Success Story: NIW Victory Despite RFE! Our Firm Helped an Iranian PhD Candidate & Research Assistant Secure Success

“I truly appreciate all the work you’ve done to successfully approve my case.”

Case Summary:      

North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG) is pleased to announce the approval of an I-140 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition for an environmental engineering expert focused on climate-driven water resource management. The petition was approved in June 2025 following a Request for Evidence (RFE). Our client’s extensive work addressing the effects of climate change on critical water systems made her a strong candidate under the EB-2 NIW category.

Advancing Climate Resilience through Water Resource Research

Our client’s proposed endeavor centers on elucidating the effects of climate change on environmental phenomena to improve preparedness for groundwater and surface water issues, as well as extreme events such as droughts and floods. Her research provides advanced hydrologic models that help communities and governments adapt to shifting water availability and quality. By improving forecasting methods and modeling climate impacts, she contributes directly to more sustainable water management and infrastructure planning.

We demonstrated that her work holds both substantial merit and national importance, as it supports vital sectors including public health, disaster mitigation, and agriculture, all deeply affected by climate variability. In a time of growing environmental uncertainty, her contributions help equip decision-makers with critical tools for climate resilience.

Proven Record of Scholarly Influence

To support the petition, our legal team outlined a clear and compelling case for our client’s qualifications. She has authored:

• 5 peer-reviewed journal articles
• 1 peer-reviewed conference article
• 1 accepted conference article

These works have been cited 73 times, according to Google Scholar. Her publications have gained recognition for addressing real-world issues such as regional drought management, groundwater flow simulations, and sustainable irrigation planning. Her scholarship continues to shape the academic and policy landscapes related to climate adaptation and water resource planning.

Reason for RFE: Misclassification of Petition

The RFE was issued because USCIS mistakenly evaluated her EB-2 NIW petition under the EB-1A “extraordinary ability” criteria, claiming she lacked proof of “original contributions of major significance.” This misclassification caused them to overlook the proper Matter of Dhanasar standard and disregard evidence showing her work’s substantial merit, national importance, and her strong ability to advance it.

Approval Reflects National Need for Expertise

Thanks to the detailed and strategic preparation by NAILG, this NIW petition was approved 14 months after filing, despite a Request for Evidence. The approval affirms the value of our client’s ongoing contributions to environmental engineering and climate resilience. Her expertise will continue to benefit U.S. interests in infrastructure planning, sustainability, and disaster mitigation.

We are honored to have supported this client’s successful petition and look forward to the continued impact of her work on water resource sustainability and climate preparedness.