Success Story: With NAILG's Support, Graduate Research Assistant Secures NIW Approval Following RFE
Client’s Testimonial:
“Thank you so much for your tremendous help and support throughout my I-140 journey. I truly appreciate all your guidance and assistance throughout this process.”
On September 30th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Graduate Research Assistant in the Field of Computing and Networking Systems (Approval Notice).
General Field: Computing and Networking Systems
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Graduate Research Assistant
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Iowa
Approval Notice Date: September 30th, 2026
Processing Time: 8 months, 21 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
Securing a National Interest Waiver (NIW) approval after receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) can present additional challenges, particularly when a petition involves specialized research whose broader national significance must be clearly established. Our client, a graduate research assistant from Bangladesh, encountered this additional stage of review while pursuing an EB-2 NIW petition in the field of computing and networking systems. Despite the RFE, the petition ultimately received approval, allowing the client to continue pursuing research aimed at strengthening wireless connectivity and expanding access to advanced communication technologies.
The client's proposed endeavor focused on developing intelligent wireless networking solutions to improve broadband access in rural and underserved communities. This research had potential applications in agriculture, digital infrastructure, and next-generation wireless communications. North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) prepared the petition to demonstrate the substantial merit and national importance of these efforts, emphasizing their relevance to U.S. priorities in technological innovation, rural connectivity, and economic development.
The client held a master's degree in computer engineering and possessed professional experience in network design and systems engineering. Their academic achievements included 1 peer-reviewed journal article, 7 peer-reviewed conference articles, and 1 conference abstract, with 30 citations to their published research, which later increased to 50 by the time of the RFE response. Notably, one publication ranked among the top 1% most-cited Engineering papers. The client had also completed at least 4 peer reviews for a respected journal in wireless communications. These accomplishments, together with documented applications of the client's research by other scholars, helped establish their expertise and ability to advance the proposed endeavor.
The petition was filed on January 9th, 2026, and upgraded to premium processing on March 26th, 2026. However, USCIS issued an RFE on May 26th, 2026, requiring the case to undergo additional review before a final decision could be reached. This development made it particularly important to present a coherent evidentiary record connecting the client's qualifications, previous research accomplishments, and future plans to the requirements of the NIW framework. The petition's supporting evidence also highlighted research funding from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and an industry consortium supporting advanced wireless research.
Following the RFE stage, USCIS approved the client's NIW petition on September 30th, 2026. The approval demonstrated how an applicant's academic qualifications, documented research influence, and clearly defined proposed endeavor could support a favorable NIW outcome even when additional USCIS review was required. We are pleased to have assisted the client in reaching this important milestone and wish the client continued success in this research career.