Success Story: NIW Success Unlocked! Belgian Sr. Data Scientist Overcomes RFE with Expert Support
Client’s Testimonial:
“Fantastic news, thank you so much. Really appreciate the great final push we did on the application.”
On March 25th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Sr Data Scientist in the Field of Behavioral Economics (Approval Notice).
General Field: Behavioral Economics
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Sr Data Scientist
Country of Origin: Belgium
State of Residence at the time of filing: Massachusetts
Approval Notice Date: March 25th, 2025
Processing Time: 4 months, 12 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
We are pleased to share the success story of an EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval granted to a behavioral economist whose research is helping shape the future of generative AI adoption in the United States. At the time of filing, the client was working as a senior data scientist and had already produced impactful work exploring the behavioral science behind technology use and the implementation of GenAI across various industries.
Research with Substantial Merit and National Importance:
Upon reviewing this client’s case, North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG) identified their proposed endeavor, to analyze behavioral data and expert interviews to encourage the effective adoption of GenAI tools, as one with profound merit and national importance. While GenAI holds vast potential to enhance productivity and innovation, its widespread integration is often hindered by behavioral, organizational, and cultural inertia. The client’s research addresses these challenges by identifying and evaluating interventions that promote acceptance and productive usage of GenAI technologies.
Their work directly supports national efforts to enhance U.S. competitiveness in critical and emerging technology sectors, including human-machine teaming, advanced decision-making systems, and AI-driven labor productivity. These insights are crucial to expanding AI utilization beyond early adopters and into traditionally resistant sectors, ultimately contributing to national economic growth and technological leadership.
Well Positioned to Advance the Proposed Endeavor:
The client holds a Ph.D. in behavioral economics and has conducted influential research in behavior change, risk perception, and motivation. Their academic background and experience have positioned them to lead interdisciplinary work combining behavioral science with advanced AI applications. The client’s publication record includes 3 peer-reviewed journal articles and 1 first-authored preprint, all published in top-tier journals. These publications have been cited 466 times, with three of them ranking among the top-most-cited papers in their respective years and fields, underscoring the major impact of their research.
Beyond authorship, the client’s influence is evident in how their methodologies, such as megastudy frameworks for behavior intervention, have been widely adopted in other disciplines, including healthcare, climate change communication, and marketing. Their insights have guided projects to increase vaccine uptake, shape environmental beliefs, and enhance consumer behavior strategies.
Final Result:
Despite receiving a Request for Evidence, this EB-2 NIW petition was ultimately approved under premium processing just four months after filing. This outcome highlights the compelling strength of the client’s research record and the effectiveness of the legal strategy developed by NAILG. We are proud to have assisted this innovative behavioral economist and look forward to their continued contributions to maximizing the positive impact of AI adoption across the United States.