Case Summary:

“[Client’s] research analyzes safe and sustainable techniques to overcome these threats. He explored natural therapeutic approaches to sustainably manage health for aquaculture production, and his confirmation of two phyto-supplements to prevent oxy-radical damage and confer immunocompetency in fish populations offers a distinct alternative path to avoid antibiotic resistance-promoting practices. As such, his aquaculture research undoubtedly impacts significant facets of global human health, food security, and development.”

“[The client], an aquaculture researcher devoted to innovation in this field. His work with industrial waste byproducts for use in aquafeed production underscores the influence of his research on the development and optimization of cost-effective and sustainable options to meet the aquaculture industry’s growing needs… As such, when one considers the objective economic importance of the aquaculture industry toward the food security and economic development of countries around the world, it is clear that [the client’s] research is necessary and must continue unimpeded.”

These are two excerpts selected from letters of recommendation written by experts in aquaculture. They were written for one of our clients, who was himself an aquaculture expert. He hailed from Nigeria and he wanted to be granted an NIW (National Interest Waiver) visa for the continuation of his work here in the United States. And for this reason, he came to NAILG.

So, as soon as we had his details and had signed the attorney-client forms, we began checking the documents he provided and found the following information for his petition:

• As an expert in the field of aquaculture, his proposed endeavor was to continue his research on studying the effects of alternative feed ingredients on the expression of genes in fish in order to improve aquaculture nutrition and production.
• His research was relevant to avoiding antibiotic resistance complications from the food supply and promoted growth in the aquaculture and agriculture industries. His research was of great significance because it helps to reduce antibiotic resistance in the food fish supply and promotes the growth of the global aquaculture industry.
• The client develops fish feed with insects and plants that naturally produce antibiotic effects. His research helps to support the aquaculture industry by reducing the dangerous use of antibiotics in fish feed, thereby helping to avoid the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance.
• His proposed endeavor also has broad implications for the United States, since his research advances the U.S. soybean and aquaculture industries by improving fish feed with the supplementation of alternative ingredients.
• Due to its clear national importance, his research has in fact been supported with funding from the US Department of Agriculture and he has completed at least 29 reviews to date.
• Due to his expertise and record of success, he is considered a leader in the field of aquaculture, and his research has resulted in 31 peer-reviewed journal articles (10 of them first-authored), 1 first-authored conference paper and 1 co-authored published gene sequence which have been cited a total of 297 times according to Google Scholar, thereby demonstrating that these publications are widely recognized and relied upon in the field of aquaculture.
• He has also pursued research directly related to his proposed endeavor of studying the effects of alternative feed ingredients in aquaculture for 10 years giving him immense experience in the field.
• He has obtained 4 letters of recommendation from other experts who knew his work firsthand.

These points added up to make an impressive petition winning him the NIW approval in just 3 months and 9 days. We are proud of having had the opportunity to work with him and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.