Case Summary:       

When a faculty expert from Iran specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation turned to NAILG for guidance on filing an EB1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) petition, our team knew we were working with someone at the forefront of musculoskeletal and pain medicine. With a remarkable body of work spanning diagnostic advances and novel therapies, this client exemplified the type of scientific leadership the EB1A category is designed to recognize.

Our client is currently employed in academia and conducts research targeting improvements in diagnostics and treatment interventions for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and knee osteoarthritis. As part of his continuing mission to elevate global healthcare outcomes, he has proposed future work aimed at reducing diagnostic errors and enhancing therapeutic strategies—goals that align perfectly with the national interest in improving healthcare standards.

Meeting the Highest Bar: Evidence of Extraordinary Merit

To meet the stringent requirements of the EB1A category, we demonstrated our client’s qualifications under three regulatory criteria:

1. Authorship of Scholarly Articles: His body of research includes 65 peer-reviewed journal articles, with at least 24 as first author. Many of these works have appeared in high-impact journals, such as Clinical Nutrition and Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

2. Original Contributions of Major Significance: His research has earned over 1,040 citations, placing him in the top 1% of most highly cited researchers in physical medicine and rehabilitation. His innovations—such as exploring topical chamomile oil for osteoarthritis and acupressure for dysmenorrhea—have shaped new directions in complementary therapies and rehabilitation practices.

3. Participation as a Judge of Others’ Work: With at least 36 peer reviews for reputable journals like Phytotherapy Research and Scientific Reports, and active roles on editorial boards, the client’s contributions to scholarly evaluation further illustrate his influence in the field.

Widespread Impact and High Praise

Our arguments were further reinforced by multiple independent letters from global experts in medicine. One letter especially emphasized the client’s national relevance:

“[Client’s] work is dedicated to advances in physical medicine and rehabilitation, which are matters of critical national importance. Researchers who are highly skilled in this area are thus crucial to the United States. It will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find another researcher who can mirror [client’s] contributions.”

These endorsements, combined with his robust academic record and consistent citation metrics, clearly showed that his entry into the U.S. would provide immediate and long-term benefits in public health and medical innovation.

Outcome and Reflection

NAILG filed the EB1A petition on February 28, 2024, and despite the rigor of the EB1A category, the petition was approved in just over three months on June 11, 2025. The successful outcome not only recognized the client’s sustained international acclaim but also reaffirmed the importance of cutting-edge rehabilitation research to the future of American healthcare.

We are proud to have partnered with this exceptional scholar and look forward to witnessing his continued contributions in the United States. His case is another testament to NAILG’s expertise in building strong, merit-based petitions under the EB1A category.