Case Summary:     

Our client’s I-140 petition under the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) category was approved through premium processing at the time of filing.

Holding a Ph.D. in engineering, the client is a leading researcher in digital infrastructure engineering. The proposed endeavor focuses on advancing real-time automatic building change and damage detection methods and automatic 3D model reconstruction techniques powered by generative artificial intelligence. The ultimate goal of this work is to strengthen building health monitoring and management systems that are essential for the development of smart, safe, and sustainable cities across the United States.

The client’s research provides vital contributions to the fields of AI-based modeling, sensor fusion, and digital infrastructure analysis, addressing national priorities in technological innovation and urban safety. The petition demonstrated that these advancements carry substantial merit and national importance by improving structural resilience, public safety, and infrastructure efficiency in support of the nation’s smart city initiatives.

At the time of filing, the client had authored five peer-reviewed journal papers as well as one first-authored conference article, two first-authored conference abstracts, and two granted patents. These works have been cited 26 times, reflecting the influence and recognition of the client’s contributions within the research community. Furthermore, the client has been invited to serve as a peer reviewer for leading academic journals and conferences in the field, completing at least six reviews to date, an acknowledgment of the client’s technical expertise and standing among peers.

In the petition, we presented strong evidence of the client’s educational background, research record, citation impact, and peer recognition to establish that the client is well-positioned to continue advancing this work in the United States. The client’s ongoing research, focusing on the integration of deep learning, LiDAR data, and generative AI for accurate 3D reconstruction and real-time structural assessment, further supports this position.

To reinforce the significance of the client’s accomplishments and the value of the proposed endeavor, we also submitted two recommendation letters from experts in related fields, each confirming the client’s innovative approaches and the broad societal impact of this research.

“Given the need for real-time sensor localization in AVs, optimization of traffic flows, and the pressing demand for improved infrastructure management, it is clear there is a need for further advances with respect to these issues. As [Client] has produced highly valuable research in this regard, there is an ongoing demand for his particular expertise.”

By demonstrating the client’s outstanding qualifications, the essential importance of the proposed research, and the clear benefit to U.S. interests, the NIW petition was approved swiftly, confirming the client’s eligibility to continue this impactful work toward smarter, safer, and more resilient cities.