Case Summary:

Recently, our law firm secured approval for our client from China for an I-140 petition under the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) category. Her research is focused on improving crop yield and quality through gene identification and molecular analysis, which holds critical implications for U.S. agricultural resilience, sustainability, and economic efficiency. We are proud to share that her petition was approved by USCIS without a Request for Evidence (RFE).

With a doctorate in botany and years of experience in molecular biology and genetics, the client’s proposed endeavor centers on identifying key genes associated with important agricultural traits in crops and investigating the molecular mechanisms that govern yield and quality. Her research directly addresses challenges in modern agriculture, such as increasing crop productivity while reducing reliance on chemical inputs like pesticides.

Her work contributes to the development of crop cultivars with enhanced yield, improved grain quality, and reduced post-harvest loss, all goals aligned with the long-term priorities of U.S. agricultural policy and economic competitiveness.

She has demonstrated a strong track record in plant genetics and molecular research.

To support her petition, we presented a compelling record of scientific success:

● An exceptional publication record of 9 peer-reviewed journal articles, including 4 first-authored and 2 co-first-authored papers

● 537 total citations to her published work reflect the broad academic recognition of her research contributions

● One of her articles ranks among the top 20% most-cited papers in its field for its publication year.

● Publications in top-tier journals such as New Phytologist and Plant Physiology

Her research achievements include breakthroughs in the understanding of pollen viability, seed development, and grain quality. For instance, her work revealed a gene involved in starch synthesis is critical to crop quality and profitability.

Her work is being adopted across academic and industrial research.

In addition to academic citations, her research has been implemented by leading agricultural institutions and corporations. Notably, her findings on a gene related to pollen viability were cited in a U.S. patent application for gene-based plant breeding techniques. Other researchers have used her methods to engineer potato mutants, investigate rice spikelet development, and optimize grain milling quality, all reinforcing the broad value of her work to U.S. agriculture.

This NIW petition was approved in just over 10 months, without any RFE.

Following our strategic petition preparation and thorough evidence presentation, USCIS approved her I-140 NIW petition in 10 months and 13 days, without issuing any Request for Evidence. We congratulate our client on this well-earned recognition and are proud to support her as she continues advancing sustainable agricultural innovation in the United States.