Success Story: Advancing Smarter Electrical Grids: NIW Approval Without RFE for an Electrical Power Engineering Researcher
Client’s Testimonial:
"Thank you very much for the wonderful news and for all your support throughout my NIW process.
I am extremely satisfied with the entire process and truly appreciate the professionalism, responsiveness, and guidance provided by your team from the preparation of my petition through to the final approval. It has been a very positive experience working with you.
Thank you again for your excellent support and for helping me achieve this important milestone"
On August 31st, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Power System Engineer in the Field of Electrical Power Engineering (Approval Notice).
General Field: Electrical Power Engineering
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Power System Engineer
Country of Origin: Iran
Country of Residence at the Time of Filing: Norway
Approval Notice Date: August 31st, 2026
Processing Time: 25 months
Case Summary:
Reliable electrical grids must do more than deliver power. They need to detect disruptions quickly, respond to changing conditions, restore service efficiently, and remain resilient as energy systems become more complex. For one researcher in electrical power engineering, addressing these challenges became the foundation of a successful I-140 EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition that was approved without a Request for Evidence (RFE).
Building Resilience Into Future Power Systems
The client has advanced education and professional experience in electrical engineering and related areas of power systems and grid technologies. His proposed endeavor focuses on conducting research and developing solutions that can improve the reliability, resilience, and efficiency of electrical distribution systems. This work is intended to help modern power grids respond more effectively to disruptions, support stable operations, and adapt to evolving energy demands.
Rather than focusing only on the specific technical aspects of the client’s work, we presented the proposed endeavor in terms of its broader potential impact on the reliability and modernization of electrical infrastructure. The petition emphasized that the client’s research could contribute to stronger energy security, more resilient infrastructure, and the continued development of advanced grid technologies.
This broader framing helped establish the national importance of the proposed endeavor. We connected the client’s work to significant U.S. interests, including reliable energy infrastructure, energy security, clean energy integration, and technological advancement. The petition also demonstrated that the client’s research falls within areas of recognized importance, reinforcing the broader national interest in continued progress in this field.
Evidence of Research Influence
To establish that the client was well positioned to continue this work, we presented a research record that included:
- 16 peer-reviewed journal articles, all first-authored
- 10 peer-reviewed conference articles, all first-authored
- 313 citations to the client’s published work
- At least 14 completed peer reviews
The significance of this evidence was not based simply on the numbers. We showed that independent researchers had engaged with the client’s work and relied on his methods in later studies involving transient monitoring, islanding detection, dynamic phasor estimation, power system protection, and the interaction between power electronic technologies and grid operation.
Several of the client’s publications also ranked among highly cited Engineering papers for their respective publication years, including 2 papers in the top 10% and 2 papers in the top 20%. Together, this evidence helped demonstrate that the client’s work had generated measurable recognition and practical scholarly reliance beyond his own research activities.
Expert Support for Continued Research
The petition was supported by 2 recommendation letters from experts familiar with the client’s accomplishments, including 1 independent advisory opinion. These letters provided additional context for the client’s technical expertise, prior contributions, and capacity to continue advancing research in electrical power engineering and resilient grid systems. One expert emphasized:
"Ultimately, [Client] is carrying out vital work in the field of electrical power engineering, and it is essential that he conducts his research in the United States."
The petition also highlighted the client’s peer-review record. Being repeatedly selected to evaluate research for respected journals in power systems, smart grids, power electronics, and related fields helped show that the client’s expertise was recognized by others and that his technical judgment was trusted within the research community.
The evidence presented the client’s record as more than a collection of publications and citations. It demonstrated a continuing research trajectory supported by independent scholarly reliance, professional recognition, specialized technical training, and concrete plans for future work. This integrated record supported the client’s positioning to advance technologies with broader implications for safe, reliable, and resilient electrical infrastructure.
The client’s I-140 NIW petition was ultimately approved without an RFE, marking an important step toward continuing research in an area with significant potential for U.S. energy security, grid resilience, and technological advancement.