Success Story: NIW Approval After RFE for a Civil Engineer Strengthening U.S. Water Infrastructure
Client’s Testimonial:
"I retained Chen Immigration to file my EB2-NIW petition, and my experience with the team throughout both the initial filing and the RFE response was exceptional. From the start, every question I had — no matter how minor — was answered promptly and thoroughly. I never once waited long for a response, which made an already stressful process feel far more manageable.
What stood out most was how genuinely invested the attorneys were in the details. They didn't just handle the paperwork; they worked through the specifics of my case with me, explaining the reasoning behind every decision and making sure I understood exactly what was being submitted and why. During the RFE response in particular, that attention to detail made a real difference — it's the kind of high-pressure situation where you quickly find out whether your legal team is truly in your corner.”
On June 15th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for an Associate Engineer in the Field of Civil Engineering (Approval Notice).
General Field: Civil Engineering
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Associate Engineer
Country of Origin: Jordan
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: California
Approval Notice Date: June 15th, 2026
Processing Time: 14 months, 13 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is pleased to share another EB-2 NIW approval for a civil engineering professional from Jordan. The petition was filed on April 2nd, 2025, and premium processing was requested on December 31st, 2025. After USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) on February 12th, 2026, our team prepared a detailed response, and the case was approved on June 15th, 2026, after 14 months and 13 days of total processing time.
The client’s proposed endeavor focused on utilizing computational mechanics and advanced statistical analysis to develop unified structural design frameworks for large-scale fluid distribution and water conveyance infrastructure. The petition explained that this work systematically enhances the safety, operational reliability, maintenance efficiency, and service life of critical public utility systems. As one expert noted:
“[The client]’s findings enhance operational efficiency, safety, and longevity in water infrastructure by offering engineers data-driven insights into material stresses, installation best practices, and load-bearing limitations.”
The RFE response was especially important because it clarified the distinction between the client’s proposed endeavor and proposed employment. Our team emphasized that the case was not simply about the client’s role as an engineer, but about a specific research plan to create practical design standards for high-cost, high-risk water conveyance components. The response reinforced the national importance of this work by demonstrating how validated design frameworks for critical fluid distribution networks can minimize structural failures, prevent unplanned operational outages, eliminate costly over-engineering, and drastically reduce emergency remediation expenditures across domestic water infrastructure.
The client’s record showed strong preparation to advance this work. Holding a Ph.D. in civil engineering, the client had developed extensive expertise in advanced structural engineering, computational mechanics, complex material dynamics, and subterranean asset systems. The case also highlighted the client’s research record, including 3 peer-reviewed journal articles, 3 peer-reviewed conference papers, 1 abstract, and 1 technical report. By the time of the RFE response, the client’s published work had increased from 21 to 47 citations, and one article ranked among the top 10% most-cited Engineering papers for its publication year.
Our team also presented evidence that other researchers had used the client’s work in studies. This helped show that the client’s research was not merely theoretical, but had already provided methods and benchmarks that other experts applied in civil engineering and infrastructure-related research. The RFE response further emphasized that the client had completed at least 4 peer reviews for authoritative journals and conferences. The petition also noted the client’s role as a reviewer for a journal and highlighted research funding from the Tailored Collaborative Program by the Water Research Foundation and the Tarrant Regional Water District, reinforcing the practical value of the client’s work in improving water infrastructure.
This approval demonstrates the importance of presenting both technical depth and national relevance in an NIW case, especially after an RFE. We congratulate this civil engineer on the approval and are honored that North America Immigration Law Group could support a petition showing how data-driven structural design research can contribute to safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting water infrastructure in the United States.