Success Story: After a Challenging RFE, NAILG Helps Materials Science Researcher Secure NIW Approval
Client’s Testimonial:
"Great! Thank you so much for your help in the process.”
On August 28th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Ph.D. Candidate in the Field of Materials Science (Approval Notice).
General Field: Materials Science
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Ph.D. Candidate
Country of Origin: Iran
Approval Notice Date: August 28th, 2026
Processing Time: 30 months, 23 days
Case Summary:
After more than two years of processing, the client’s NIW petition encountered an additional hurdle when USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE). Although USCIS acknowledged the substantial merit of the proposed endeavor, it questioned whether the endeavor was nationally important and whether the client was well positioned to advance it. North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) therefore used the RFE response to address these two issues directly, clarifying both the broader implications of the client’s research and the significance of the client’s established record in materials science.
The response showed what the client’s research had already accomplished. The client proposed to advance manufacturing techniques for engineering materials used in demanding mechanical and high-temperature applications. The record documented 69 peer-reviewed journal articles, 2 books, and 26 peer reviews for respected materials science journals. By the time of the RFE response, the client’s publications had accumulated 3,479 citations.
The RFE response moved beyond basic citation metrics to illustrate how national laboratories and independent researchers had actively utilized the client’s findings as foundational technical benchmarks. By demonstrating the widespread implementation of his work in advanced additive manufacturing, high-performance composites, and sustainable energy-storage systems, the response provided concrete proof of his ability to translate specialized expertise into broad industrial applications. Looking forward, the response clarified that his future endeavor, spanning the optimization of materials for extreme environments, the advancement of energy infrastructure, and the development of closed-loop material recovery systems, extended far beyond any single institutional role. Supported by expert testimony, the filing successfully aligned his multi-faceted research with vital U.S. interests in aerospace, defense, and sustainable manufacturing.
The petition was filed on February 5th, 2024, and USCIS issued the RFE on March 6th, 2026. Following the detailed response addressing the questions raised during adjudication, the petition finally reached approval on August 28th, 2026. This case shows how an RFE can require more than additional statistics: NAILG’s response placed the client’s extensive research record, independent influence, ongoing technical work, and future plans into a clearer framework demonstrating why the proposed materials science endeavor satisfied the NIW requirements.