Success Story: Our Firm Successfully Assisted a Virology Expert in Securing EB-1A Approval Despite Receiving a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID)
Client’s Testimonial:
“I think Chen Immigration Attorneys did a great job in drafting my PL and proposed endeavor. They highlighted my key successes and major contributions to the field of the proposed endeavor. I appreciate the good work from the team. Thank you.
The Chen group handled my NOID in a great way. I was very anxious while I received the RFE letter. We worked together and came up with a plan of action. The RFE lawyer drafted a very strong response letter reinstating my contributions and research achievements, which has led to the acceptance of my EB1A-based I-140 after premium processing."
On January 13th, 2026, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for an Expert in the Field of Virology (Approval Notice).
General Field: Virology
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New York
Approval Notice Date: January 13th, 2026
Processing Time: 3 months, 10 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is pleased to share an I-140 EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for the client, a virology specialist whose work strengthens how the field studies, tracks, and counteracts high-consequence pathogens. With a focus spanning vaccinology, reverse genetics, genome sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis, the client is especially well known for investigations into the cross-species transmission mode of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1.
Research Focus With a Ph.D. in Infection Biology, the client has developed a specialized profile in virology with practical relevance to surveillance and outbreak response. The petition emphasized a cohesive research direction centered on two connected goals: improving how the scientific community characterizes transmission and evolution of dangerous viruses, and translating that understanding into platforms that support prevention and control, including vaccine-related approaches.
Rather than presenting isolated publications, we framed the client’s work as a sustained effort to advance the tools and reasoning the field uses when high-risk pathogens emerge, particularly in the context of cross-species dynamics where early detection, tracking, and interpretation can determine whether response efforts succeed.
An Evidentiary Record For EB-1A, strong numbers help, but they are not automatically decisive. The key is showing that the record reflects recognized, field-wide influence rather than routine academic productivity. We organized the petition to emphasize independent reliance and professional trust, using objective indicators that an adjudicator can verify.
The petition highlighted the client’s publication and impact record: - 74 peer-reviewed journal articles (including 15 first-authored and co-first-authored) - 4 preprints (including 2 first-authored) - 1,777 citations
We did not treat citations as self-proving. Instead, we positioned them as evidence that other researchers repeatedly used the client’s findings and methods as inputs for their own work, which is a key way adjudicators can distinguish field-recognized contributions from routine participation.
Peer-Recognized Authority Another central signal of extraordinary ability is whether the field repeatedly entrusts the researcher with evaluative responsibilities. The record showed that the client has conducted at least 40 peer reviews. Because journals typically invite reviewers who are regarded as technically qualified and reliable, we presented this activity as evidence of sustained professional trust in the client’s judgment.
The petition also included evidence that the client’s work has attracted support from major U.S. research sponsors and agencies and a state-level agriculture and markets department. We used this funding history as corroborating context that the client’s research direction aligns with important U.S. public and animal health priorities and has earned confidence from selective funding mechanisms.
Expert Recommendation Letters To strengthen the case record and connect the objective metrics to real-world significance, the petition included four recommendation letters from established experts. One recommender noted:
“For public health and agricultural biosecurity applications, it is imperative that the country support his work.”
The Result The EB-1A I-140 petition was approved after receiving a NOID, reflecting that the case presentation successfully framed the client’s achievements as sustained, field-recognized impact in virology, supported by a documented publication record, substantial independent citations, extensive peer-review service, major research support, and expert testimony.