On October 11^th, 2016, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a Metal Subject Matter Expert in the Field of Metallurgy (Approval Notice).

General Field: Metallurgy

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Metal Subject Matter Expert

Country of Origin: China

Service Center: Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Michigan

Approval Notice Date: October 11^th, 2016

Processing Time: 3 months, 14 days (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and years of experience conducting fieldwork related to metallurgy, our client (a metal subject matter expert from China) fit the bill when it came to filing his I-140 under EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability). As part of our expert services, our team at North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG) meticulously gathered as much relevant information as we could on our client’s various achievements in the field. We then used this information to prove to the USCIS that he is an asset to the United States and that he should be allowed to continue his work in the country. These are some of the key points we focused on:

1. We noted our client’s publication record, which at the time of filing stood at 7 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 1 peer-reviewed conference abstract.
2. His citation count was also listed: thanks to Google Scholar, we determined that our client’s work had collected 76 citations when we filed the case.
3. Our client’s EB-1A petition packet also contained data on his peer review experience, which at that time, amounted to two reviews for prestigious scientific journals.
4. Furthermore, we incorporated six recommendation letters volunteered by some of the field’s brightest minds. Their support played an important role in case approval as it proved to the USCIS that our client’s work is important not just to American industries, but to the field of metallurgy as a whole. According to one of his recommenders: “[Client’s] metallurgical work is critical to the development of safer, stronger steels for use in diverse industries crucial to the United States’ economic vibrancy. It is for this reason that I ask the USCIS to look favorably upon his petition, as his particular expertise and in-depth knowledge has made him a valuable, irreplaceable part of the metallurgical research field.”
5. To top it all off, we documented our client’s investigations in the field. Not only did we determine that our client is focused on the design of magnetic shape memory alloys, 3rd generation advanced high strength steels, and high temperature resistant stainless steel, we also concluded that his findings are applied toward the construction of improved sensors and energy harvesters, as well as automobiles and space exploration equipment.

Despite our best efforts, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE). According to the USCIS website, “A request for evidence is made when an application/petition is lacking required documentation/evidence (initial evidence) or the officer needs more documentation/evidence (additional evidence) to determine an applicant’s eligibility for the benefit sought.” Our legal team and support staff did not let the RFE deter them. They promptly sprang into action and proved to the USCIS that our client’s credentials are legitimate and that he deserved to get one step closer to permanent residence. Thanks to our diligent efforts, the USCIS approved our client’s EB-1A petition.

We congratulate our client for obtaining an EB-1A approval and wish him the best as he adjusts his status for permanent residence by filing an I-485 application.