On June 9^th, 2016, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a Research Associate in the Field of Theoretical Physics (Approval Notice).

General Field: Theoretical Physics

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Associate

Country of Origin: India

Service Center: Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Wisconsin

Approval Notice Date: June 9^th, 2016

Processing Time: 76 Days (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

76 days after North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG) filed an EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) petition on behalf of a research associate from India, the USCIS granted their approval. Our client, an expert working in the field of theoretical physics (with a focus on harnessing the laws of quantum mechanics to develop a quantum computer that can solve computational problems at a rate much higher than conventional computers) possessed the credentials to quality for this visa category.

What is Premium Processing?

Our client elected to file his petition under Premium Processing (PP), a paid service offered by the USCIS that allowed him to have action taken on his case within 15 calendar days. Despite the strong EB-1A case that we had built and presented on his behalf, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence.

What is a Request for Evidence (RFE)?

An RFE is issued when the USCIS requires more evidence to confirm whether a petitioner’s I-140 petition should be approved. Part of our services entailed responding to any RFEs issued, and we did this in a prompt and meticulous manner. Exactly 15 days after the USCIS received our RFE response, they approved our client’s petition. Their approval propelled our client one step closer to his goal of becoming an American green card holder.

What did the EB-1A petition contain?

As EB-1A is upheld by a very high standard of law, we had to prove that our client met at least three out of the 10 requirements set in place by the USCIS. These requirements were an impressive citation count, an outstanding publication record, and a good peer review record. When we filed the case, these numbers stood at 115 citations, 10 published papers, and 26 instances of peer review service. Our client’s EB-1A petition also contained information on his doctoral degree as well as six letters of support which he had obtained from other expert theoretical physicists. This is what one of these experts said about the significance of our client’s work: “[Client’s] work is beneficial to the field at large as well and is applicable to research done throughout the world, as the extensive citation of his studies makes clear. As [Client] is an indisputable leader with an international reputation for ground-breaking work, there is a world-wide demand for his research. Due to his role as a luminary and the unmatched quality of his work, his sustained efforts within the United States provide a profound benefit to the country and its scientific endeavors.”

We are pleased that the USCIS agreed that our client’s research addresses some of the United States’ most pressing issues in understanding how best to produce special computing devices, especially in solid-state elements. We congratulate our client for overcoming this significant hurdle in the green card process and we wish him the best as he files I-485 applications for himself and his wife.