

#2: NIW in Biomolecular Engineering

This NIW approval involved a Chemical Engineer in industry, born in South Korea and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Research Associate. Filed in Biomolecular Engineering, 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 scholarly record consisting of 2 publications and 32 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 4 recommendation letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.

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

#3: NIW in Physics

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. Student, born in Egypt and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Research Scientist. Filed in Physics, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2055 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 8 publications and 69 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 6 recommendation letters were submitted with the RFE response.

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

#4: NIW in Neurobiology

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in Russia and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Neurobiology, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2175 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 4 publications and 51 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The initial filing included 4 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters, while 2 additional recommendation letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.

The petition underwent 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.

#5: NIW in Public Health

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, born in Taiwan and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as an Instructor. Filed in Public Health, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2513 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a master’s degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 7 publications and 25 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial filing proceeded without recommendation letters and included 2 testimonial letters, while 2 recommendation letters and 1 additional testimonial letter were submitted with the RFE response.

The petition underwent 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 in a non-STEM field while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#6: NIW in Materials Chemistry

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Lab Manager, born in the Czech Republic and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Filed in Materials Chemistry, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 14 publications and 199 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 4 recommendation letters and 4 testimonial letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.

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

#7: NIW in Neuroscience

This NIW approval involved a Research Associate, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Neuroscience, the applicant initially filed an NIW petition, followed by an EB-1A petition. The EB-1A petition received an RFE from Officer XM2534 and was subsequently denied, while the NIW petition received an RFE from Officer XM2170 and was also denied before approval was ultimately secured following a successful appeal.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 22 publications and 1,015 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The filing included 4 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters.

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

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval following a successful appeal of an earlier denial after an RFE, despite a related EB-1A petition also receiving an RFE and being denied.

#8: NIW in Artificial Intelligence

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. Student (Graduate Student Researcher), born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Research Engineer. Filed in Artificial Intelligence, the petition received an RFE from Officer 0850 and was subsequently denied before approval was ultimately secured following an appeal.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 6 publications and 175 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing included 4 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters.

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

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval following a successful appeal of an earlier denial after RFE review.

#9: NIW in Neurosciences

This NIW approval involved a Research Fellow in industry, born in Mexico and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same role. Filed in Neurosciences, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2149 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held an M.D. degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 18 publications and 42 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The initial filing included 4 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters, while 4 additional recommendation letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.

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

Notable: Approved in a non-STEM field.

#10: NIW in Sustainable Built Environment

This NIW approval involved a Research Assistant, born in Turkey and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as an Assistant Professor. Filed in Sustainable Built Environment, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2420 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 6 publications and 27 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial petition proceeded without any supporting letters, while 4 recommendation letters were submitted with the RFE response.

The petition underwent 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 Material Engineering

This NIW approval involved a Product Development Engineer II in industry, born in Taiwan and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same role. Filed in Material Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1963 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 13 publications and 109 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The initial filing included 2 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters, while 4 additional recommendation letters were submitted as part of the RFE response.

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

O-1A Approval After RFE (1)

#12: O-1A in Electrical Engineering

This O-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Vice President of Research in industry. Filed in Electrical Engineering, the petition received an RFE from the California Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 50 publications and 3,024 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The initial filing included 2 recommendation letters and no testimonial letters, while 3 additional recommendation letters were submitted with the RFE response.

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