Case Summary:

One of the several ways of confirming the merit of a researcher’s academic and professional prowess is to look at what the recommenders have to say about them. This is the reason that we encourage our clients to obtain as many letters of recommendation from experts in their field as possible. So, when we saw that an NIW (National Interest Waiver) client from Iran had 4 letters from well-known experts supporting the merit of his research, we had to take his case on. We found that there were several impressive statements in these letters which we utilized to bolster our petition. One of them said:

“[The client] is a highly qualified mechanical engineer who has made great strides in turbine mechanics. His work thus far has provided a model for energy-efficient turbines with lower maintenance costs and an improved method for assessing their lifespans, preventing breakdowns and allowing for greater energy output with lower emissions than coal-fired generators. In light of these valuable contributions, it is my pleasure to recommend that [the client] be granted entry to the United States in order to continue his work.”

Another recommendation tried to highlight the multifaceted value of our client’s work:

“[The client’s] work is not only useful to his peers in mechanical engineering but also offers important benefits to the United States at large. [Client’s] research efforts have neatly resolved the tension between gas turbines’ efficiency, affordability, durability, and environmental impact. [Client’s] work has undoubtedly aided the United States in its pursuit of a stronger and greener economy for all its citizens.”

Thus, our team concluded that as an expert in the field of mechanical engineering, his proposed endeavor is to continue his research on using advanced engineering methods to develop more efficient and effective turbomachinery. And that this proposed endeavor is of great importance because it aids in the reduction of harmful greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere that contributes to climate change. This is why a recommender said that “[the client’s] work enables the United States to create a cleaner energy industry and a cleaner future for its citizens, and in turn, the United States must allow him to continue his work on its soil.”

At the same time, our team also made a note of his other achievements such as he had been regularly invited to conduct peer reviews for authoritative journals in the field and has completed at least 3 reviews to date. His research in the area has resulted in 6 peer-reviewed journal articles (2 of them first-authored) and 3 peer-reviewed conference articles (1 of them first-authored). And these publications have been cited a total of 170 times. He is also uniquely well positioned to pursue this work considering the breadth of his 10 years of experience as well as his leadership and expertise in the field.

Thus, we established that his proposed endeavor addresses critical issues related to climate change and the energy economy. These facts helped us establish that it is beneficial to the United States to waive the requirements of a job offer and labor certification and that our client is therefore eligible for and otherwise merits a national interest waiver. The approval came through in less than 5 months. It was indeed a joyous occasion for both our client and our firm. We wish him all the best in life.