Success Story: NIW Approved Without RFE! Our Firm Helped a Scientist Secure Success
Client’s Testimonial:
"Thank you so much for your service and for your outstanding work on my case!”
On May 11th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Scientist in the Field of Bioanalytical Chemistry (Approval Notice).
General Field: Bioanalytical Chemistry
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Scientist
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New Jersey
Approval Notice Date: May 11th, 2026
Processing Time: 11 months (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
North America Immigration Law Group was pleased to help secure I-140 NIW approval for the client, an expert in bioanalytical chemistry with a Ph.D. in chemistry. The client’s proposed endeavor focused on developing miniaturized devices that are low-cost, rapid, and capable of supporting early diagnosis, drug development, and treatment assessment for diseases including cancer and metabolic disorders.
At the time of filing, the client was employed as a scientist, continuing research on miniaturized capillary electrophoresis devices and analytical methods used to evaluate drug product purity and efficacy. In the petition, we framed this work not as a narrow laboratory technique, but as research with broader value for early disease detection, precision medicine, pharmaceutical quality control, and improved access to affordable diagnostic tools.
To demonstrate the client’s significance, we emphasized both productivity and field reliance. The client had authored 6 peer-reviewed journal articles, including 4 first-authored articles, and 2 first-authored conference abstracts. These publications had received 34 citations, which we explained as evidence that other researchers had used the client’s methods and findings in their own work. We also contextualized two publications as ranking among the top 20% most-cited papers in chemistry for their publication years, helping show that the citation record reflected meaningful recognition when measured against field and time-based norms.
The petition also highlighted that the client’s work had received support from major U.S. funding sources, including the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence Program of the National Institutes of Health. This evidence helped reinforce that the client’s research aligned with national priorities in biomedical innovation, healthcare accessibility, and disease detection.
Four recommendation letters further supported the petition by explaining the value of the client’s research contributions and future potential in bioanalytical chemistry. One recommender noted: “Ensuring that [Client’s] work proceeds is not only important to the field but to the U.S. scientific enterprise as well.” These letters helped connect the client’s technical achievements to practical benefits in diagnostics, drug development, and treatment assessment.
By presenting the client’s advanced degree, publication record, citation impact, federally supported research, recommendation letters, and ongoing employment in the field together, we demonstrated that the client was well-positioned to continue advancing the proposed endeavor and that waiving the job offer and labor certification requirements would benefit the United States. We congratulate the client on this I-140 NIW approval and wish the client continued success in advancing accessible diagnostic and treatment-assessment technologies.