Success Story: Overcoming an RFE to Secure NIW Approval for a Plant Genetic Engineering Expert
Client’s Testimonial:
“I would like to sincerely thank the entire Chen Immigration Team for your excellent work, guidance, and support throughout my NIW petition and especially during the RFE process. I truly appreciate the time and effort your team devoted to reviewing my case, developing the RFE strategy, organizing the additional evidence, and preparing a strong response to USCIS. The RFE was certainly a challenging stage, particularly because all three NIW prongs were questioned. Your careful analysis and strategic guidance gave me confidence throughout the process, and I am very grateful that our efforts ultimately resulted in approval. Please extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who worked on my case. It has been a pleasure working with your team. Thank you again for helping me achieve this important milestone.”
On August 16th, 2026, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Research Scientist in the Field of Plant Genetic Engineering (Approval Notice).
General Field: Plant Genetic Engineering
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Scientist
Approval Notice Date: August 16th, 2026
Processing Time: 12 months, 12 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
We are pleased to share the NIW approval of an agronomy and horticulture specialist. Holding a Ph.D. in the field, the client currently works in plant genetic engineering and agricultural data analysis. The client's proposed endeavor focuses on plant genetic engineering, crop biotechnology, and data analytics.
The client’s research tackles urgent agricultural and environmental challenges. These contributions align with U.S. priorities, supported by major funding from competitive agricultural research funding and industry-supported research programs.
At the time of filing, the client had an established record of success in his field. He had authored 4 peer-reviewed journal articles, 5 technical reports (1 first-authored), and held 1 granted patent. His published research had accumulated 119 citations. To demonstrate the significance of this output, our team highlighted that one of his articles was ranked in the top 10% of most-cited agricultural science articles for its publication year. Furthermore, the client had completed peer-review service, grant reviews, and policy reports, demonstrating recognized expertise in the plant sciences community.
The petition was supported by 4 recommendation letters from field experts. These experts attested to the practical impact of the client's methodologies, highlighting how independent researchers actively rely on his genetic findings to investigate crop performance and stress tolerance.
As one expert noted:
“He is a prolific and impactful researcher whose expertise continues to shape the field and promote sustainable innovation in crop science.”
This endorsement reinforced the objective evidence of his scientific influence, citation impact, and practical implementation in the agricultural sector.
During the adjudication process, USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE), challenging the petition across all three prongs of the Matter of Dhanasar framework. Our team developed a comprehensive response strategy, providing additional evidence and clear analytical arguments to satisfy the RFE requirements. Following this response, the I-140 NIW petition was successfully approved, recognizing the national importance of the client's work in plant genetic engineering and resilient crop development. We congratulate the client on this significant achievement and wish him continued success in advancing vital agricultural technologies.