Success Story: From Application to Approval: Nigerian Postgraduate Researcher/PhD student Secures NIW with Our Support

Case Summary:

At North America Immigration Law Group, we are proud to share another successful I-140 National Interest Waiver (NIW) case. We recently secured approval for a dedicated researcher from Nigeria, whose work in biopharmacognosy focuses on isolating and characterizing bioactive compounds in medicinal plants to develop new therapeutic agents. Her petition was approved after 12 months and 5 days without receiving any RFE issues.

Our client’s proposed endeavor involves the investigation of plant-derived compounds as treatments for major public health concerns, including cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. With the growing global reliance on plant-based medicines and increasing concern over the limitations of synthetic drugs, her research directly contributes to U.S. goals in public health, sustainability, and biodiversity-informed drug discovery. She is currently conducting research at a U.S. institution and plans to continue publishing and contributing to the field of pharmacognosy.

To support her petition, we emphasized:

Publications and Citations: She has authored 6 peer-reviewed journal articles, three of which are first-authored, and has accrued 50 citations, including 1 paper ranked in the top 1% most cited in Pharmacology & Toxicology for its publication year.

Peer Review Contributions: She has completed numerous peer reviews for reputable journals, further solidifying her role as a respected expert in her field.

Significance and Impact: Her work has informed global studies on oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory therapies, and gastrointestinal health, with citations across continents. Her research is aligned with U.S. critical and emerging technology areas such as biomanufacturing and bioprocessing.

We also submitted 4 compelling letters of recommendation from distinguished researchers and independent experts across the U.S. and internationally, attesting to her original contributions and wide influence in therapeutic development. One recommender noted:

“As her work improves the characterization and extraction of compounds that have antiinflammatory and antinociceptive qualities, it represents a huge advance in the area of pharmacognosy. As such, it is accurate to say that she is operating at the top of the area, making her worthy of continued support in her projects.”

We are thrilled to have supported this impactful scientist and celebrate her NIW approval. Her contributions are helping shape the future of plant-based therapeutics and public health innovation in the U.S.