Success Story: Overcoming RFE! Russian PhD Candidate Secures NIW Approval with Premium Processing

Client’s Testimonial:

“I really liked working with the Chen Immigration team. They were quick at responding and wrote good letters. Thank you very much to all for all the help with the preparation!! It was really a pleasure to work with you.”

On March 28^th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a PhD candidate in the Field of Molecular and Cell Biology (Approval Notice).

General Field: Molecular and Cell Biology

Position at the Time of Case Filing: PhD candidate

Country of Origin: Russia

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: California

Approval Notice Date: March 28^th, 2025

Processing Time: 5 months, 7 days (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

The North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG) is proud to announce the successful approval of an I-140 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition for a distinguished expert in molecular and cell biology, following a Request for Evidence (RFE). Filed with direct premium processing, the petition received a favorable decision in March 2025, underscoring the critical national importance of the beneficiary’s contributions to developing therapeutic strategies for cancer and metabolic diseases.

Our client, holding an M.S. degree and specializing in molecular and cell biology, is a leading researcher whose proposed endeavor focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that modulate cellular metabolism in cancer models. This vital research aims to discover and develop effective therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and cancer, which represent significant public health challenges and impose a substantial burden on the U.S. healthcare system.

To demonstrate the client’s exceptional qualifications and the national importance of their work, our legal team highlighted several key aspects:

Impactful Publication and Patent Record: The client’s innovative research has resulted in 4 peer-reviewed journal articles, one conference abstract, and 2 patents. These achievements demonstrate their ability to contribute original research and translate findings into potential applications.
Significant Research Influence: Their publications have been cited a total of 36 times according to Google Scholar.
Major Funding Support: The client’s research has garnered significant financial backing from prominent organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, and the Federal Medical-Biological Agency. This external funding further validates the national importance and advanced nature of their work.
Original Scientific Contributions: The petition highlighted the client’s major original contributions, which include investigating the role of specific proteins in cellular metabolism, developing models for studying metabolic dysregulation in cancer, and exploring therapeutic interventions targeting metabolic pathways. This work aligns with the U.S. government’s Critical and Emerging Technologies List, emphasizing its strategic importance.

The petition was strongly supported by 4 compelling letters of recommendation from leading experts in the field. These letters provided crucial external validation of the client’s expertise and the profound impact of their contributions.

“[Client’s] research in the molecular and cell biology field is undoubtedly of benefit to both U.S. and global research communities.”

Through meticulous documentation and a clear articulation of the client’s contributions, NAILG successfully demonstrated that the client is exceptionally well-positioned to advance their proposed endeavor. This approval ensures that the client can continue to contribute their invaluable expertise to critical advancements in molecular and cell biology within the United States, ultimately leading to improved therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and cancer.

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).

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With more than 58,000 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.

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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.

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