Success Story: NIW Granted for Novel Lung Pathology Methods With Major Public-Health Relevance
Client’s Testimonial:
"Thank you for your assistance with my I-140 application. I am just glad and relieved that it got approved without any RFEs.”
On February 23rd, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Researcher in the Field of Pathology (Approval Notice).
General Field: Pathology
Country of Origin: Nepal
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Texas
Approval Notice Date: February 23rd, 2026
Processing Time: 1 year, 5 months, 27 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
Lung injury begins as a subtle tissue change that can be difficult to characterize consistently, especially when damage is linked to complex exposures such as inhaled nanoparticles and air pollution. North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) supported a pathology researcher whose proposed endeavor is to continue developing novel methods and tools for characterizing lung pathology so that clinicians and scientists can better understand lung injury and improve treatment strategies.
A recommendation letter captured the real-world stakes of this work: “[Client]’s work is dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of the population by providing valuable knowledge about the effects of inhaled nanoparticles and air pollution.”
National Importance Supported by Major Funding
The client’s research had already attracted support from a wide set of major funding sources, including the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This breadth of support serves as an objective indicator that multiple respected institutions view the research direction as highly meaningful and worth investment.
Evidence of Peer Trust and Independent Reliance
We also highlighted that the client is well-positioned to advance the endeavor based on demonstrated scholarly performance and third-party reliance. The client holds a Ph.D. in Integrative Pathobiology and has produced six peer-reviewed journal articles, along with a first-authored book chapter. The record further documented one completed peer review invitation, reflecting trusted judgment in evaluating others’ work.
Most notably, the client’s publications have been cited 1,198 times. That level of citation is evidence that other researchers repeatedly relied on the findings and methods, treating the work as a foundation they could build upon in their own studies.
The Result
With a clearly defined lung-pathology endeavor, substantial objective funding support, and a publication record that shows sustained peer trust and broad independent reliance, this NIW case presented a cohesive record of national importance and strong positioning. We are proud to have successfully guided this promising researcher to this approval, and we look forward to the continued public health impact of their work in the United States.