Case Summary:             

We are pleased to share the success story of an EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval granted to an education researcher whose work is advancing inclusive and technology-driven instruction. At the time of filing, the client was preparing to begin a new role at a STEM education institute and had already made meaningful contributions to the field of educational psychology.

Research with Substantial Merit and National Importance:

The client’s proposed endeavor focuses on developing interventions to overcome personal and contextual barriers in education while enhancing teachers’ digital and artificial intelligence competency. These efforts aim to elevate learning outcomes, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, and promote equity in digital literacy. Her work has addressed critical challenges in global and national educational systems, such as improving online professional development, integrating educational game design, and investigating authentic language learning. These contributions have wide-reaching implications for educational access and success across socioeconomic backgrounds.

Her research directly responds to the national need for improved STEM proficiency and digital readiness, as well as strategies to counteract the current STEM labor shortage in the United States. The client’s work is especially timely given the U.S. Department of Education’s increasing focus on digital transformation and inclusive learning environments.

Well Positioned to Advance the Proposed Endeavor:

Holding a Ph.D. in educational psychology, the client has demonstrated a well-established record of research excellence. Her academic portfolio includes 2 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 peer-reviewed conference papers, 1 first-authored book chapter, and a technical report. These publications have collectively earned 160 citations – an impressive figure for her field. One of her articles was ranked in the top 1% of most-cited works in the category of Social Sciences, General, in its year of publication.

In addition to her authorship, the client has actively contributed to the advancement of her field by serving as a peer reviewer for at least 7 scholarly journals and conferences. She has also received support from the U.S. Department of Education through the SEED Grant program, underscoring institutional confidence in the significance of her research.

Support from the Academic Community:

Four letters of recommendation from established scholars in the field were submitted with the petition. These letters confirmed the client’s originality, influence, and technical expertise, and emphasized the unique value of her work in the U.S. education system.

“It is clear from such references that [Client’s] work has taken on an exceptional degree of significance for the field.”

Final Result:

The I-140 NIW petition was approved in February 2025. The case was successfully processed without premium processing and was granted without delay.

This success underscores NAILG’s commitment to advancing clients whose work drives societal and technological progress. We are honored to have supported this researcher’s journey and look forward to her continued impact on improving educational equity and effectiveness through innovation.