Success Story: NIW Victory! We Guided a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Field of Environmental Engineering to Approval

Posted by wegreened on January 30, 2026 in Earth and Environmental Science (Environmental Engineering, Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, Environmental Management, Ecology), NIW

Client’s Testimonial:

“Congratulations to the Chen Immigration Team as well with special thanks to Chow for his unconditional support and guidance.”

On March 11^th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Field of Environmental Engineering (Approval Notice).

General Field: Environmental Engineering

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Postdoctoral Researcher

Country of Origin: Rwanda

Country of Residence at the Time of Filing: China

Approval Notice Date: March 11^th, 2025

Processing Time: 10 months, 11 days

Case Summary:

We are proud to share the success story of a Ph.D. holder in environmental engineering whose I-140 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition was approved after 10 months and 11 days without receiving any RFE issues. This case illustrates how well-documented achievements in a field of national urgency can lead to successful immigration outcomes.

Our client specializes in environmental engineering, with a research focus on sustainable technologies for recovering rare earth elements (REEs) from secondary sources such as electronic waste, industrial wastewater, mine tailings, and sludge. His work addresses multiple global priorities, including sustainable resource recovery, job creation in green industries, and decreased environmental exposure to toxic mining byproducts. He continues to develop scalable, circular-economy solutions that enhance domestic REE supply chains while lowering the cost of production and environmental risks.

His petition, filed under the EB-2 NIW category, showcased:

27 peer-reviewed journal articles,
346 citations according to Google Scholar,
A peer review record of at least 5 completed evaluations for reputable environmental science journals,
Several papers ranked among the top 10–20% most cited in the fields of Environment/Ecology and Chemistry for their publication years.

We also demonstrated that his research has been cited globally in support of advances in biohydrometallurgy, zero-waste recovery systems, and rare earth separation technologies. His work has earned funding from respected research organizations, including the Fujian Institute of Research on Structure Matter and the Institute of Urban Environment, FJIRSM&IUE, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and the Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Program, affirming the technical merit and policy relevance of his research.

We are honored to have supported this dedicated researcher on his immigration journey and look forward to the ongoing impact of his innovations on rare earth element sustainability and environmental engineering solutions.

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North America Immigration Law Group (Chen Immigration Law Associates) is a U.S. immigration law firm dedicated to representing corporations, research institutions, and individuals from all 50 U.S. states regarding I-140 immigration petitions. We specialize in employment-based immigration petition and have a proven record of high success rate for the categories of: EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver), EB1-A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability), EB1-B (Outstanding Researcher/Professor) and O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability).

Our Ten Thousand I-140 Approvals Provide Unprecedented Insight into the USCIS Adjudication Trend

With nearly 64,000 EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 NIW and O-1 cases approved, we have first hand information on the manner in which the USCIS adjudicate I-140 cases. As the USCIS has constantly changed its adjudication standards for the EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-2 NIW categories, our firm's huge database of successful cases gives you unprecedented insight to USCIS adjudication trends. We carefully analyze the data for all of our cases and apply the results of our analyses toward giving our clients up-to-date advice and adapting our strategies such that we remain on par with the ever-shifting landscape of immigration law in the U.S. With us, you will always have access to important updates, strategies, and information so that you can make the most informed decisions about your case.

We Have Helped Tens of Thousands of Clients with Credentials and Backgrounds Similar to Yours

With our exceedingly large number of successful petitions, no matter what credentials you have, no matter your background and field of expertise, no matter your visa status or nationality, chances are we have helped hundreds or even thousands of clients just like you. Our clients are usually impressed with how well we understand their research and work. Our insight and understanding stems from the fact that we have handled many cases with elements similar to yours already, and this helps us devise the best strategies for each individual petition.

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For years, our firm has attracted new clients based solely on word of mouth, recommendations, and the positive collaboration experiences shared with them by their friends and family. We take pride in our reputation and work hard to ensure that we provide a green card application experience that our clients are happy to share with their friends and colleagues. That is how our cumulative total of approved cases grew from 600 in 2013 to nearly 64,000 in 2025.

Track Record of Success EB-1 and NIW Approvals

(2020.01 - 2024.12)

Category	Approval or Refund^®		Approval or Refiling^TM
Category	Approved Sum	Success Rate	Approved Sum	Success Rate
NIW	28,946	99.52%	3,030	98.31%
EB1A	4,322	91.76%	2,870	88.91%
EB1B	793	98.51%	236	90.77%
Total	34,061	98.44%	6,136	93.39%