On May 2^nd, 2016, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Field of Biological Chemistry (Approval Notice).

General Field: Biological Chemistry

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Postdoctoral Fellow

Country of Origin: Iran

Service Center: Texas Service Center (TSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Massachusetts

Approval Notice Date: May 2^nd, 2016

Processing Time: 40 Days

Case Summary:

With a Ph.D. in Chemistry and a portfolio of outstanding professional accomplishments in the bag, our client—a postdoctoral fellow from Iran—was an ideal candidate for EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver). We worked diligently to compile as much pertinent information as we could and by the time we were ready to file the case, we had amassed a wealth of information that highlighted our client’s many successes.

Holding up the EB-2 NIW case with strong arguments:

“[Client’s] research answers an urgent need in the medical community as it relates to cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most prevalent life-shortening genetic diseases worldwide. As previously mentioned, the disease is completely incurable, and current drug therapies available for the symptoms of the disease are among the highest-priced in the market. [Client], who has cemented his prestigious reputation in the field of biochemistry through his diligent production of topically relevant and utilizable research, is a scientist whose continued research is greatly needed in order to produce viable, cost-effective treatments for cystic fibrosis.”   

The quote above is excerpted from a recommendation letter signed by a well-known professor in the field of biological chemistry. He, along with four of his peers, provided us with recommendation letters that communicated the value of our client’s work on protein, peptide and lipid marker identification in various diseases. By demonstrating that the United States pharmaceutical industry, and by extension, its economy, benefits from our client’s findings, we paved the way for case approval. Other key points that played a role in convincing the USCIS to approve our client’s EB-2 NIW petition included his citation count (77) and his publication record (9 journal articles and 1 book chapter).

Becoming a permanent resident:

The USCIS was persuaded to approve our client’s case in just 40 days. The quick processing time came as a surprise as it usually takes them between 4-9 months to take action on I-140 petitions. To sweeten the deal, they approved our client’s I-485 application roughly 2 months later. The reason our client’s adjustment of status for permanent residence was approved so quickly is because he chose to submit his I-485 application while his EB-2 NIW petition was pending approval. This allowed him to get a head start on his application which resulted in a shortened overall timeline. We congratulate our client for becoming an American permanent resident and we wish him well as he continues to conduct outstanding research in the United States.