Case Summary:

We helped an Egyptian maritime spatial ecologist file his NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition in September 2020. He came to us seeking help with his case preparation and filing in which our firm specializes. With over 25,000 case approvals under our belt, our team has grown into a formidable force within the industry. We ensure that the process is made easy for the clients through constant guidance by our experts and once the formality of signing the retainer is done, we begin collecting important information about them from their documents. So was the case with our Egyptian client. We collected the following data for his petition letter:

• As an expert in the field of marine biology, his proposed endeavor was to conduct an ecological and biogeographical assessment of marine organisms and habitats via seafloor and habitat mapping in order to provide better ecosystem management and protection.
• His research has substantial merit and is also of national importance, since among other applications, his research is relevant to safely and effectively deploy renewable energy generating systems in marine environments, supporting conservation efforts in a way that maintains and enhances natural fisheries, and striking a healthy, responsible balance between conservation efforts and economic interests.
• His research is also very important because it has tremendous bearing on the field’s ability to accurately monitor marine ecosystems and the organisms and structures on which humans have come to rely.
• He has also done crucial research and developed advanced tools that are essential for expanding wind generation power offshore, thereby dramatically increasing overall wind power generation potential in the United States. His proposed research is therefore also nationally important.
• This is why his work has also been recommended by 5 experts in his field of study via letters of appreciation. The following passages show their appreciation of his research work:

“[The client’s] research is a leading part of the innovations in wind technology, as he has studied and confirmed the most appropriate locations for new wind farms to be built in the New York Wind Energy Area. This research is an important aspect of developing successful offshore wind farms to produce energy for the U.S. public, as it promotes ecologically-friendly wind farm projects that do not damage the ocean floor while providing necessary clean energy to millions of Americans.”

“[The client’s] research has further applications beyond the scientific community. To frame the importance of his research to the United States, the coral reef ecosystems of the U.S. Virgin Islands are one of the most locally valuable ecosystems to the nation. Human activities and climate change have substantially damaged the U.S. Virgin Islands’ coral reef system, which leads to difficult decisions for its management. To improve the decision-making process and mitigate the damage done to this ecosystem, [the client] has produced an essential decision-making framework that allows managers to make informed decisions in preserving the U.S. Virgin Islands coral reef system.”

Along with these recommendations, his work has also benefited academia at large because he has already published 4 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, 6 technical reports, and 1 first-authored book chapter, and these works have been cited at least 59 times by his peers showing that he is widely recognized and relied upon in his field. At the same time, he has also completed at least 10 peer reviews to date in his 18 long years of service to the scientific community.

Hence, when his NIW approval came through we were proud of having helped him in this journey. We are glad to know that his labor certification requirement was waived and that he can continue to benefit the country through his work in the future. Our firm wishes him the best in his future endeavors.