Success Story: NAILG Responds to RFE and Helps Researcher in Psychosocial Well-Being Secure NIW Approval
Client’s Testimonial:
“My experience with Chen Immigration Attorneys has been great! I was able to file my application in a very timely manner. Attorney J. (who patiently met with me twice) and the rest of the team were very prompt at answering any and all of my questions. They were very detail-oriented and caught several mistakes that I made. Would 100% recommend. Thank you for your work!!”
On September 24th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Field of Psychosocial Well-Being In Older Adulthood (Approval Notice).
General Field: Psychosocial Well-Being In Older Adulthood
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Postdoctoral Fellow
Country of Origin: Mexico
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Pennsylvania
Approval Notice Date: September 24th, 2026
Processing Time: 5 months, 29 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
The central challenge in this case emerged after USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) on May 21st, 2026. USCIS had already acknowledged that the client’s proposed endeavor possessed substantial merit and that the client was well positioned to advance it. The remaining RFE response therefore concentrated heavily on demonstrating the national importance of research examining how solitude and daily relational processes affect well-being and loneliness among older adults, while also reinforcing why waiving the job offer and labor certification requirements would benefit the United States.
North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) responded by sharpening the distinction between the client’s broader field and the specific proposed endeavor. The response explained that the research sought to establish clearer ways of understanding and measuring solitude so that beneficial time alone could be distinguished from harmful social isolation. It further connected this work to practical strategies for older adults and caregivers, particularly in the context of chronic illness, healthy aging, and loneliness. This framing was especially relevant because social isolation among older Americans has been associated with approximately $6.7 billion in additional Medicare expenditures annually.
The response also strengthened the record with additional evidence and expert support explaining how the endeavor could have implications beyond an individual research setting. It showed how clearer frameworks for solitude and daily relationships could inform healthcare providers, caregivers, community organizations, and policymakers seeking evidence-based approaches to healthy aging. The client’s research was also supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging, reinforcing its connection to research priorities involving older adults, healthy aging, and age-related health challenges.
Alongside the RFE arguments, the overall record provided substantial evidence of the client’s capacity to continue this work. The client held a Ph.D. in psychology and had authored 15 peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as 1 book chapter. The research had accumulated 149 citations. The client had also completed at least 5 peer reviews, while independent researchers had used the client’s work in subsequent studies concerning aging, solitude, psychological well-being, and chronic-condition management.
USCIS approved the petition on September 24th, 2026, 5 months and 29 days after filing. For this case, the RFE response did not simply repeat the client’s academic accomplishments; it focused on clarifying why the specific endeavor carried broader implications for the United States. By connecting the research to healthy aging, loneliness and social isolation, caregiver needs, and healthcare expenditures, North America Immigration Law Group presented a focused response to the issues raised during adjudication. The approval enabled the client to continue developing research that could inform evidence-based approaches to psychosocial well-being in older adulthood.