Success Story: NIW Approved For a Staff Engineer Without Receiving Any RFE Issues
Client’s Testimonial:
“Firstly, I want to thank the entire Chen team, who worked on my case from evaluation to filing my case for five months. As is known for successfully handling numerous cases, your team handled the entire process precisely, even for me with limited knowledge about the petition. In particular, Lawyer Lopez provided professional and insightful responses to my inquiries, and the petition letter effectively highlighted my expertise clearly and understandably.
I deeply appreciate your dedicated efforts and expertise.”
On October 15th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Staff Engineer in the Field of Artificial Intelligence (Approval Notice).
General Field: Artificial Intelligence
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Staff Engineer
Country of Origin: Republic of Korea
Country of Residence at the Time of Filing: Republic of Korea
Approval Notice Date: October 15th, 2025
Processing Time: 20 months, 29 days (Premium Processing Upgrade Requested)
Case Summary:
We are proud to share the approval of an I-140 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition for our client, an expert in artificial intelligence (AI) with a Ph.D. in industrial engineering. The petition was approved through an upgrade to premium processing, underscoring both the strength of the case and the significance of the client’s research to the national interest of the United States.
Client’s Expertise and Research Focus
The client specializes in developing state-of-the-art AI technologies aimed at enhancing product quality and building advanced control systems in the semiconductor manufacturing sector. This research is integral to maintaining the competitiveness and stability of industries that rely heavily on semiconductor innovation. By creating advanced automated product fault detection systems and optimizing manufacturing efficiency through intelligent control algorithms, the client’s work contributes directly to technological innovation, industrial productivity, and national economic security.
Evidence of Accomplishments
The NIW petition highlighted the client’s strong academic and research record, which includes:
- 5 peer-reviewed journal articles, including 1 first-authored publication;
- 126 citations according to Google Scholar, demonstrating the influence and recognition of the client’s work within the global AI research community;
- Evidence of major funding support from the National Research Foundation, validating the impact and importance of the client’s studies.
These accomplishments illustrate that the client’s contributions to semiconductor manufacturing and AI-driven process optimization are both highly original and widely utilized in the field.
Recognition and Support
To further strengthen the petition, four letters of recommendation were provided by leading experts in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering. These letters affirmed the client’s substantial influence in advancing intelligent manufacturing and AI-based quality control methods.
“Her work represents a cornerstone in advancing smart manufacturing, enabling data-driven decision-making and proactive fault detection methodologies. [Client’s] contributions are indispensable in shaping the manufacturing industry and keeping the United States at the forefront of technological innovation.”
A Successful Outcome
USCIS recognized that the client’s work represents a clear example of research with substantial merit and national importance, fulfilling the NIW eligibility criteria under Matter of Dhanasar. This approval allows the client to continue advancing innovations that strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industry and promote leadership in AI-based manufacturing solutions.
At NAILG, we are proud to have supported this outstanding researcher in securing a favorable NIW outcome. The client’s success exemplifies both exceptional expertise and the firm’s commitment to presenting comprehensive, persuasive cases that highlight the national and global significance of our clients’ work.