Success Story: Advancing Safer Flight Through Aerospace Innovation: EB-1A Approval After RFE
Client’s Testimonial:
"I am glad to work with Wegreened on my EB1A and NIW. It is a wonderful time.”
On August 14th, 2026, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for an Assistant Professor in the Field of Aerospace Engineering (Approval Notice).
General Field: Aerospace Engineering
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Assistant Professor
Country of Origin: China
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Alabama
Approval Notice Date: August 14th, 2026
Processing Time: 34 months, 5 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
With a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, the client has developed a research career focused on aircraft safety. His work has explored innovative engineering approaches to address challenges affecting aircraft performance and safety. This work builds on the research trajectory presented in the client’s I-140 EB-1A petition, connecting fundamental aerospace engineering research with practical efforts to enhance the safety and performance of aircraft.
Rather than presenting the client’s scholarly metrics as achievements standing on their own, we focused on what those metrics revealed about the client’s influence. The client had produced 54 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 1 book chapter, while the research had accumulated 741 citations. Importantly, independent researchers had used the client’s findings to develop and evaluate further approaches involving aircraft icing, flow control, surface technologies, and related engineering problems. The petition also documented that at least 13 of the client’s papers ranked among the most highly cited engineering publications from their respective years, supporting the argument that the research had attracted attention beyond what would ordinarily be expected from publication alone.
Another important part of the record was the client’s role in evaluating the work of fellow researchers. The client had completed at least 30 peer reviews for scientific publications and had also served as a guest editor. We presented this activity as evidence of professional trust because scholarly publishers repeatedly selected the client to assess the quality and validity of research produced by others in the field.
The client’s research also received support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Combined with evidence that other researchers had adopted the client’s methods, experimental findings, and research designs, this funding helped reinforce the practical importance of the work in advancing aerospace technologies and safer flight.
Independent Experts Reinforce the Record
The I-140 EB-1A petition included 4 letters of recommendation, three of which were independent advisory opinions from researchers who had not worked with the client personally but were familiar with the client’s work through the scientific record. Their assessments helped place the publication, citation, and peer-review evidence into context by explaining why the client’s contributions mattered to the broader aerospace engineering community. One expert noted:
“It is my professional assessment that [Client] is a valuable researcher, a keen scientific mind, and an influential figure in our field and that he should be given every opportunity to continue his significant research.”
From RFE to EB-1A Approval
The case received a Request for Evidence (RFE), but ultimately resulted in I-140 EB-1A approval. The client’s case illustrates how a record of scholarly productivity becomes more persuasive when accompanied by evidence of independent reliance, comparative citation performance, professional trust, research funding, and practical relevance. Together, these factors supported the significance of the client’s contributions to aerospace engineering and the continuing value of the client’s work in the United States. We congratulate the client on this important achievement and wish the client continued success in advancing safer and more effective aerospace technologies.