Success Stories: Comprehensive Petition Led to NIW Approval for Research Scientist in California in the Field of Plant Pathology
On December 4th, 2019, we received another NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Data Scientist in the Field of Plant Pathology (Approval Notice).
General Field: Plant Pathology
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Scientist
Country of Origin: China
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: California
Approval Notice Date: December 4th, 2019
Processing Time: 6 months, 25 days
Case Summary:
With a doctoral degree in plant pathology, a Chinese research scientist was a good fit for EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver). After a careful review of his credentials, we concluded that we could help him secure the national interest waiver, and these are the key points we focused on:
- We reviewed and accounted for our client’s work on the genetic detection and management of plant pathogens. We demonstrated that his work is crucial to the US because it supplies new strategies for the protection of soybeans and an increase in crop yield. As soybeans continue to be utilized worldwide, our client’s research supports the growth of the global soybean industry by preventing soybean sudden death syndrome and blocking other harmful pathogens that affect the crop.
- We listed the 111 times his work was cited at the time of filing. We used this number to prove that our client’s publications are widely recognized and relied upon in the field of plant pathology.
- Our client’s publication record was also noted: 22 peer-reviewed journal articles (5 of them first-authored and 1 co-first authored). As these papers were published in the field’s top journals, they reflected our client’s influence in the field.
- As with all our clients, we helped him select potential recommenders to support his case. Our client obtained 4 letters of recommendation, all from notable experts and influential researchers in the field. This is what one of them noted about our client and his work: “The United States is the second largest producer of soybeans in the world, with a harvest of 116.48 million tons in 2018. Therefore, [client’s] research on soybean diseases in U.S. has a weighty effect on global production and supply of soybeans. His preventative measure of fungicide application have been shown to prevent soybean diseases and improve the crop yield in the U.S.”
- We also listed the 29 times our client judged the work of his peers. As only top-level experts are invited to perform review work, our client’s review activity highlighted his important standing in the field.
Overall, the USCIS spent nearly 7 months adjudicating our client’s NIW petition before getting their approval. With over 16,000 approved I-140 cases in the bag, our firm is pleased to have helped yet another client get closer to a green card. We congratulate our client for overcoming this significant hurdle in the lengthy process, and we thank him for choosing us to be a part of his success story.