WeGreened Approval Statistics: Week of August 4, 2025

During the week of August 4 to August 10, 2025, WeGreened received a total of 86 approval notices from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) category continued to lead in volume, representing almost 70% of approvals, while the EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) category maintained a strong presence among accomplished researchers and professionals.

Approval Distribution by Category and Service Center

Of the 86 approvals, 60 were for NIW, 19 for EB1A, 6 for EB1B (Outstanding Professors or Researchers), and 1 for O1A (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement). The Nebraska Service Center processed 7 EB1A and 27 NIW approvals, while the Texas Service Center handled 12 EB1A and 33 NIW approvals.

EB1A and NIW Credential Analysis

EB1A petitioners demonstrated solid academic productivity, with publications ranging from 2 to 67 articles (median 16) and citations between 160 and 4,287 (median 577). This profile reflects significant scholarly achievement and global influence.

NIW petitioners showed a wider distribution of academic records, from 1 to 47 publications (median 10) and citations between 11 and 1,350 (median 133.5). This diversity highlights USCIS’s continued openness to applicants with practical, policy-relevant, or industry-driven contributions, even without extremely high citation metrics.

Insights on Petitioner Backgrounds and Fields

EB1A approvals spanned precision cardiology, molecular neuroscience, artificial intelligence, human molecular genetics, and biomedical engineering. Many petitioners were affiliated with universities, research institutes, or medical centers in postdoctoral or senior research roles.

NIW cases covered environmental engineering, renewable energy, public health, mechanical engineering, and agricultural sciences. Many petitioners were industry engineers, policy researchers, or technical specialists whose work aligns with U.S. economic, environmental, and technological priorities.

Highlighted NIW Case Without an Advanced Degree

One notable NIW approval this week involved a petitioner who held a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, was pursuing doctoral studies, and had a record of six publications and 38 citations. While the petitioner did not yet hold an advanced degree, our legal team crafted a compelling case under the exceptional ability standard, demonstrating expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the field.

We strategically selected evidence to meet at least three of the regulatory criteria, documenting the petitioner’s academic foundation in mechanical engineering, membership in a recognized professional association, and significant recognition through peer-reviewed publications and citations. We also emphasized the practical applications of his research in thermal system optimization and mechanical design — work with direct benefits for U.S. industrial efficiency and energy conservation.

To strengthen the national interest argument, we positioned his research within U.S. strategic technology priorities, linking it to advancements in energy-efficient systems and industrial innovation. We contextualized his citation record by highlighting the impact of his most influential paper, which ranks among the top 10% in its field for the year.

This case highlights USCIS’s willingness to approve NIW petitions for individuals without advanced degrees when their record shows technical expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered and a clear potential to advance U.S. national interest.

Adjudication Trends and Policy Observations

For EB1A, USCIS continues to focus on documented international acclaim, sustained scholarly excellence, and leadership in the field. For NIW, adjudicators maintain flexibility and approve petitions across a range of academic levels when the record shows substantial merit and national importance. This week’s highlighted case reinforces that practical industry impact can meet NIW standards even without an advanced degree in hand.

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 Ten Thousand I-140 Approvals Provide Unprecedented Insight into the USCIS Adjudication Trend

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.

We Have Helped Hundreds and 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 over 58,000 in 2025.