WeGreened Approval Statistics: Week of September 29, 2025
During the week of September 29 to October 5, 2025, WeGreened received a total of 88 approval notices from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) category again represented 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 88 approvals, 59 were for NIW, 20 for EB1A, 5 for EB1B (Outstanding Professors or Researchers), and 4 for O1A (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement).
The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) processed 16 EB1A and 30 NIW approvals, while the Texas Service Center (TSC) handled 3 EB1A and 28 NIW approvals. Additionally, one EB1A and one NIW case were transferred from NSC to TSC.
EB1A and NIW Credential Analysis
EB1A petitioners demonstrated strong scholarly productivity, with publications ranging from 3 to 44 (median 20) and citations between 177 and 3,208 (median 680). 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 100 (median 11) and citations between 14 and 4,173 (median 171). This distribution highlights USCIS’s flexibility in recognizing both highly cited scholars and professionals whose work carries substantial merit and national importance.
Insights on Petitioner Backgrounds and Fields
EB1A approvals this week included petitioners in artificial intelligence, molecular cardiology, engineering mechanics, healthcare, and optical engineering. Many were affiliated with universities, research institutes, or medical centers in postdoctoral or senior researcher roles.
NIW approvals spanned artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, neuroscience, chemical engineering, and astrophysics. Petitioners frequently included industry engineers and applied scientists whose projects align with U.S. economic, healthcare, and technology priorities.
Highlighted NIW Case: Approval with the Lowest Citation Record
One notable approval this week involved a National Interest Waiver petitioner in Aviation Management. The record included 5 publications and 14 citations, the lowest among NIW approvals this week, and the case was adjudicated at the Nebraska Service Center. The petition was filed without premium processing on January 17, 2024 and approved on September 30, 2025 after 622 days of processing.
Despite modest academic metrics, the petition demonstrated the practical significance of the work for U.S. aviation safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. The contributions included data-driven flight phase identification using ADS-B signals, optimized vertiport planning for emerging eVTOL networks, and computer-vision infrastructure for unmanned aerial systems. These efforts support safer air travel, more reliable transportation services, and reduced emissions.
USCIS recognized that even with limited citations, innovative research that clearly serves national transportation priorities can satisfy the NIW standard when the record shows substantial merit, national importance, and the petitioner’s ability to advance the endeavor.
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 remains 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 raw citation counts when the work clearly advances U.S. priorities in safety, infrastructure, and economic resilience.