Success Story: NAILG Strengthens the Record After RFE and Helps Secure NIW Approval for a Biological Sciences Researcher
Client’s Testimonial:
"I had a great experience working with NAILG on my green card application. They were very prompt in responding to my questions and took the time to address detailed questions about my specific situation. The green card process can be complicated, particularly when your field is very specialized, but they handled this well and provided clear guidance on what they needed from me at each stage. I really appreciated their responsiveness, expertise, and attention to detail.”
On August 15th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Ph.D. Candidate in the Field of Biological Sciences (Approval Notice).
General Field: Biological Sciences
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Ph.D. Candidate
Country of Origin: South Korea
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New Jersey
Approval Notice Date: August 15th, 2026
Processing Time: 17 months, 9 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) questioning whether the client's proposed endeavor had national importance and whether her existing record sufficiently established that she was well positioned to carry it forward. In particular, the RFE raised concerns that the record did not adequately demonstrate how her work had been utilized by others and questioned the significance of her prior achievements. North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) therefore structured the response around concrete evidence of research uptake, comparative citation performance, federal support, and the client's specific plans for continued work.
The client's proposed endeavor centered on using computational and empirical methods to uncover the complex genetic and environmental factors contributing to severe diseases. Her future research involved investigating demographic-specific risk factors and applying advanced genetic screening to complex neurological and developmental conditions. The RFE response directly connected these plans to major U.S. healthcare challenges, highlighting the substantial clinical and economic burdens associated with these disorders. It further established how identifying underlying biological mechanisms supports the development of more effective diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies.
A major part of the response focused on putting the client's research record into meaningful context. By the time of the RFE response, her work had accumulated 215 citations, up from 118 citations at the initial filing. Her credentials included:
- 7 peer-reviewed journal articles, 5 abstracts, and 2 preprints
- 215 citations
- Research projects supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Health Administration Office of Research and Development
The RFE response successfully demonstrated how independent researchers had actively incorporated the client's findings into subsequent clinical work. Her research on the molecular mechanisms of aging was utilized by scientists studying cellular dysfunction, age-related respiratory changes, and severe disease risk. Furthermore, her discoveries concerning disease biomarkers informed advanced research involving organ transplantation and the progression of chronic fibrotic conditions. These concrete examples directly addressed USCIS's concern regarding the practical utilization of her work, while evidence of implementation by researchers across five continents further underscored her widespread global reach.
The response further strengthened the record with additional testimonial evidence. While the original petition included 2 recommendation letters, the RFE response submitted 3 additional testimonial letters, including opinions from experts who had not collaborated with the client. These letters addressed both the national relevance of her proposed work and her ability to continue advancing research on genetic, environmental, and molecular factors associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.
A premium processing upgrade was submitted on February 27th, 2026. Following the RFE issued on March 24th, 2026, NAILG prepared a response that supplemented the original record and directly addressed the adjudicator's concerns regarding national importance and the client's positioning to advance her endeavor. USCIS ultimately approved the NIW petition on August 15th, 2026, after a total processing period of 17 months and 9 days. The approval allowed this biological sciences researcher to move forward with work aimed at clarifying the complex biological and environmental factors underlying serious diseases and supporting more informed approaches to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.