Success Story: From Mental Health Research to NIW Approval After an RFE for a Psychiatry Expert
Client’s Testimonial:
"Working with this team made an otherwise complicated and uncertain NIW process feel much more manageable. My background was somewhat unconventional: my petition was based on my master’s-level training and research in mental health and psychiatry, while I later completed medical school and accepted a position as an Internal Medicine resident. The team understood how to present these experiences as a coherent trajectory and clearly demonstrate the importance of my research and my ability to continue advancing it in the United States.
When my petition received an RFE, the team prepared a thorough and persuasive response that addressed the concerns directly and ultimately led to the approval of my I-140 petition. They provided thoughtful guidance throughout the process and helped me navigate the many questions and uncertainties that arose along the way.
I am sincerely grateful to the entire team for helping me reach this milestone. I would highly recommend them, particularly to applicants with multidisciplinary backgrounds or cases that do not fit neatly into a traditional category.”
On August 25th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for an Expert in the Field of Psychiatry (Approval Notice).
General Field: Psychiatry
Country of Origin: Iran
Approval Notice Date: August 25th, 2025
Processing Time: 5 months, 30 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
Mental health research often faces a difficult challenge: understanding why some serious conditions respond poorly to existing interventions and finding better ways to anticipate disease progression. For our client, an expert in psychiatry with a master's degree in population and public health, this challenge has shaped a research career focused broadly on improving the scientific understanding and treatment of complex mental health conditions.
We represented the client in an I-140 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition. The case was filed with premium processing requested and received a Request for Evidence (RFE) before ultimately securing approval.
Rather than presenting publication and citation numbers as sufficient on their own, we demonstrated what those indicators revealed about the client's standing and ability to advance the proposed endeavor.
- 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, including 2 first-authored articles, together with 3 preprints and 4 book chapters, including 2 first-authored chapters
- 235 citations according to Google Scholar and 291 citations according to another research platform
- At least 10 completed peer reviews
- Research supported by major public and nonprofit funding organizations
Importantly, several of the client's publications ranked among the most highly cited works in their field for their respective publication years. This provided comparative evidence that other researchers were relying on the client's findings at rates exceeding typical citation patterns. Likewise, invitations to review manuscripts supported the argument that scholarly venues trusted the client's expertise to evaluate the work of other researchers.
We also emphasized that major funding support represented another form of external confidence in research connected to important health challenges. Taken together, the client's publication record, independent citations, peer-review activity, funding history, education, and continued research plans established a consistent pattern of productivity and recognition rather than isolated achievements.
Four recommendation letters further supported the petition, including an independent advisory opinion. The recommenders addressed the client's research contributions, expertise, and ability to continue advancing work of importance to the field.
Following the RFE, the client's I-140 NIW petition was approved. We are pleased to have supported the client in securing this important immigration milestone and wish the client continued success in pursuing research aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of serious mental health conditions.