Success Story: From Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation to NIW Approval for an Allied Aquaculture Expert
Client’s Testimonial:
"My EB-2 NIW petition was recently approved, and I am extremely grateful for the support I received from Chen Immigration throughout the process. From the initial evaluation to the final submission, the team handled my case with great care and professionalism. They provided strategic guidance, strong documentation support, and made the entire process much less stressful. I always felt my case was in good hands, and I truly appreciate their expertise and dedication."
On June 23rd, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for an Expert in the Field of Allied Aquaculture (Approval Notice).
General Field: Allied Aquaculture
Country of Origin: Vietnam
Country of Residence at the Time of Filing: Vietnam
Approval Notice Date: June 23rd, 2026
Processing Time: 2 months (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
Every advancement in sustainable aquaculture begins with a simple challenge: how can fish and shrimp be raised more efficiently without increasing costs or environmental burdens? By developing practical feed formulations that improve growth while reducing waste and dependence on traditional marine resources, the client has focused on one of the most pressing issues facing modern food production. We are pleased to celebrate the approval of the client's I-140 National Interest Waiver petition, filed with premium processing requested.
The client currently works in the field of allied aquaculture and has built a research program centered on developing practical feed formulations for fish and shrimp. The proposed endeavor includes evaluating novel protein sources, optimizing indispensable amino acid balance under reduced protein conditions, generating digestibility coefficients for precision formulation, and assessing functional feeds to reduce feed costs, improve growth performance and survival, and enhance environmental sustainability. We demonstrated that these efforts extend beyond improving aquaculture operations alone by supporting U.S. food security, strengthening economic resilience, and advancing sustainable domestic seafood production, all of which establish the endeavor's substantial merit and national importance.
The petition also demonstrated that the client is well positioned to continue advancing this work through a combination of scholarly achievements, recognized expertise, and research that has already influenced the field.
- 9 peer reviewed journal articles, including 6 first authored publications
- 6 conference abstracts, including 4 first authored abstracts
- 240 citations
- Completed at least 6 peer reviews for scholarly journals
Rather than treating these accomplishments as isolated numbers, we explained why they matter. The publication record documents a sustained commitment to solving practical challenges in aquaculture nutrition. The citation record shows that other researchers have relied on the client's findings when advancing studies on sustainable feed strategies, demonstrating independent validation of the research. Likewise, invitations to review manuscripts for scientific journals reflect the confidence that the research community places in the client's technical judgment and expertise.
We also highlighted that the client's research has attracted support from major funding organizations, including the Binational Agriculture Research and Development Foundation, the Saltonstall Kennedy Research and Development Program, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Altech Corporation, and Ajinomoto Animal Nutrition. We demonstrated that this support provides additional objective evidence that the research addresses nationally significant priorities involving sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmentally responsible aquaculture production.
By presenting a cohesive record of influential research, independent scholarly recognition, and a clearly defined endeavor aligned with important U.S. priorities, we established that waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States. We are honored to have assisted the client in securing approval of the I-140 NIW petition and look forward to the continued impact of this research on sustainable aquaculture and America's future food security.