Success Stories: NIW Approved for Nanotechnology and Environmental Materials Researcher Advancing Visible-Light Photocatalysis for Water Remediation

Client’s Testimonial:

“Great service in filing and preparation of EB2-NIW.”

On August 20^th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for an Academic Researcher in the field of Nanotechnology (Approval Notice).

General Field: Nanotechnology

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Academic Researcher

Country of Origin: Pakistan

Country of Residence at the Time of Filing: Czech Republic

Approval Notice Date: August 20^th, 2025

Processing Time: 1 year, 2 months, 27 days

Case Summary:

North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG) presented a proposed endeavor to develop photocatalytic materials that harvest visible light to break down persistent pollutants in water. The petition tied this work to nationally important needs in wastewater treatment, surface-water safety, and public health, and aligned it with U.S. priorities in critical and emerging technologies for advanced materials and energy efficiency.

Research Focus and Contributions

Novel photocatalysts for pollutant and pathogen removal, including Z-scheme heterojunctions and bandgap-engineered oxides operating efficiently under visible light.
Photocatalytic and adsorptive systems for water treatment, such as immobilized nanofiber membranes and supported semiconductor heterojunctions that target endocrine-disrupting compounds.
Mechanistic studies that map charge transfer, defect chemistry, and catalytic pathways to inform scalable designs, with extensions to CO₂ and N₂ conversion.

Research Impact and Metrics

Peer-Reviewed Publications: 9 journal articles, 4 peer-reviewed conference papers, and 1 conference abstract.
Citations: 142 independent citations.
Peer-Review Service: At least 16 completed reviews for field journals.
Standing: At least 7 papers ranked among the top-percentile Chemistry articles for their publication years, including one in the top 1 percent.

Here is an anonymized excerpt from a recommendation letter that underscores the practical impact of his work:

“[Client] implements new photocatalytic effects across nanomaterials for water purification. In work synthesizing Cu₂O/WO₃, ZnO nanocrystals, and silica-supported g-C₃N₄, the latter eliminated endocrine-disrupting chemicals (100% under UV; 96.2% under visible light in 3 hours) and eradicated Staphylococcus; Cu₂O/WO₃ removed 60% methylene blue under visible light in 240 minutes, while ZnO nanocrystals delivered self-cleaning and broad pollutant/bacteria removal. These nanostructured systems enable low-cost, solar-driven remediation with clear public-health benefits, and [client’s] invitations to review for leading journals reflect recognized authority in the field.”

Demonstrating Substantial Merit and National Importance

We demonstrated substantial merit by linking the client’s materials to cost-effective, energy-aware water purification. National importance was shown through evidence of U.S. water-quality risks, EPA cleanup priorities, and federal recognition of advanced materials as a critical technology area, along with independent uptake of the client’s findings and strong percentile performance for several publications.

Well Positioned to Advance the Proposed Endeavor

The record documented a Ph.D.-level background in nanotechnology, a growing publication and citation footprint, invitations to judge the work of others, and an ongoing U.S. research role that focuses on translating laboratory results into operational water-treatment tools. Expert letters in the file affirmed recognized expertise and practical impact.

NIW Approval and Outlook

Approved in 1 year, 2 months, and 27 days, this NIW recognizes a research agenda that strengthens U.S. environmental resilience by enabling visible-light photocatalysis for cleaner water and safer communities. NAILG is proud to have guided this case and looks forward to the client’s continued contributions to sustainable water technologies.

North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is a U.S. immigration law firm dedicated to representing corporations, research institutions, and individuals from all 50 U.S. states regarding I-140 immigration petitions. We specialize in employment-based immigration petition and have a proven record of high success rate for the categories of: EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver), EB1-A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability), EB1-B (Outstanding Researcher/Professor) and O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability).

Our Ten Thousand I-140 Approvals Provide Unprecedented Insight into the USCIS Adjudication Trend

With more than 58,000 EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW and O-1 cases approved, we have first hand information on the manner in which the USCIS adjudicate I-140 cases. As the USCIS has constantly changed its adjudication standards for the EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-2 NIW categories, our firm's huge database of successful cases gives you unprecedented insight to USCIS adjudication trends. We carefully analyze the data for all of our cases and apply the results of our analyses toward giving our clients up-to-date advice and adapting our strategies such that we remain on par with the ever-shifting landscape of immigration law in the U.S. With us, you will always have access to important updates, strategies, and information so that you can make the most informed decisions about your case.

We Have Helped Hundreds and Thousands of Clients with Credentials and Backgrounds Similar to Yours

With our exceedingly large number of successful petitions, no matter what credentials you have, no matter your background and field of expertise, no matter your visa status or nationality, chances are we have helped hundreds or even thousands of clients just like you. Our clients are usually impressed with how well we understand their research and work. Our insight and understanding stems from the fact that we have handled many cases with elements similar to yours already, and this helps us devise the best strategies for each individual petition.

Vast Majority of Clients Came to Us Because of Referrals

For years, our firm has attracted new clients based solely on word of mouth, recommendations, and the positive collaboration experiences shared with them by their friends and family. We take pride in our reputation and work hard to ensure that we provide a green card application experience that our clients are happy to share with their friends and colleagues. That is how our cumulative total of approved cases grew from 600 in 2013 to over 58,000 in 2025.