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 17 I-140 approvals after RFE review. These approvals include 4 EB-1A petitions, 1 EB-1B petition, and 12 NIW petitions. Several cases involved circumstances that added complexity to adjudication, including related adverse petition histories, multiple service center transfers, and petitions with limited or no supporting letters.

Cases With Inherent Challenges

Related Adverse Petition History

Several approvals involved related petition histories that added complexity to adjudication, including prior filings that received RFEs and denials. Such histories can add complexity because each petition must independently establish eligibility through a well-organized and sufficiently supported evidentiary record.

Multiple Service Center Transfers

Several petitions underwent multiple service center transfers before final adjudication. 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 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.

EB-1A Approvals After RFE (4)

#1: EB-1A in Organic Chemistry

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Associate, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Organic 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 substantial scholarly record consisting of 6 publications and 1,016 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 upfront premium processing.

#2: EB-1A in Computational Drug Discovery and Toxicology

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Fellow, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Computational Drug Discovery and Toxicology, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2005 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a substantial scholarly record consisting of 27 publications and 738 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 adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with upfront premium processing.

#3: EB-1A in Bioinformatics

This EB-1A approval involved a Postdoctoral Scholar, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Bioinformatics, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1267 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and established a substantial scholarly record consisting of 14 publications and 519 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 5 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

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

#4: EB-1A in Biotechnology

This EB-1A approval involved an Instructor, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Biotechnology, the applicant’s first EB-1A petition received an RFE from Officer XM2115 and was denied, while the refiled EB-1A petition subsequently received an RFE from Officer XM0592 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 12 publications and 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 adjudicated through the Texas Service Center with upfront premium processing.

Notable: This approval is notable for securing EB-1A approval through a refiled petition after an RFE despite the applicant's first EB-1A petition receiving an RFE and being denied.

EB-1B Approval After RFE (1)

#5: EB-1B in Structural Biology

This EB-1B approval involved a Research Scientist I, born in India and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Structural 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 541 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 6 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 upfront premium processing.

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

NIW Approvals After RFE (12)

#6: NIW in Medicine

This NIW approval involved a Clinical Fellow, born in Japan and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Filed in Medicine, the applicant initially filed an EB-1A petition, followed by an NIW petition. The NIW has been approved, while the EB-1A received an RFE from the Nebraska Service Center and was denied.

The applicant held an M.D. degree and demonstrated an extensive scholarly record consisting of 46 publications and 671 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2026. The filing was supported by 5 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

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

Notable: This approval is notable for securing NIW approval in a non-STEM field despite a related EB-1A petition receiving an RFE and being denied.

#7: NIW in Health Economics and Outcome Research

This NIW approval involved a Prevention Effectiveness Fellow, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Health Economics and Outcome Research, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX0804 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 283 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing proceeded without recommendation letters and was supported by 4 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 upfront premium processing.

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

#8: NIW in Artificial Intelligence

This NIW approval involved a Language Data Scientist in industry, born in Bangladesh and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Artificial Intelligence, the petition received an RFE from Officer EX5133 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 6 publications and 95 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2020. 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.

#9: NIW in Human Centric Machine Learning

This NIW approval involved an Applied Scientist 2 in industry, born in Germany and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Human Centric Machine Learning, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM0460 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 347 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.

#10: NIW in Cancer Research

This NIW approval involved a Research Associate, born in Taiwan and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Cancer Research, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2149 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 9 publications and 136 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 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 Polymer Material

This NIW approval involved a Senior Research Associate in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Polymer Material, 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 4 publications and 32 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. 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 a premium processing upgrade.

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

#12: NIW in Neuroscience

This NIW approval involved a PGY3 Research Fellow, born in Switzerland and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Neuroscience, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1951 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and established a substantial scholarly record consisting of 13 publications and 518 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing was supported by 2 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

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

#13: NIW in Bioengineering

This NIW approval involved a Self-Supported Research Scholar, born in Egypt and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Filed in Bioengineering, 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 8 publications and 57 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2023. 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.

#14: NIW in Applied Machine Learning

This NIW approval involved a Data Scientist in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to work as an ARLIS Artificial Intelligence Research Professional in industry. Filed in Applied Machine Learning, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2534 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 7 publications and 73 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2024. The filing proceeded without recommendation letters and was supported by 2 testimonial letters.

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

#15: NIW in Privacy-Preserving Artificial Intelligence

This NIW approval involved an Applied Scientist II in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Privacy-Preserving Artificial Intelligence, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM1989 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM master's degree and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 5 publications and 108 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2020. 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 while undergoing multiple service center transfers.

#16: NIW in Human Anatomical Sciences

This NIW approval involved a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, born in Iran and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Human Anatomical Sciences, the petition received an RFE from Officer XM2546 before approval was ultimately secured.

The applicant held a STEM Ph.D. and demonstrated a scholarly record consisting of 4 publications and 52 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2020. The filing was supported by 4 recommendation letters and proceeded without testimonial letters.

The petition was transferred from the Nebraska Service Center to the Vermont Service Center without premium processing and was approved in 988 days.

#17: NIW in Artificial Intelligence

This NIW approval involved a Senior Software Engineer in industry, born in China and residing in the United States, who proposes to remain in the same employment. Filed in Artificial Intelligence, 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 4 publications and 49 citations, with peer-reviewed work published as recently as 2025. The filing was supported by 3 recommendation letters and 1 testimonial letter.

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