approved EB-2 (NIW) RFE Issued

Visiting Research Associate

Neuroscience · Spain · 2021-11-02

Processing Time
361 days
Decision Date
2021-11-02
Location
Indiana
This case is from a publicly available case study. Case studies tend to feature successful outcomes and may not reflect the full range of petition results.

Proposed Endeavor

The petitioner proposes to continue her research in neuroscience, specifically investigating dopamine release, addicted behaviors, and brain circuitry. Her work aims to improve the understanding and treatment of drug dependency, with a particular focus on addressing the opiate epidemic in the United States.

Framework Evaluation

3 of 3 criteria met
1 Substantial Merit and National Importance Met

The research on drug dependency and the opiate epidemic was recognized as having great substantial merit and national importance.

2 Well-positioned to Advance the Endeavor Met

The petitioner's record of 353 citations and 9 publications demonstrated her expertise and influence in the field.

3 Waiver of Job Offer and Labor Certification Met

On balance, the petitioner's contributions to understanding neurological conditions and addiction made it beneficial to waive the labor certification requirement.

Why This Petition Was Approved

The petition was approved based on the petitioner's 8 peer-reviewed journal articles (4 first-authored) and 1 first-authored book chapter, which accumulated 353 citations. The case was supported by several expert recommendation letters and demonstrated significant impact on U.S. public health issues like stroke and substance abuse.

Request for Evidence (RFE)

Successfully Addressed

An RFE was issued during the case processing; however, the blog does not specify the exact targets. The legal team provided a response that successfully addressed USCIS concerns, leading to approval.

Evidence

Evidence Types
Peer Reviewed Publications
Citations
Reference Letters Dependent
Original Contributions
Government Alignment

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Frequently Asked Questions

A approved EB-2 NIW (I-140) petition means USCIS determined the petitioner met the eligibility requirements. For appealed cases, "sustained" means the appeal reversed a prior denial. The petitioner can proceed to the next step in the immigration process.

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Case data sourced from publicly available petition decisions and case studies. Decision date: 2021-11-02.

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At a Glance

Outcome approved
Processing 361 days
RFE Issued
Criteria Met 3 / 3
Evidence Types 5

EB-2 (NIW) Case Data

Scraped Case Data

Total Cases 3,967
Success Rate 55.1%
Sustained 2,184
Dismissed 1,687

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