Success Stories: USCIS Grants Green Card Approval to Graduate Research Assistant from Iran in the Field of Environmental and Ecological Economics

Posted by wegreened on May 20, 2016 in NIW, Earth and Environmental Science (Environmental Engineering, Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, Environmental Management, Ecology)

Client’s Testimonial:

“Thank you so much for your support in this long journey. We are getting there and it is a great news. I appreciate your hard work.”

On March 8^th, 2016, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Graduate Research Assistant in the Field of Environmental and Ecological Economics (Approval Notice).

General Field: Environmental and Ecological Economics

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Graduate Research Assistant

Country of Origin: Iran

Service Center: Texas Service Center (TSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: South Carolina

Approval Notice Date: March 8^th, 2016

Processing Time: 1 month, 26 days

Case Summary:

The USCIS spent less than two months adjudicating this particular EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition, which we submitted on behalf of a gifted graduate research assistant working in the field of environmental and ecological economics.

Client’s Qualifications:

Our client initially contacted us to file an EB-1 petition but after carefully evaluating her credentials, we determined that she would have a better shot at getting a green card if she filed her I-140 petition (first step in green card proceedings) under the EB-2 NIW visa category. As soon as an attorney-client relationship arose, we got to work putting together a strong petition packet. Amongst other things, we included the following in our presentation:

Publication and Citation Count:

When we filed the case, our client’s 11 published papers had accumulated nearly 30 citations. This signifies the value of her findings to other environmental and ecological economists.

Academic Record:

We included a copy of our client’s M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics obtained from a top research institution in Iran, along with her academic transcripts to prove to the USCIS that our client is armed with the theoretical know-how to carry out high impact research in her area of study.

Research Ventures:

Part of our legal services included carefully reviewing our client’s various research projects on multidimensional approaches to environmental issues. We did this because we wanted to present an airtight case to the USCIS on the importance of our client’s work to the United States’ environmental and economic well-being.

Testimonials:

To further fortify our NIW petition, we included recommendation letters volunteered by other experts in the field. We used these letters to support our claim that our client’s research efforts significantly alter the course of the field, propelling it to new heights. One of our client’s recommenders had this to say about her work: “Her work is not only useful to the United States, but to the world as a whole. I think it would be quite a loss to the United States to lose the talents of [Client].”

Green Card Approval:

A mere two months after we submitted an I-485 application (final step in the green card process) on our client’s behalf, the USCIS responded with an approval notice. We would like to congratulate our client for accomplishing her goal of becoming an American permanent resident, and we wish her well as she continues to progress her field of environmental and ecological economics.

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North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is a U.S. immigration law firm dedicated to representing corporations, research institutions, and individuals from all 50 U.S. states regarding I-140 immigration petitions. We specialize in employment-based immigration petition and have a proven record of high success rate for the categories of: EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver), EB1-A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability), EB1-B (Outstanding Researcher/Professor) and O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability).

Our Sixty-four Thousand I-140 Approvals Provide Unprecedented Insight into the USCIS Adjudication Trend

With nearly 64,000 EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW and O-1 cases approved, we have first hand information on the manner in which the USCIS adjudicate I-140 cases. As the USCIS has constantly changed its adjudication standards for the EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-2 NIW categories, our firm's huge database of successful cases gives you unprecedented insight to USCIS adjudication trends. We carefully analyze the data for all of our cases and apply the results of our analyses toward giving our clients up-to-date advice and adapting our strategies such that we remain on par with the ever-shifting landscape of immigration law in the U.S. With us, you will always have access to important updates, strategies, and information so that you can make the most informed decisions about your case.

We Have Helped Tens of Thousands of Clients with Credentials and Backgrounds Similar to Yours

With our exceedingly large number of successful petitions, no matter what credentials you have, no matter your background and field of expertise, no matter your visa status or nationality, chances are we have helped hundreds or even thousands of clients just like you. Our clients are usually impressed with how well we understand their research and work. Our insight and understanding stems from the fact that we have handled many cases with elements similar to yours already, and this helps us devise the best strategies for each individual petition.

Vast Majority of Clients Came to Us Because of Referrals

For years, our firm has attracted new clients based solely on word of mouth, recommendations, and the positive collaboration experiences shared with them by their friends and family. We take pride in our reputation and work hard to ensure that we provide a green card application experience that our clients are happy to share with their friends and colleagues. That is how our cumulative total of approved cases grew from 600 in 2013 to nearly 64,000 in 2025.

Track Record of Success EB-1 and NIW Approvals

(2012.01 - 2025.12)

Category	Approval or Refund^®		Approval or Refiling^TM
	Approval or Refund^®
Category	Approved Sum	Success Rate	Approved Sum	Success Rate
NIW	42,047	99%	5,258	97%
EB1A	9,218	91%	4,534	86%
EB1B	1,488	98%	448	93%
Total	52,753	98%	10,240	92%