On April 8^th, 2016, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a Physical Therapist in the Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Approval Notice).

General Field: Traditional Chinese Medicine

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Clinical Assistant Professor of Health Care Studies

Country of Origin: China

Service Center: Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New York

Approval Notice Date: April 8^th, 2016

Processing Time: 4 months (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

After many eventful years working in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, our client was suitably qualified to file his I-140 petition under EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability). Despite upgrading his case to Premium Processing, the USCIS took much longer than 15 days to adjudicate his petition. This was due to the issuance of a Request for Evidence (RFE).

What is a Request for Evidence?

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.” In this case, our legal team responded to the RFE in a prompt and efficient manner. We proved that our client’s credentials are legitimate and that his work is of value to the United States. The USCIS reviewed our RFE response and subsequently approved our client’s EB-1A petition.

What Should an EB-1A Petition Contain?

An EB-1A petition should contain evidence that the petitioner has risen to the top of his/her field with national or international acclaim. Our client had achieved just that, and we worked diligently to prove it. Leaving no stone unturned, we accumulated a wealth of information on his various accomplishments such as the 56 reviews he conducted for over a dozen scientific journals, and the 115 times his work was cited. We also listed his 21 peer-reviewed papers and numerous conference presentations. In addition to the facts listed above, we incorporated recommendation letters provided by other leaders in the field. These letters served as additional evidence that our client’s research on acupuncture and its applications in chronic wound care, as well as other therapeutic practices, are important to the United States, particularly its medical sector. According to one of these recommenders: “It is evident in these citations and applications that [Client] has had a prodigious influence on the research and use of acupuncture in the world of modern medicine. He will undoubtedly continue to produce similarly influential, important work, and it is imperative that he does so in the United States.”

Now What?

Now that our client’s EB-1A petition has been approved, the next step would be to file an I-485 application. As this is the last step in the green card process, an approved I-485 application signals permanent residency. We wish our client the best with this step and thank him for engaging the legal services of North America Immigration Law Group (WeGreened.com).