On May 10^th, 2016, and May 4^th, 2016, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) and EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Scientist and Metabolic Engineer in the Field of Biological Engineering (Approval Notice).

General Field: Biological Engineering

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Scientist and Metabolic Engineer

Country of Origin: India

Service Center: Texas Service Center (TSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Massachusetts

Approval Notice Date: May 10^th, 2016 (EB-1A) and May 4^th, 2016 (NIW)

Processing Time: 21 days (EB-1A, Premium Processing requested) and 56 days (NIW)

Case Summary:

A gifted scientist and metabolic engineer from India hired North America Immigration Law Group (WeGreened.com) to file two I-140 petitions on his behalf: an EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) and an EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability). Filing two petitions is not uncommon as it increases one’s chances of walking away with an approval notice. In this case, our client was fortunate enough to have both his petitions approved. As the cherry on top of the cake, he only waited 6 days between approval notices. We congratulate our client for obtaining two petition approvals—we are especially pleased that he obtained an EB-1A approval. This allows him to partake in the final step of the green card process: filing an I-485 application to adjust his status for permanent residence without needing to wait a few years for his priority date to become current.

Although we had to prepare two different petition packets (one for our client’s EB-1A and another for his EB-2 NIW), they shared several similarities. This is what they had in common:

1. Our client’s details: In order to prove to the USCIS that our client is an influential member of the biological engineering community, we first had to understand his area of study. Thanks to the comprehensive research summary that our client sent to us, we were able to summarize and account for his various investigations on the genetic engineering of microbes to produce useful chemicals in an environmentally sound and efficient way. Based on that, we concluded that our client’s work directly contributes to the reduction of environmental pollutants while simultaneously lowering the cost of raw materials for some industrial processes. Additionally, his biological engineering research efforts are contributing to the production of goods such as makeup, printer ink, and pharmaceuticals, all of which benefit the U.S. economy.
2. Important evidence: Another way we proved that our client is an asset to the nation was by listing his various professional achievements. For instance, we noted the 71 citations gathered from his 9 published articles, and the 11 times he assessed the work of his peers for scientific journals. We also documented our client’s doctoral degree which he obtained from a well-known American university.
3. Peer testimonials: The many years that we have spent building strong I-140 petitions have taught us the importance of incorporating recommendation letters into our presentation. The same way interviewers authenticate references before hiring candidates, the USCIS expects other professionals in the field to vouch for I-140 petitioners. In this case, our client convinced six of his peers to advocate for the approval of his EB-2 NIW and EB-1A petitions. They did this by signing recommendation letters, all of which contained statements such as this one: “[Client’s] innovative spirit makes him a veritable asset for industries that have been stagnant in their production processes for many years. His creation of easy and cost-effective solutions ensures that his research is transforming the field of bioengineering, and that it holds significant importance for the United States of America. Therefore, it is my pleasure to give my fullest endorsement of [Client] for his sustained research efforts within the country.” As our client chose to file both petitions less than a year apart, we were able to use the same set of letters in both presentations.

We congratulate our client for overcoming such an immense hurdle in the green card process. These approval notices are a big win not just for our client but for our law firm as well. They prove that we will do whatever it takes to help our clients get one step closer to green card success. We thank our client for working with us and we look forward to helping him and his dependent obtain their green cards.