Success Stories: After RFE Challenge, NIW Approved for Innovator in Therapeutic Wearable Devices
Client’s Testimonial:
“The nature of my field is highly interdisciplinary, which makes it challenging to fit neatly within traditional academic boundaries. My attorney has helped shape a statement that captures the core values of my research, which spans multiple fields. To all of my many edits and review requests, my attorney has responded promptly and thoughtfully.”
On October 15th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Postdoctoral Associate in the field of Human Computer Interaction (Approval Notice).
General Field: Human-Computer Interaction
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Postdoctoral Associate
Country of Origin: South Korea
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New York
Approval Notice Date: October 15th, 2025
Processing Time: 7 months, 18 days (Premium Processing Requested)
Case Summary:
“Her work strengthens the United States’ leadership in wearable technology innovation and drives progress in healthcare accessibility and equity, particularly in addressing the diverse needs of different user groups.”
This expert assessment captures the impact of our client’s research and the reason her EB-2 NIW petition was approved. Her work stands at the intersection of human-computer interaction, materials science, and wearable computing, and it is directly shaping how therapy can be delivered to patients outside of traditional clinical settings.
Her proposed endeavor aims to expand the development of compliant wearable devices that combine soft actuators and sensing systems capable of delivering mechanotherapy remotely. By enabling continuous, home-based care for individuals with chronic illness, her research helps bridge the long-standing divide between medical need and access to treatment, especially for mobility-limited or underserved patients.
Her publication record includes a first-authored peer-reviewed journal article, four first-authored peer-reviewed conference papers, one conference abstract, and a patent application, with her work cited 36 times to date. This record illustrates her growing influence in wearable technology and human-centered computing, particularly in creating systems that combine engineering precision with clinical usability.
In addition to her research output, she has completed 49 peer reviews and served as a session chair at a conference, demonstrating her recognition as a trusted evaluator and contributor to the broader scientific community.
Although USCIS initially issued a Request for Evidence, NAILG prepared a strategic and comprehensive RFE response outlining how her device innovation directly advances rehabilitation accessibility and helps position the United States as a leader in next-generation medical wearables. The response emphasized her unique ability to integrate technical engineering methods with human-centered design principles, an expertise critical to translating advanced AI/ML-based sensing into usable healthcare tools.
The NIW approval confirms that her ongoing research is expected to yield meaningful benefits for U.S. healthcare delivery, particularly for patients requiring long-term therapeutic care outside traditional clinical settings. NAILG is proud to have represented this petition and to have secured NIW approval after RFE for a researcher whose work stands to improve both technological innovation and health equity in the United States.