Case Summary:

The USCIS demands that all applications for I-140 NIW visas show clear proof of vested national interest in the petitioner’s research endeavor. The approval then leads to exemption from labor certification and a permanent job offer from a U.S.-based employer. So, whenever our firm gets an NIW application request, we first make sure to look into the client’s educational, professional, and research background. Having done so we glean relevant data from documents such as their CVs, transcripts, certificates, and letters of recommendation.

Therefore, when we received an NIW request from a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering from Nepal, our team made sure to collect the following data for his petition:

• We found that as an expert in the field he wants to continue developing novel optimized wind and hydro energy systems to effectively integrate renewable energy into the electrical power grid and encourage sustainable development.
• We found that his work has also been supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health. This funding is reserved solely for research directed at advancing the national interest, including easing the national disease burden as well as enhancing health and quality of life. Therefore, this funding substantiates the national importance of his research record.
• We were able to discover that he had completed at least 44 reviews to date for international scientific journals.
• We also found that his research has resulted in 9 peer-reviewed journal articles (5 of them first-authored), 16 peer-reviewed conference publications (5 of them first-authored), and 1 first-authored book chapter.
• These publications have also been cited a total of 263 times according to Google Scholar.
• Finally, we found supporting information in form of letters of support from experts. One excerpt from these is quoted below:

“The continuation of [client’s] research within the United States is an endeavor of obvious significance to the massive movement toward renewable energy. [Client’s] studies have contributed to this national goal by creating more efficient hydroelectric turbines and calculating methods for implementing hydro, solar, and wind powers into existing infrastructure in the United States. Given that the implementation of these energy sources into the electric grid is a major challenge, particularly in isolated communities, [client’s] particular focus on rural areas is especially relevant to ensuring sustainable energy practices in the U.S.”

These bits of information helped our team build a case that eventually won the approval of the adjudication committee at USCIS in less than 4 months. Also, gladly, we thank him for retaining our services for his spouse and his I-485 applications and finally acquiring the green cards. We are glad to hear of the approvals, and we wish our team and client hearty congratulations.