Success Story: NIW Success Despite RFE! We Helped a Soil Science Researcher in Sustainable Cropping Systems Secure Approval

Posted by wegreened on October 8, 2026 in NIW, Soil Science

Client’s Testimonial:

“Once you provide your documents & credentials, they will take care of the rest.”

On August 27^th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Research Assistant in the Field of Soil Science (Approval Notice).

General Field: Soil Science

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Assistant

Country of Origin: Nepal

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New York

Approval Notice Date: August 27^th, 2026

Processing Time: 18 months, 6 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)

Case Summary:

A researcher holding an M.S. in plant science and operating in the field of soil science recently secured an I-140 National Interest Waiver (NIW) approval after successfully responding to a Request for Evidence (RFE). The client currently conducts agricultural research at a major U.S. university. Her proposed endeavor focuses on evaluating and implementing intensified sustainable conservation cropping systems by analyzing their long-term impact on soil health, carbon sequestration, and microbial activity to address food and fuel demands while mitigating climate change and promoting agricultural resilience.

To satisfy the legal framework under Matter of Dhanasar, our legal strategy contextualized the client’s academic achievements to demonstrate sustained national importance and field-wide influence to the adjudicating officer:

Scholarly Dissemination: Authorship of 5 peer-reviewed journal articles (2 first-authored). Rather than presenting this number as self-evidently sufficient, we showed that these articles appeared in premier journals, proving that her research underwent rigorous expert validation.
Citation Impact & Percentiles: Accumulation of 529 citations. We incorporated bibliometric percentile data to prove to USCIS that multiple papers rank in the top 0.01%, 1%, and 10% of most-cited agricultural science publications for their respective years.
Federal Funding & Media Recognition: Research support from major funding sources, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and a regional nutrient research council, complemented by major news media coverage highlighting the significance of her work.

By demonstrating that the client's research directly advances national agricultural sustainability, environmental resilience, and economic security, we established that waiving the job offer requirement was in the national interest. Following our detailed RFE response, USCIS approved the NIW petition in over 18 months.

--------------------------------------------

North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is a U.S. immigration law firm dedicated to representing corporations, research institutions, and individuals from all 50 U.S. states regarding I-140 immigration petitions. We specialize in employment-based immigration petition and have a proven record of high success rate for the categories of: EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver), EB1-A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability), EB1-B (Outstanding Researcher/Professor) and O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability).

Our Sixty-four Thousand I-140 Approvals Provide Unprecedented Insight into the USCIS Adjudication Trend

With nearly 64,000 EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW and O-1 cases approved, we have first hand information on the manner in which the USCIS adjudicate I-140 cases. As the USCIS has constantly changed its adjudication standards for the EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-2 NIW categories, our firm's huge database of successful cases gives you unprecedented insight to USCIS adjudication trends. We carefully analyze the data for all of our cases and apply the results of our analyses toward giving our clients up-to-date advice and adapting our strategies such that we remain on par with the ever-shifting landscape of immigration law in the U.S. With us, you will always have access to important updates, strategies, and information so that you can make the most informed decisions about your case.

We Have Helped Tens of Thousands of Clients with Credentials and Backgrounds Similar to Yours

With our exceedingly large number of successful petitions, no matter what credentials you have, no matter your background and field of expertise, no matter your visa status or nationality, chances are we have helped hundreds or even thousands of clients just like you. Our clients are usually impressed with how well we understand their research and work. Our insight and understanding stems from the fact that we have handled many cases with elements similar to yours already, and this helps us devise the best strategies for each individual petition.

Vast Majority of Clients Came to Us Because of Referrals

For years, our firm has attracted new clients based solely on word of mouth, recommendations, and the positive collaboration experiences shared with them by their friends and family. We take pride in our reputation and work hard to ensure that we provide a green card application experience that our clients are happy to share with their friends and colleagues. That is how our cumulative total of approved cases grew from 600 in 2013 to nearly 64,000 in 2025.

Track Record of Success EB-1 and NIW Approvals

(2012.01 - 2025.12)

Category	Approval or Refund^®		Approval or Refiling^TM
	Approval or Refund^®
Category	Approved Sum	Success Rate	Approved Sum	Success Rate
NIW	42,047	99%	5,258	97%
EB1A	9,218	91%	4,534	86%
EB1B	1,488	98%	448	93%
Total	52,753	98%	10,240	92%