Case Summary:

An expert in the field of electrical engineering from China, our NIW (National Interest Waiver) client’s proposed endeavor was to work towards the development of state-of-the-art plasma etching systems for next-generation semiconductor fabrication. He wanted to advance the future of computation and communication infrastructure like IoT and 5G communications. Hence, his research advancing his proposed endeavor is of great importance because it improves the underlying processing and fabrication methods of next-generation semiconductors.

Our team tried their best to showcase his talents and academic achievements along with his professional achievements. We showed that his research on RF switches has strong application in space communication, allowing for stable and reliable signal relaying, which is why due to its clear national importance, his research has in fact been supported with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research.

On the other hand, his work has been supported by 4 letters from experts in his field. Two of them said the following:

“[The client’s] work on RF switches is important because RF is increasingly necessary for its space applications. [The client] has specifically addressed this in his study of RF switch implementation in which he tested the reliability and performance of various kinds of RF switches. In doing so, [the client] created a benchmark for these switches. Therefore, [the client] research endeavors facilitate the improvement of wireless RF systems, an important technology for space communication. [The client] is deserving of every available opportunity to continue his innovative studies within the United States of America.”

“[The client’s] research greatly benefits the US, as he is currently using his expertise to work on developing advanced semiconductors. In order for the US to maintain its leadership position and therein secure semiconductor jobs and technological security, it must continue to be a leader in semiconductor R&D. That is to say, the US must continue to support the research that advances semiconductors, like that of [the client]. [The client’s] work on RF switch development translates well to RF etching, a technology that is key to addressing the current limitations of semiconductor fabrication. [Client’s] expertise must be retained by the US for us to continue being the global leader in this industry.”

We showed that it is imperative for the United States to support work like that of our client that aims to optimize the fabrication processes of advanced semiconductors to improve cost-efficiency and drive innovation. He has also completed at least 11 peer reviews to date for well-known scientific journals in his field. His research has also resulted in 3 peer-reviewed journal articles (3 of them first-authored), 6 conference papers (4 of them first-authored), and 1 US patent, and these publications have been cited a total of 192 times according to Google Scholar, thereby demonstrating that these publications are widely recognized and relied upon in the field of electrical engineering.

On the other hand, his study has been supported by funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the US Navy/Office of Naval Research. He has also pursued research directly related to his proposed endeavor for 6 years indicating that he is immensely experienced and a reliable researcher in his field.

So, when his case approval came through 13 months from filing, we were happy to have been a part of his journey. We wish our client the best in all future endeavors.