On November 21^st, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a Research Associate in the Field of Mechanical Engineering (Approval Notice).

General Field: Mechanical Engineering

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Associate Country of Origin: China

Service Center: Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: California

Approval Notice Date: November 21^st, 2016

Processing Time: 95 Days (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

A research associate from China hired North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG) to help her file an EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) petition. Based in California, our client has extensive experience in the field of mechanical engineering and has amassed a myriad of accolades to show for her work.

What makes a strong EB-1A case?

We needed to prove to the USCIS that our client met at least three out of the 10 criteria to qualify for EB-1A. Based on her credentials, we determined that she had a notable citation count, strong publication record, and impressive peer review experience. At the time of filing, we confirmed that our client’s work had gathered 147 citations, that she had published 4 scientific articles, and that she had conducted 20 peer reviews. We also encouraged her to reach out to other experts working in the field of mechanical engineering for recommendation letters. Our client returned with six letters, once of which contained this statement: “[Client’s] work has become an irreplaceable part of the scientific community. It would present a substantial loss to the field if she were unable to continue her work for any reason. There is no other researcher who has demonstrated the vision and insight that [Client] has gained through her impressive accomplishments, and as a result, she has established herself in a prominent position in the field.” Not only did these letters support the approval of our client’s EB-1A petition, they also highlighted the importance of our client’s work on developing novel characterization methodologies that allow researchers in mechanical engineering to create durable materials and designs.

What is Premium Processing (PP)?

PP is a paid option offered by the USCIS and it allows petitioners to have action taken on their cases within 15 calendar days. Although our client paid an additional fee of $1,225 for PP, she waited 95 days for the USCIS to approve her case. This is because she received a Request for Evidence (RFE) which stretched the adjudication timeline past 15 days. Even so, she would have had to wait far longer than 95 days had she not elected to file her case with PP.

What is a Request for Evidence (RFE)?

According to the USCIS website, an RFE “… is made when an application/petition is lacking required documentation/evidence (initial evidence) or the officer needs more documentation/evidence (additional evidence) to determine an applicant’s eligibility for the benefit sought.” Our legal team and support staff worked diligently to respond to the RFE and our efforts resulted in case approval.

What is the next step?

All that stands between our client and her green card is the I-485 application. Once the USCIS approves it, she will become an American permanent resident. We wish her the best with this step and thank her for choosing NAILG to help her secure an EB-1A petition approval.