Success Story: NIW Approved Without RFE! We Helped A Research Associate Secure Success In Over 15 Months
Client’s Testimonial:
"Chen Immigration Team is great! Thanks to their expertise, I saved a great deal of time preparing my I-140 application. The process felt very efficient, and I was able to get my case approved with minimal effort on my end.”
On April 20th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Research Associate in the Field of Computer Vision (Approval Notice).
General Field: Computer Vision
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Associate
Country of Origin: South Korea
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Oregon
Approval Notice Date: April 20th, 2026
Processing Time: 15 months, 20 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
We were pleased to secure an I-140 NIW approval for our client, a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering, working in the field of computer vision. In the petition, we presented the client’s proposed endeavor as continued research on developing state-of-the-art 3D computer vision algorithms capable of assessing and understanding dynamic objects and environments. This work ensures that AI agents operating in the real world can obtain detailed 3D information about their surroundings. We also explained that this work holds clear substantial merit and national importance because of its direct relevance to autonomous systems, robotics, surveillance, and broader U.S. technological leadership in artificial intelligence.
To show that the client was well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor, we did not rely on academic metrics in isolation. Instead, we framed the record in the way an adjudicator could understand under the Dhanasar standard. The client had produced 1 peer-reviewed journal article, 9 peer-reviewed conference articles, including 4 first-authored papers, 1 conference abstract, and 2 preprints.
The petition also highlighted the client’s 1,494 citations. That figure was not treated as self-proving. Rather, we used it to demonstrate unusually strong independent reliance by other researchers on the client’s methods and findings. The record became even more persuasive because several papers were supported by citation percentile evidence showing that they ranked among the top cited papers for their publication years in computer science. That kind of normalized bibliometric evidence helped show that the client’s influence was not merely cumulative, but exceptional relative to field and year.
Another important part of the case was the client’s peer review service. The petition documented that the client had completed at least 70 reviews for authoritative journals and conferences. For adjudicators, this matters because review invitations are extended to researchers whose judgment is trusted by the field. We therefore used this evidence not just as a number, but as proof of sustained peer recognition and technical authority.
This I-140 NIW approval reflected a strong presentation of the client’s advanced degree, nationally important proposed endeavor, influential publication history, extensive peer review service, and evidence that other experts have relied heavily on the client’s work. We are delighted by this approval and look forward to the client’s continued contributions to computer vision and AI research in the United States.