Success Story: NIW Approval After RFE for a Chemical Engineering Researcher Advancing AI-Driven Process System Engineering
Client’s Testimonial:
"I want to extend my profound gratitude for your great service on my NIW case. Thank you!"
On July 1st, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Graduate Research Assistant in the Field of Chemical Engineering (Approval Notice).
General Field: Chemical Engineering
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Graduate Research Assistant
Country of Origin: Iran
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Kansas
Approval Notice Date: July 1st, 2026
Processing Time: 13 months, 24 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
USCIS approved this EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition on July 1, 2026, after 13 months and 24 days of processing, with Premium Processing requested on July 28, 2025. The client, a graduate research assistant from Iran, works in chemical engineering with a focus on AI-driven process systems engineering.
After USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) on September 26th, 2025, North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) prepared a response that clarified the national importance of the client’s proposed endeavor. Rather than presenting the work as general chemical engineering research, we emphasized that the client was developing AI-driven frameworks for process modeling and real-time decision-making in sectors critical to U.S. industrial efficiency.
The response also strengthened the case through updated expert support. The submitted letters explained how the client’s research could modernize industrial operations, improve resource use, and support U.S. competitiveness in intelligent manufacturing. Highlighting these practical advantages, one independent recommender noted:
“The client's work has transformed ammonia synthesis by reducing energy consumption, lowering costs, and enabling real-time monitoring, benefiting industrial operations across the U.S.”
The client’s credentials included an M.S. in chemical engineering, 3 peer-reviewed journal articles, 2 peer-reviewed conference articles, 1 accepted first-authored conference article, 6 conference abstracts, 14 citations, and at least 9 peer review contributions. The petition also noted that 2 of the client’s papers ranked among the top 10% most-cited Engineering articles for their respective publication years, helping show that other researchers had relied on the client’s work at a meaningful rate.
The petition further demonstrated that the client’s research had already influenced other scholars working on process control efficiency, neural network architectures, model order reduction, and physics-informed machine learning. In addressing the third NIW prong, the RFE response also explained why a labor certification was impractical, noting that the client’s university-based research role was temporary and student-dependent, while prospective industry positions frequently lacked immigration sponsorship options.
USCIS approved the petition following the RFE response, recognizing the strength of the updated evidence and strategy. We congratulate the client on this NIW approval and are pleased that NAILG could help present a focused case showing how AI-driven chemical engineering research could support industrial modernization, energy efficiency, and sustainable process systems in the United States.