A Request for Evidence (RFE) represents one of the most demanding stages of adjudication in the employment-based immigration process. Once USCIS issues an RFE, the petition enters a heightened level of review in which the adjudicating officer may request additional documentation, clarification of the applicant’s qualifications, or a more persuasive explanation connecting the submitted evidence to 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 adjudication.

The following success stories highlight 8 I-140 approvals secured after RFE review. These approvals include 1 EB-1A petition and 7 NIW petitions. Several cases involved circumstances that added complexity to adjudication, including multiple service center transfers, petitions with limited or no supporting letters, and applicants in non-STEM fields.

Cases With Inherent Challenges

Multiple Service Center Transfers

Several petitions underwent multiple service center transfers before final adjudication, moving between the Nebraska Service Center and Texas Service Center. Such procedural movement can add complexity because the petitions must remain logically structured, internally consistent, and persuasive throughout review by different service center operations.

Limited or No Supporting Letters

Two petitions proceeded without recommendation or testimonial letters, while several others relied on a limited number of supporting letters. In these cases, adjudication depended more heavily on objective evidence such as academic credentials, publication records, citation impact, professional experience, and documentation demonstrating the significance of the applicants’ work.

Non-STEM Fields

Two NIW approvals involved applicants in non-STEM fields. These cases required the overall evidentiary record to clearly establish the applicants’ qualifications and the significance of their proposed work under the applicable NIW standard.

EB-1A Approval After RFE (1)

#1: EB-1A in Biology

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

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 11 publications and 475 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 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 (7)

#2: NIW in Heterogeneous Catalysis

This NIW approval involved a Research Associate, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Heterogeneous Catalysis, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2420 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 3 publications and 34 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2021. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and 1 testimonial letter.

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 while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#3: NIW in Medical Education

This NIW approval involved a House Staff Resident, born in the United Kingdom and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Medical Education, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1984 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held an M.D. degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 3 publications and 90 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2022. The filing proceeded without recommendation letters and was supported by 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 in a non-STEM field while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#4: NIW in Applied Machine Learning

This NIW approval involved an Applied Research Engineer in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Applied Machine Learning, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2481 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 6 publications and 322 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The petition 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 upfront premium processing.

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

#5: NIW in Medicine and Surgery

This NIW approval involved a Visiting Scholar, born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Medicine and Surgery, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX0068 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held an M.D. degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 23 publications and 111 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2022. 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.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval after RFE review in a non-STEM field.

#6: NIW in Chemical Engineering

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Researcher, born in Pakistan and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Chemical Engineering, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX5132 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 58 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The petition proceeded without any supporting letters.

The petition was adjudicated through 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.

#7: NIW in Cloud Networking

This NIW approval involved a Cloud Artificial Intelligence (AI) Optical Network Engineer in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Cloud Networking, 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 12 publications and 75 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. 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 upfront premium processing.

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

#8: NIW in Experimental Physical Chemistry

This NIW approval involved a Ph.D. student (Graduate Research Assistant), born in Turkey and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Linus Pauling Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow. Filed in Experimental Physical Chemistry, the petition received an RFE from the Texas Service Center before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 3 publications and 18 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The filing was supported by 1 recommendation letter and 3 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 while undergoing multiple service center transfers.