WeGreened Approval Statistics: Week of September 1, 2025
During the week of September 1 to September 7, 2025, WeGreened received a total of 66 approval notices from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) category continued to represent the majority of approvals, while the EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) category maintained a strong presence among accomplished researchers and professionals.
Approval Distribution by Category and Service Center
Of the 66 approvals, 49 were for NIW, 14 for EB1A, 2 for EB1B (Outstanding Professors or Researchers), and 1 for O1A (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement).
The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) processed 4 EB1A and 28 NIW approvals, while the Texas Service Center (TSC) handled 8 EB1A and 21 NIW approvals. Additionally, one EB1A case was transferred from NSC to TSC, and one EB1A case was transferred from TSC to NSC.
EB1A and NIW Credential Analysis
EB1A petitioners demonstrated strong scholarly productivity, with publications ranging from 10 to 50 (median 29.5) and citations between 217 and 2,836 (median 777). These figures reflect significant academic achievement and sustained international impact.
NIW petitioners showed a broader range of academic profiles, with publication counts from 2 to 51 (median 10) and citations between 4 and 1,502 (median 162). This diversity highlights USCIS’s continued openness to applicants whose work carries demonstrated practical merit and national importance, even without very high citation metrics.
Insights on Petitioner Backgrounds and Fields
EB1A approvals this week included petitioners in biomedical research, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, human-centered design, and chemical physics. Many were affiliated with universities, research institutes, or medical centers in postdoctoral or senior research roles.
NIW approvals spanned mechanical engineering, cancer biology, computer science, data science, and artificial intelligence. Petitioners frequently included industry engineers and applied scientists whose projects align with U.S. economic, healthcare, and technological priorities.
Highlighted NIW Case: Approval with the Lowest Citation Record
One notable approval this week involved a National Interest Waiver petitioner working in the field of Computer Science. The petitioner had 2 publications and 4 citations, the lowest among all NIW cases this week, and the case was adjudicated at the Nebraska Service Center.
Despite these limited academic metrics, the petition highlighted the practical significance of the petitioner’s work in advancing machine learning–based diagnostic systems. His contributions support earlier and more accurate detection of serious diseases, with direct benefits for public health, healthcare sustainability, and economic resilience.
USCIS recognized that even in the early stages of a career, innovative research with clear national importance can meet the NIW standard, regardless of citation count.
Adjudication Trends and Policy Observations
EB1A: USCIS continues to focus on sustained acclaim, original contributions of significance, and leadership within the field. Well-organized evidence that ties achievements to field-wide impact is critical.
NIW: Adjudicators remain flexible and approve petitions from both academic and industry backgrounds when the records demonstrate substantial merit and national importance.
This week’s highlighted case reinforces that impact and relevance matter more than numbers. Applicants with modest citation records can still succeed if their work clearly advances U.S. national interests in healthcare, technology, or infrastructure.