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 twelve I-140 approvals achieved after RFE review or related adverse procedural history. These approvals include six EB-1A petitions and six NIW petitions. Several cases involved multiple service center transfers, master’s-level credentials, applicants in transitional academic roles, petitions with limited or no supporting letters, and one non-premium processing timeline exceeding two years. 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

Multiple Service Center Transfers

Several approvals involved petitions transferred between the Texas Service Center and the Nebraska Service Center before final adjudication. Such procedural movement can add complexity because the petition must remain persuasive and internally consistent across different adjudicative settings, especially after an RFE has already placed the case under heightened review.

Limited or No Testimonial Evidence

All twelve approvals proceeded without testimonial letters, and one NIW approval proceeded without either recommendation letters or testimonial letters. These cases required greater reliance on objective indicators such as publication record, citation impact, peer-reviewed work, field relevance, and the clarity of the applicant’s proposed role.

EB-1A Approvals After RFE (6)

#1: EB-1A in Epidemiology

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Associate, born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Epidemiology, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX0150 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and presented a substantial scholarly profile consisting of 27 publications and 4,181 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 transferred from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center and then back to the Texas Service Center with upfront premium processing.

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

#2: EB-1A in Computer Science

This EB-1A approval involved a Ph.D. student, born in China 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 XM0205 before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 15 publications and 334 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 Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade. 

#3: EB-1A in Neurology

This EB-1A approval involved a Senior Scientist, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Neurology, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX5199 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 20 publications and 430 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 a premium processing upgrade. 

#4: EB-1A in Environmental Science

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Environmental Science, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2415 before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a strong scholarly profile consisting of 29 publications and 1,242 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 transferred from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

#5: EB-1A in Computational Material Science

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Research Staff 3, born in Vietnam and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Computational Material Science, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2262 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 21 publications and 658 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 5 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was transferred 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 EB-1A approval after RFE review while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#6: EB-1A in Biomedical Engineering

This EB-1A approval involved a Ph.D. student, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Filed in Biomedical Engineering, the petition received an RFE from the Nebraska Service Center before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 20 publications and 634 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 6 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was transferred from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center and then back to the Texas 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)

#7: NIW in Biomedical Science

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. student, born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Filed in Biomedical Science, the applicant initially filed an NIW petition, followed by an EB-1A petition. The  NIW petition was approved after the EB-1A petition was approved following an RFE from the Texas Service Center.

The applicant held a STEM master’s degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 12 publications and 126 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The NIW filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The NIW petition was adjudicated through the Nebraska Service Center without premium processing and was approved in 889 days.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval while a related EB-1A petition was approved after receiving an RFE.

#8: NIW in Machine Learning

This NIW approval involved an Instructional Assistant Professor, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Machine Learning, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2366 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 6 publications and 14 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 Texas Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

#9: NIW in High Performance Computing

This NIW approval involved a Senior Research Development Engineer in industry, born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Senior Research Software Development Engineer in industry. Filed in High Performance Computing, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1728 before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 3 publications and 77 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2021. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was transferred from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center with a premium processing upgrade.

#10: NIW in Transportation Infrastructure Systems

This NIW approval involved an Infrastructure Asset Management Engineer in industry, born in Palestine and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Transportation Infrastructure Systems, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX0105 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly record consisting of 4 publications and 41 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 3 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

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

#11: NIW in Biomedical Sciences

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in Mexico and residing in the United States, who proposes to continue in the same employment. Filed in Biomedical Sciences, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2164 before approval was ultimately achieved.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 11 publications and 446 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. The filing proceeded without supporting letters.

The petition was transferred 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 and while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#12: NIW in Conservation Genomics

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Researcher, born in Sri Lanka and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Filed in Conservation Genomics, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1986 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and presented a scholarly profile consisting of 7 publications and 22 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 transferred 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 the petition underwent multiple service center transfers.