Success Story: Our Team Assisted a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Securing NIW Approval Without an RFE

Case Summary:  

We are pleased to share the success story of an EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval granted to an immunology expert whose research is helping advance liver health and metabolic disease care. When the client approached NAILG, the client was employed as a postdoctoral research fellow in the United States and had already developed a focused research agenda in liver immunology and metabolism. NAILG carefully reviewed the client’s accomplishments and recognized the client as a strong candidate for an NIW petition.

Substantial Merit and National Importance
 The client’s endeavor addresses an urgent public health need. Liver diseases affect a large portion of the U.S. population and are tied to rising rates of metabolic disorders. The client’s work aims to clarify how immune responses and metabolic pathways drive disease progression. These insights are essential for designing better therapies and reducing mortality from chronic and acute liver conditions. NAILG emphasized that the client’s research carries substantial merit because it targets life-threatening diseases, and it has national importance because it supports better clinical outcomes and healthcare resilience in the United States.

Research Influence and Scholarly Output
 The client has authored 9 peer-reviewed journal articles, including 2 first-authored papers. This publication record reflects sustained contributions to immunology with a clear focus on liver immune mechanisms and immunometabolic regulation. The client’s work has received 55 citations, demonstrating that independent researchers are already relying on these findings in related investigations. NAILG highlighted this growing citation impact as evidence that the client’s research is meaningful to the field and is actively shaping ongoing scientific and clinical discussions.

Peer Review and Professional Standing
 A strong indicator of the client’s standing in immunology is consistent service as a peer reviewer. The client has completed at least 70 reviews for respected scientific journals. NAILG explained that invitations to review are reserved for researchers whose expertise is trusted to evaluate and guide the work of others. This level of review activity shows that the client is viewed as a knowledgeable authority in immunology and in liver disease-related research.

Funding and Research Support
 The client’s research has also earned major competitive support from a leading national science funding source. NAILG pointed to this funding history as confirmation that the client’s work is considered high value and aligned with broader scientific and healthcare priorities. Such support further reinforces both the importance of the endeavor and the client’s ability to continue producing impactful results.

Letters of Recommendation
 To strengthen the petition, NAILG submitted two letters of recommendation from experts familiar with the client’s work. These letters confirmed that the client’s research on liver immune function and metabolism contributes original insights, addresses clinically relevant challenges, and is regarded as valuable within the field.

“It is therefore imperative that she be allowed to carry out her research uninterrupted so that the U.S. is able to benefit fully from its value.”

NIW Approval and Outlook
 NAILG structured the NIW petition to demonstrate that the client’s endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, that the client is well-positioned through a strong publication record, growing citation influence, extensive peer-review recognition, and major research support, and that waiving the job-offer requirement benefits the United States. The approval reflects USCIS recognition of the client’s rising impact in immunology and liver disease research. NAILG is proud to support the client’s continued efforts to advance liver immunology and metabolism research, work that is expected to improve patient outcomes and strengthen U.S. leadership in treating complex liver and metabolic diseases.