Success Stories: From RFE to Approval: EB-1A Success for a Research Associate in the field of Biology with Premium Processing

Client’s Testimonial:

“It has been a very professional and pleasant experience working with the team.”

On October 16^th, 2025, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) Approval for a Research Associate in the Field of Biology (Approval Notice).

General Field: Biology

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Associate

Country of Birth: China

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: California

Approval Notice Date: October 16^th, 2025

Processing Time: 3 months and 15 days (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

Our law firm is proud to announce the EB1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a research associate in the field of biology with a Ph.D. in stem cell biology. The I-140 petition, filed under premium processing, received an RFE but was approved within just over three months, reflecting both the strength of the case and the recognized significance of the client’s scientific work.

The petition included six recommendation letters. One distinguished professor captured the essence of the client’s impact:

“By exploring the intersection of genetics, virology, and neurology, [The Client]’s work provides a foundation for improved treatments and more effective public health strategies.”

Groundbreaking Research Contributions:

One of the client’s most widely recognized contributions involves investigating how the ApoE4 gene, a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, affects the severity of COVID-19 infection in the brain. Using advanced stem cell–derived neural models, the client revealed that the presence of ApoE4 heightens susceptibility to viral infection in neurons and astrocytes, leading to greater neuroinflammation and cellular damage. This research also identified compound Q34 as a potential inhibitor of viral entry and confirmed the efficacy of remdesivir in protecting neural tissue—findings that have informed global research on COVID-19’s neurological impact

Our petition highlighted the client’s impressive research portfolio:

The client has authored 17 peer-reviewed journal articles (2 as first author and 1 as co-first author) and 1 co-first-authored book chapter, all published in the field’s most prestigious venues. The client’s research has accumulated 775 citations from scholars across 34 countries. This extraordinary citation rate, far exceeding field averages, objectively confirms the transformative impact of the client’s contributions. Moreover, the client has conducted 22 peer reviews for distinguished journals.

Conclusion:

We are honored to have supported this researcher through the complexities of EB-1A adjudication. The approval confirms what the scientific community already knows: the client represents precisely the caliber of talent that strengthens America’s capacity to address its most pressing health challenges. We extend our sincere best wishes for the client’s continued success in advancing discoveries that will benefit healthcare outcomes both nationally and globally.

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North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is a U.S. immigration law firm dedicated to representing corporations, research institutions, and individuals from all 50 U.S. states regarding I-140 immigration petitions. We specialize in employment-based immigration petition and have a proven record of high success rate for the categories of: EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver), EB1-A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability), EB1-B (Outstanding Researcher/Professor) and O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability).

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With more than 58,000 EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW and O-1 cases approved, we have first hand information on the manner in which the USCIS adjudicate I-140 cases. As the USCIS has constantly changed its adjudication standards for the EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-2 NIW categories, our firm's huge database of successful cases gives you unprecedented insight to USCIS adjudication trends. We carefully analyze the data for all of our cases and apply the results of our analyses toward giving our clients up-to-date advice and adapting our strategies such that we remain on par with the ever-shifting landscape of immigration law in the U.S. With us, you will always have access to important updates, strategies, and information so that you can make the most informed decisions about your case.

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