Success Story: I-140 NIW Approved for a Veterinary Medicine Researcher in Animal Welfare and Research Optimization
Client’s Testimonial:
"Thank you very much for your support throughout this process. It has been a huge relief to receive the approval.”
On September 8th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for an Assistant Research Professor in the Field of Veterinary Medicine (Approval Notice).
General Field: Veterinary Medicine
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Assistant Research Professor
Country of Origin: Germany
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New Jersey
Approval Notice Date: September 8th, 2026
Processing Time: 25 months, 21 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
The client, holding a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine, is currently employed as an assistant research professor at a U.S. university. Operating in the field of veterinary medicine, the client’s proposed endeavor focuses on developing a comprehensive animal welfare and research optimization program. This work aims to improve the care, well-being, and ethical treatment of laboratory animals used in scientific experimentation, thereby supporting reliable, state-of-the-art discoveries across the biomedical sector.
To satisfy the legal framework under Matter of Dhanasar, our legal strategy contextualized the client's accomplishments to demonstrate sustained national importance and field-wide impact:
- Scholarly Dissemination: Authorship of 9 peer-reviewed journal articles (4 first-authored), 14 published abstracts (4 first-authored), and 1 first-authored commentary. Rather than presenting these figures as self-evidently sufficient, we established that these articles appeared in premier journals, proving that their research underwent rigorous expert validation.
- Citation Impact & Percentiles: Accumulation of 111 citations across their published body of work. We incorporated bibliometric data to prove that multiple papers rank in the top 10% and top 20% of most-cited publications in Plant & Animal Science for their respective publication years, reflecting widespread reliance by independent researchers.
- Evaluative Standing: Completion of at least 6 peer reviews for authoritative scientific journals, confirming that editorial boards recognize their specialized expertise.
- Funding Support: Major research backing from prominent funding organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the German Research Foundation.
The petition was further reinforced by 2 letters of recommendation from distinguished experts in the field who verified the practical necessity and broad societal value of the client's animal welfare frameworks. As one recommender stated:
"Their dedication to scientific inquiry and pushing the boundaries of knowledge make them an indispensable asset to the veterinary medicine field."
On April 15th, 2026, USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) addressing all three prongs of the petition. In response, the petition was substantially strengthened with additional evidence and several further recommendation letters. We also included an updated analysis of the client's continued publication and peer-review activities, further demonstrating their ongoing contributions and professional standing in the field.
By addressing the RFE comprehensively and providing substantial additional documentation, we reinforced the evidence supporting the client's qualifications, the importance of their proposed endeavor, and the broader value of their continued work. The strengthened record ultimately resulted in approval of the I-140 NIW petition.