Success Story: EB-1A Approval After RFE Secured for Nutritional Science Researcher
Client’s Testimonial:
“And thank you so much for the guidance provided along the way from your amazing team.”
On September 12th, 2026, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Field of Nutritional Science (Approval Notice).
General Field: Nutritional Science
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Postdoctoral Fellow
Country of Origin: Iran
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Washington
Approval Notice Date: September 12th, 2026
Processing Time: 9 months, 17 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
Earning I-140 EB-1A approval requires demonstrating sustained acclaim and a level of expertise that places an applicant among the small percentage at the very top of the field. When a Request for Evidence (RFE) is issued, USCIS takes an even closer look at whether the record, viewed as a whole, supports that exceptionally high standard. With the assistance of North America Immigration Law Group, the client successfully responded to the RFE and obtained approval under the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability category.
The client holds a Ph.D. in nutrition and has built a strong research record in nutritional science. At the time of filing, the client was conducting research at a U.S.-based academic institution as a postdoctoral fellow. The client’s work broadly focuses on how nutrition-related factors may influence health outcomes and support improved approaches to patient care. The petition presented these contributions as part of a broader record of scientific influence, showing that the client’s work had been used by other researchers and had contributed to continued progress in the field.
To establish extraordinary ability, the petition presented a combination of objective evidence rather than relying on any single achievement. The client had authored 26 peer-reviewed journal articles (7 first-authored), 15 conference abstracts (8 of them first-authored), 1 preprint, and 1 book chapter. The record also documented 773 citations, demonstrating that independent researchers had repeatedly relied upon the client’s work to advance their own studies. Rather than treating the citation count as sufficient on its own, the petition explained that the widespread use of the client’s research illustrated that the work had become influential within the field and had contributed to meaningful scientific progress. In addition, the client had completed at least 24 peer reviews, supporting the argument that scholarly venues trusted the client’s expertise to evaluate the work of fellow researchers.
The petition was additionally supported by 4 recommendation letters, including 3 independent advisory opinions from experts familiar with the client’s work through its scholarly influence. These letters provided expert perspectives regarding the originality, significance, and continuing importance of the client’s research, complementing the objective documentary evidence presented throughout the petition. One expert noted:
"Her work offers benefits to individuals and the broader healthcare system, and is highly advantageous to the United States."
Following review of the comprehensive response to the RFE, USCIS approved the client’s I-140 EB-1A petition through premium processing. This approval reflects how a carefully documented record, combining influential research, independent recognition, scholarly publication, peerreview service, and expert testimony, can effectively demonstrate that an applicant has attained the level of extraordinary ability required under the EB-1A classification.