On December 1^st, 2016, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Director of Operations in the Field of Geophysics (Approval Notice).

General Field: Geophysics

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Director of Operations

Country of Origin: Brazil

Service Center: Texas Service Center (TSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Florida

Approval Notice Date: December 1^st, 2016

Processing Time: 3 months, 29 days

Case Summary:

With a doctoral degree and many years of experience progressing the field of geophysics, it was plain to see that our client (a director of operations from Brazil) was a good candidate for EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver). Even so, the team at North America Immigration Law Group (WeGreened.com) meticulously reviewed his credentials to be sure that we could build a strong case for him. Only after we confirmed that we could did we initiate the attorney-client relationship.

Our extensive experience helping clients of various nationalities obtain I-140 petition approval has armed us with the skills needed to build strong cases. In this instance, our client’s NIW petition contained the following information:

1. We listed his citation count, which at the time of filing stood at a notable 115 citations.
2. Our client’s publication record was also noted: when we filed his case, his work had resulted in 5 peer-reviewed articles, all of which appeared in well-known scientific journals.
3. Similar to all the cases we represent, we included several recommendation letters to support our client’s petition. According to one of his recommenders, our client “… is a highly qualified scientist whose contributions to progress through his research make him stand out as an esteemed member of the scientific community.” Another recommender stated that: “… [Client] is a researcher of the highest order whose work is of great help in achieving a more energy independent and environmentally-friendly America.”
4. Most importantly, we detailed our client’s work on seismic monitoring, a technique which is central to understanding numerous geophysical events affecting the environment, the economy, and the safety of the general public. We worked diligently to prove to the USCIS that our client’s research results have directly contributed to increased safety, profitability, and sustainability throughout the American energy industry. Additionally, we demonstrated that his research efforts concerning onshore reservoirs and hydroelectric dam monitoring are substantially contributing to the United States’ increased energy independence.

Concurrent Filing:

It should be noted that our client opted for concurrently filing. This means filing the I-140 petition and I-485 application concurrently. This is rather common amongst green card applicants as concurrent filing generally trims down the overall timeline. This is because the USCIS gets a head start on adjudicating the I-485 application. In this case, our client and his family waited less than 5 months from start to end to receive their green cards. We congratulate them on their big win, and we wish them the best as they embark on new beginnings as US permanent residents.