Case Summaries for EB1A, EB1B, EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) Green Card Approvals — Ellis Porter | Immigration of highly skilled workers (2023)

NIW Endorsement for Molecular Biologist - No RFE (October 2022 Edition)

The highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter is extremely strategic in determining exactly what each client needs to present an excellent case for a National Interest Waiver (NIW). Our approach is based on presenting only the most relevant and compelling evidence with each petition, while ensuring that our clients' unique achievements and abilities are effectively showcased. We never ask a client for more or less than what is truly necessary to prove their eligibility for a particular immigrant classification. Because some clients come to us with objectively excellent credentials for the EB-2 NIW subcategory, we offer an "expedited" service targeting individuals whose cases are strong enough that letters of recommendation are not really warranted. The petitioner whose approval we highlight here engaged us for this "expeditious" service. We are pleased to report that their petition without a letter of recommendation was approved by USCIS and was approved in less than a year without any intervening Request for Evidence (RFE). Because we didn't have to spend time looking for letters of support from judges, we were able to prepare this client's case in just a few weeks. The resulting approval speaks to the effectiveness of our modest, "fast track" service for which many NIW aspirants are fully qualified.

This client, a PhD molecular biologist, sought to submit an NIW based on their plan to develop targeted cancer therapies and combination therapies effective against complex diseases such as cancer. At the time of submission, they have published approximately a dozen scientific papers - several of them presented in particularly high-ranking scientific journals - and have accumulated dozens of citations in the scientific literature. Namely, this person also worked on projects funded by government agencies in the United States and abroad. Because the client was not listed as the principal investigator on the US federal grants, we helped them obtain clear, concise letters of testimony from the principal investigators that confirmed the client's key role in these government-supported investigations. Therefore, we were able to determine that because this client had conducted well-received research with high financial support from authoritative sponsors in the field, it was well positioned to advance its nationally important research. We are delighted to receive another endorsement for a deserving client, who summarized his positive experience with Ellis Porter as follows:

“It was a pleasure working with my attorney at Ellis Porter, Andy Ingebritson, on my NIW I-140 petition. Andy and his team (Emily and Jillian) were very helpful in preparing my petition, which was recently approved! Choosing Ellis Porter for my I-140 application was the right choice for me. I will continue to work with their team on my customization of the status petition. I highly recommend the I-140 application process team."

-R.I.

NIW Approval for EV Engineer without RFE- (September 2022 Edition)

This success story follows an electrical engineer whose research focuses on the optimization of renewable energy technologies, particularly in relation to electric vehicles. The client worked closely with our team to build a detailed narrative of how its research benefits the United States and how its research sets it apart from other experts in the same field. Highlighting how others have implemented and invested in his work, as well as the recognition his work has received from prestigious publishing houses and government agencies, we put together a petition tailored to build on the strongest points of the client's case.

Our team knows that the case preparation process can be stressful for our clients, which is why quick response is our top priority. By working closely with this client, we were able to provide insight into which aspects of the client's career were most worth highlighting and which USCIS might consider less important. We were also happy to incorporate the client's feedback into our draft documents, as he is the field expert who best understands the specific impact of his work. This collaboration helped us build the strongest possible case that showcased the client's unique skills and clearly laid out what it has to offer the United States. Following this strategy, we were delighted to secure NIW approval for our EV engineer.

“It was a great pleasure to work with Sean Stork of Ellis Porter's High-Skilled Immigration team on my National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition. Sean and his paralegal, Emily, were a wonderful team to handle my case. I can think of many ways in which Ellis Porter's service met and exceeded my expectations. For one thing, my team was incredibly attentive, and when I was busy or confused, they proactively reached out to me to see what I needed help with. They also gave me clear actions to handle when they needed me to provide certain evidence or validate forms. On the other hand, they prepared an excellent legal brief to accompany the NIW submission. It read like a document written by an expert in my field. Finally, my petition was approved in just over five months, and USCIS did not require any additional documentation to make a favorable decision. This is indeed the best outcome I could have hoped for; I owe it to Sean and Ellis Porter for making this happen!"

-A. I. E., mr

Computer Scientist Gets I-140 NIW Approval Without RFE- (September 2022 Issue)

This month we feature a computer scientist who received I-140 NIW approval. This client used NIW Ellis Porter's traditional service, which includes drafting letters of recommendation prior to legal filing. Our highly skilled immigration team has significant experience in preparing strong letters of recommendation and legal briefs that present our clients' cases as strongly as possible. Letters of recommendation for this client included detailed descriptions of their education and experience, prominent research projects, accomplishments, and the overall merit and importance of their work. As noted in the statement below, we have translated the scientific information in the client's documents into a detailed summary of the client's work that has been approved by both the client and its expert recommenders.

The testimonial below also states that the client appreciates our guidance in gathering their evidence. Because of our significant experience in filing NIW petitions, our team has a significant understanding of the types of evidence that USCIS considers valuable as well as those that should be avoided. Once this client's letters and supporting documents were finalized, we produced a comprehensive and precise legal brief that fully addressed every part of the NIW. This involved gathering documentary sources that confirm the wider value of the client's work and outline the client's expertise and the impact of their work in the field. Overall, we were able to clearly demonstrate that this computer scientist meets NIW's requirements and their petition was approved.

Ultimately, this client was pleased with the speed with which we were able to prepare their letters of recommendation and subsequent legal brief. This is another success story showing that our highly skilled immigration team excels at preparing strong NIW petitions as quickly as possible, while ensuring they are factual, detailed and of high quality.

“David was my attorney for the I-140 petition and I couldn't ask for a better one. The whole process from preparing the petition to writing the letter of recommendation and even getting the case approved was so quick and seamless. When I received the first draft of my petition, I was amazed at how informed it was. Apart from some tipfellers and some jargon mistakes, I couldn't find any other flaws. The whole petition was like a novel, coherent, concise and accurately supported by great articles from some credible sources proving that my projects have national interests. The entire petition and all the necessary evidence were prepared in great order. Moreover, he wrote the best letters of recommendation I could think of. After receiving a list of candidates for referral, he researched them thoroughly and highlighted the part of their resumes that I could benefit from the most. It is worth noting that all my recommenders signed their drafts without changing a single word. He also had good taste and insights into what should be highlighted and what should not be highlighted. He has such a good personality; he cares a lot about his clients and tries to answer their concerns and questions as soon as possible. I was adamant about its capabilities from day zero when I was first introduced. I am grateful for his guidance and direction throughout the process and wish him all the best in his career.”

-M.G.

I-140 authorization for entrepreneur - (September 2022 edition)

Some companies take a cookie-cutter approach to their I-140 clients, using template letters and only retaining clients who adhere to a one-size-fits-all strategy. But at Ellis Porter, we are committed to working closely with each client to identify the unique aspects of each case that increase their chances of approval. Whether they are scientific researchers, entrepreneurs or pilots, we pride ourselves on building close relationships with our clients, not only to build the strongest case possible, but also to support them through what can often be a lengthy and frustrating process. This type of support may be especially necessary when we are forced to respond to an arbitrary or unfair RFE.

It was this commitment to our client's individual needs that led to the approval of the I-140 for this client - the founder and CEO of a company that provides inspection, audit, consulting and training services to companies in various industry sectors. We submitted a detailed business plan with his original petition, along with several letters from experts and other documents that demonstrate his remarkable track record in sustaining or reversing the fortunes of many large businesses. Unfortunately, USCIS has issued an RFE for this case. RFEs can be disheartening, causing many petitioners to question whether their cases are really strong enough for approval. But we assured this client that, as is often the case, this RFE was based on a flawed analysis of the original petition and USCIS's own adjudication standards. We sent a response to RFE detailing the evidence that was misinterpreted or overlooked, along with some additional letters and other documents to further strengthen our case. The petition was ultimately approved, emphasizing that while each case is different, our commitment to the individual needs of each of our clients is a constant.

"Without a doubt, Jonathan D. Goslow is one of the best immigration attorneys in terms of knowledge, responsiveness, reliability and availability. Johnathan and his team were extremely professional, humble and friendly, and he was always available for my many questions.

I had an amazing experience working with him and his team which finally led to a positive result and my green card.

I really appreciate his hard work and therefore it gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to recommend him for a similar job. I wish him and the great team only the best.

Many thanks to Johnathan and their entire team”

-B.T.

NIW approved without RFE- (August 2022 issue)

The highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter are delighted to announce that we have secured another NIW clearance for another of our excellent clients. This client had an exceptional educational background, with two master's degrees in physics; at the time we filed his petition, he was pursuing a PhD in materials science and engineering. In this petition, we noted that the work of this client - which deals with important technologies such as semiconductors and electric vehicles - was particularly valuable to the interests of the United States, especially the national economy and environmental sustainability goals. We were also able to demonstrate how this client's impressive academic and professional background, including not only his degrees, but also a distinguished publication and citation record, made him uniquely poised to advance in his field.

"I am really happy to work with Ellis Porter. At first John Goslow reviewed my credentials and responded positively with all possible ways to build a strong NIW file. He then transferred my case to Stanley Cheng & Zachary Landau as they are also very experienced in this area. Yes, I had a great experience with them in filing my NIW. They were just amazing with their work and quick response. Stanley did an outstanding draft for my case and was very responsive to improve it. We had very fruitful discussions avoid the RFE in any way I sometimes argued with Stanley about adding some points but Stanley refused to add it in the draft and said we could get an RFE that clearly reflects Stanley's commitment to the client, the potential in the business and the ability to understand how we can avoid the RFE .Finally my I-140 approved without RFE and I feel grateful to have kept them.I highly recommend Ellis Porter if anyone wants to file NIW.I wish you all the best Stanley, Zachary and Ellis Porter! We had a wonderful trip. Best, MHUM"

-M.H.U.M

Approved NIW for Biomedical Engineer - (August 2022 edition)

This client had a strong case, with nearly 40 citations at the time of filing, and his petition was approved in less than four months. This client's educational experience took place at some of the leading institutions in the United States and provided him with a solid foundation for his career in the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, his research skills are impressive: his work has been published in several leading journals and is cited more than the work of his colleagues. His work has been funded by well-respected sources and has been cited by leading researchers in his field. During his career, his publications were well received in the academic community, and we were able to successfully demonstrate that his achievements were truly impressive.

“My NIW I-140 was approved just 3.5 months after applying. I would highly recommend Ellis Porter to anyone thinking of starting the green card process, which would otherwise be difficult to access. Attorney Jonathan (John) Goslow and his paralegal Emma did an outstanding job preparing and filing my claim very quickly and smoothly. I have to say that I am someone who is hard to impress, but their help and support throughout the process was truly amazing! They were very responsive whenever I had any questions or concerns. I felt they really understood my credentials and why my background and works were of national importance to qualify for NIW. I am now keeping them for my I-485 process. I have no doubt that they would take care of your case very well! If I have a friend or even a family member who wants to start their NIW case, I am 100% sure to connect them with John's team.”

-H.J.K.

NIW Environmental Engineer Approval - (August 2022 Edition)

Our highly qualified immigration team had the pleasure of submitting an NIW application for an applicant with a unique, multi-disciplinary engineering background. This person contacted us with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in environmental engineering, as well as an ongoing PhD in biological engineering. In order to gain an understanding of their experience and intentions for the future – and thus ensure that we can provide a strong story about their career trajectory for a USCIS officer – we instructed this client to prepare a summary of their career and plans. We learned that this client was interested in applying his extensive engineering knowledge and insight to design solutions to several problems facing the United States. They explained their experiences in addressing the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (i.e. removing veterinary antibiotics that have entered the environment through agriculture and farming), the need for alternative energy sources (i.e. generation, capture and storage of biogas), the need for alternative fertilizers and efficient fertilizer management (i.e., repurposing agricultural waste for fertilization, reducing reliance on expensive, synthetic fertilizers), and even the need for improved drug delivery systems (i.e., using nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic agents directly to their disease targets, minimizing damage to healthy bodily tissues). Understanding all this, we helped the client translate his far-reaching plan into a concise undertaking and a plan that we could clearly articulate in his brief.

Often the challenge in preparing a successful NIW petition is to connect the client's future intentions with what they have done in the past, demonstrating consistent progress and ability in one particular area. For this individual, "engineering" was the backbone of their training and experience - and we determined that environmental engineering was the field that best summed up their overall work.

After targeting the exact venture that would serve as the foundation of their NIW application, we conducted research to determine how the client's focus area has significant benefits (eg, applicability to improving global public health) and national importance (eg, applicability to improving the environment and public health by ridding the environment of pollutants and contaminants, such as leaked antibiotics that cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria). We also made sure to demonstrate that the client had the skills, knowledge, accomplishments, plan, and support necessary to proceed with this work in a manner that would benefit the United States. This individual possessed a combination of academic and industry experience that we leveraged to determine their competence and readiness for environmental engineering research that USCIS would consider intrinsically and nationally important. Ultimately, USCIS determined that this individual was well-positioned to perform their job, concluding that it would be appropriate to waive the workforce certification process and job offer requirements so that they could continue their work without interruption. We are as pleased with this favorable outcome as we are with the client's positive review of how we handled their case:

“For my NIW-EB2 I worked with Michael Linn and David Allen and I am very happy with the service. Due to the lengthy nature of the I-140 process and all the stress we all have about our future, I believe the most important skill is the attorney and how you can communicate with them in a timely manner. In my case, I really enjoyed how responsive, accurate and to the point my attorneys were. Every time I had any questions or concerns, they would address them thoroughly within hours. In addition, the petition for my field of environmental/biological engineering was very strong, thorough, and sufficient and did not require revision. Letters of recommendation are written correctly. A brilliant point I remember was how they researched my area and added even more evidence to fuel the petition. To give you an idea of ​​how fast, accurate and cooperative my lawyers were, the entire process of my NIW submission took less than 4 months. All in all, I recommend them to everyone, good luck with your case!”

-A.H.T.

NIW Approved Chemical Engineer - (July 2022 Edition)

As many of our clients know, one of the most stressful aspects of the NIW case preparation process is selecting a legal team capable of communicating the importance of your case to USCIS. Because clerks typically do not have technical experience in the petitioner's field, it is critical to select a legal team that is willing to communicate key aspects of your case to the clerk. In this grant, our client is a chemical engineer who wants to continue his work building predictive models for various industries. Recognizing Ellis Porter's outstanding reputation for expert reference letter drafting, our client was impressed with the speed and quality of the letters we prepared for his NIW petition. By clearly illustrating in the draft letters how his predictive modeling framework is of great importance to US interests, we were able to build a cohesive and carefully crafted petition, using his signed letters to further emphasize the salient points of his career to the deciding official. Using well-drafted letters in tandem with other evidence of exceptional quality that our client was able to provide, we are pleased to say that our client's petition has been granted.

"I worked with John Goslow between December 2020 and July 2022 for my EB-2 NIW employment-based immigration. Goslow and his staff are first and foremost extremely responsive and helpful with any questions I have throughout the process, including the inquiries, document preparation and throughout the processing of my application.Being the second law firm I have worked with on immigration, Goslow is extremely knowledgeable in my area of ​​work compared to the last firm I worked with and is able to provide expert feedback on the selection of my recommenders and the content of their recommendations. I would go so far as to say that Goslow knows my career better than any individual recommender I have chosen, thanks to putting together the whole package. great national interest to the United States I highly recommend working with Goslow and his associates at Ellis Porter (I also worked with Ellis Porter for my i-485 application); they are competitively priced, provide excellent and prompt service, and gave me the comfort I needed to get through this process."

-L.L.

Applied Mechanics Researcher has two petitions approved without an RFE (July 2022 issue)

Some clients choose to file EB-2 NIW and EB-1A petitions with us, which we can advise based on the individual's personal information and circumstances. As an excellent candidate for both EB-1A and our accelerated NIW service, this applied mechanics researcher worked with our team to develop a comprehensive story about his career accomplishments and how they demonstrate his ability to continue to conduct impactful research in the US for years to come. come. Our team guided this researcher every step of the way as he gathered evidence to demonstrate the unique benefit of his work to both the United States and his field at large.

After his NIW petition was filed with USCIS, our team quickly shifted gears and began working on his EB-1A petition. Because we had already collected extensive evidence of his publication and citation records, educational credentials, peer review experience, research funding, and more, this second case preparation process was done efficiently with little additional work on the client's side. We created supplemental letters of recommendation to accompany his EB-1A application, which helped strengthen his case by showcasing his significant talents and exceptional research contributions. Within a year of his NIW approval, this client was able to secure his EB-1A and clear the biggest hurdle to becoming a legal permanent resident. We are thrilled that we were able to help him get not one, but two USCIS approvals and make it easier for him to continue his career in the US!

“I had the pleasure of working with attorney Andy Ingebritson and his associate Emily Kirk at Ellis Porter to file my EB2-NIW and EB-1A applications. During the initial consultation for my NIW petition, Andy and his team correctly advised me to choose the expedited option based on the strength of my overall credentials and citation record. When we started working together on the preparation of the NIW case, Andy's instructions regarding the supporting documentation were easy to follow and his response to my questions was prompt. My NIW petition was approved without the need for additional evidence and I decided to retain Andy's services for my EB1-A petition. I was extremely impressed with Andy's intelligence and professionalism throughout the process of preparing and submitting my EB-1A petition. In particular, the letters of recommendation prepared by Andy and his team highlighted the merits of the work, which I believe was instrumental in building a strong case, and my EB-1A petition was recently approved without the need for additional evidence. I highly recommend working with Andy and his team at Ellis Porter.”

-D.S.

EB1A Approval for Applied Physics Researcher After RFE and Denial - (June 2022 Issue)

We are pleased to share this success story highlighting an applied physics researcher who worked with Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration team on an EB1A petition that was approved even after USCIS issued both an RFE and denial. Prior to filing an EB1A petition with Ellis Porter, this client had already had two unsuccessful I-140 petitions, and we were thrilled to help this client finally get the approval he was waiting for.

We tried to emphasize the impact of the work of this applied physics researcher both quantitatively and qualitatively. To achieve this, we showcased the impressive nature of their publications and citations and used citation statistics to further contextualize the importance of their efforts. We also summarized their ground-breaking research projects and findings and highlighted their respected reputation and recognition by providing documentation of their professional services to journals and conferences, receiving invitations to present or share their expertise, and funding that supported their work. This evidence was paired with letters from an expert in applied physics that substantiated the client's outstanding ability and past success in the field.

As the client acknowledges below, USCIS issued an RFE for this petition and subsequent denial, and we have continued to work with the client to challenge USCIS's decision. After repeatedly rejecting USCIS's arguments, we recommended that the client further challenge the denial in federal court. In the end, the client got approval. This success story is just one example of our commitment to our clients, as well as our ability and experience in responding to USCIS RFEs and denials.

“I worked with Andy for my I-140 application based on EB1A. We received an RFE and despite a strong response prepared by Andy, USCIS unfairly denied my application. Andy was relentless in holding USCIS accountable for the arbitrary and capricious denial and convinced me to challenge the decision in federal court under the APA. USCIS settled by approving my I-140. You need a lawyer like Andy who never gives up and fights for his client with all legal options. I highly recommend it to highly skilled migrants to consider!”

-R.G.

NIW Approved PhD Candidate in Civil Engineering - (June 2022 Edition)

With our decades of combined experience in I-140 petition preparation, the attorneys at Ellis Porter know what works and what doesn't. We closely monitor USCIS ruling trends, tracking which specific forms of evidence typically lead to approval as opposed to those that might trigger an RFE or denial. Less experienced immigration attorneys may take an overly broad approach, leading to an unnecessarily lengthy case preparation process without significantly increasing the chances of approval. Ellis Porter's highly targeted strategy, on the other hand, allows our clients to file the strongest cases as quickly as possible – which is especially important for our NIW clients who want to establish priority dates.

This client, Ph.D. candidate in civil engineering with a specialty in research into environmentally sustainable pavement materials, is one of many who have clearly benefited from this strategy. At the time of submission, he had more than 150 citations, a publication in one of the top-ranked journals in his field, and a strong peer review record for several other major journals. We were confident that by focusing primarily on these, his most relevant credentials, we could quickly and efficiently prepare an extremely strong case for him. By forgoing extraneous evidence requirements, we were able to focus on crafting a highly precise, yet thorough, data-driven legal strategy tailored to avoid the pitfalls that often lead to RFEs. The advantages of this approach quickly became apparent; we were able to prepare and submit an application in just a few weeks, and it was approved in just five months – demonstrating that our unmatched efficiency never compromises the quality of our renowned services.

“I am extremely happy that my NIW-I140 was approved within five months! I absolutely recommend the group of Ellis Porter and David Allen as my solicitor, who helped me put forward a strong case for my NIW very quickly and professionally. Something really surprised me when I worked with David. I have heard from friends that some other legal groups ask their clients for additional and mostly unnecessary documents, which causes a significant delay in the filing of their cases. However, David never asked me for additional evidence; therefore, I could file my case in three weeks. Finally, it was a great experience working with David.”

-F.H.K.

NIW Approved for Electronics Engineer - (June 2022 Edition)

Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration team is proud to announce another successful NIW petition for another extremely successful client. This client holds degrees in electronic engineering from respected universities around the world and, at the time of application, was pursuing a Ph.D. In the United States of America. We were able to highlight the exceptional impact of his work by showing that his papers have been published in some of the leading journals in his field and that his papers are statistically among the most cited in their field. Furthermore, we leveraged this client's extensive history as a conference and journal reviewer to demonstrate his position as a widely recognized authority in his field. Finally, and perhaps most importantly in the context of NIW, we were able to demonstrate—using our extensive experience in petitioning USCIS and our ability to rely on credible, authoritative sources—that our client's work has tremendous relevance to the United States' technology sector. .

“I'm very happy to have worked with David Allen and Ellis Porter. He was very helpful throughout the entire case preparation process and my case was approved thanks to his diligent efforts and assistance. David's knowledge and expertise was absolutely essential, as was his professionalism and efficiency. The quality of their written materials was very good. I recommend Ellis Porter to anyone who wants to start a NIW petition.”

-M.A.H.

NIW Approved for Chemists - (June 2022 Edition)

This client had a strong case, with just over 100 citations at the time of filing, and his petition was approved in less than 3 months. His work has been published in several leading journals and is cited more than the work of his colleagues. Moreover, this client's educational and employment experience has occurred at some of the leading institutions in his field, both in the United States and around the world. Throughout his career, his work received funding from reputable sources and was cited by leading researchers in medicinal chemistry. Overall, his case had significant real-world implications for diabetes treatment, was well received in academia, and we were able to successfully demonstrate that his achievements were truly impressive.

“First of all thanks for the great news about my NIW case being approved! I just opened my mailbox and got the approval letter and I'm so happy about it! I know that my petition was in safe hands, but I did not expect that it would be processed in such a short time - under 3 months! Everything related to the preparation of my petition was quick and smooth. I have already recommended EP to several of my colleagues, and I plan to continue. Thank you for your invaluable help and guidance.”

-B.B.

NIW approved for chemical engineers employed in industry without RFE- (May 2022 issue)

We are excited to report that our highly skilled immigration team successfully obtained NIW approval for a chemical engineer who graduated with a PhD and accepted an industry position shortly before application. This client came to us with a bachelor's and master's degree in chemical engineering, earned outside the United States, as well as a second master's degree and a recently earned doctorate in chemical engineering from an American university. After completing his scientific education, this individual joined a public American company to work as a formulation chemist. Proposing research and development of more environmentally friendly chemical products—such as crop protection treatments and seed coatings—this individual approached Ellis Porter for assistance in obtaining an EB-2 visa with a waiver of the job offer and labor certification process. It was immediately clear to us that this person had a great set of skills that would empower them to advance the important goal of developing and characterizing environmentally friendly products, and that that goal was aligned with US agricultural, economic, and environmental goals.

Our highly skilled immigration team's expertise spans not only the logistics of applying for EB-1/EB-2 permanent work visas, but also providing clear portraits of what our applicants want to achieve, the scope of potential impact of their endeavors, and the qualifications that qualify them to pursue those efforts in favor of the USA. It can be a challenge to separate one's overarching plan from simply staying busy in the field. Our proven approach, however, is focused on helping our clients understand how to fit their various jobs, roles and experiences into a story that conveys a coherent, well-thought-out plan that is not tied to any one job, institution or company. In this case, we guided the client in organizing documentation of their professional background and future intentions, ultimately showing how both their academic and industry work supported their overall career goal and the US's need for sustainable growth, both economically and agriculturally. We were able to prepare the client's entire application in just a few months – as the client confirms below – and were pleased to find that USCIS granted approval without the need for additional evidence.

“David was very helpful in the submission and approval process of my EB2-NIW. He guided me through the entire process, from getting letters of recommendation to making legal filings, as well as making sure the forms were filled out correctly. I felt confident in the process of preparing this case based on his experience. He was also very responsive allowing the package to be ready in about 2 months.”

-B.V.F.

EB1A Approved for Marine Ecosystem Researchers - (May 2022 Issue)

Here at Ellis Porter, we are delighted to announce EB1A approval for our client, an expert marine ecosystem researcher. As you may be aware, the EB1A first preference category has a higher legal standard to meet for approval compared to the EB-2 NIW. As a result, the burden is on the petitioner to provide very strong evidence, along with an extremely thorough legal brief. As a result, filing an EB1A petition, let alone deciding on an immigration team to help you with your EB1A petition, can be a very stressful decision. Our client first approached us after receiving numerous word-of-mouth referrals from friends and colleagues in his field. To our great delight, our client was very pleased with his decision to work with us to craft a strong EB1A petition.

The heart of an EB1A petition depends heavily on meeting the "significant original contribution" criteria; in our experience, most EB1A RFEs we encounter challenge this particular element of the EB1A legal standard. As experienced immigration professionals, we draft a custom petition that emphasizes how our clients meet this criteria to circumvent common RFE challenges. In this client's case, we took particular care to highlight the client's media attention and leadership documentation that set him apart from his peers, while highlighting significant evidence of publication. As a result, we are very happy to announce that our client's EB1A petition has been approved without an RFE. We understand that the decision to choose a lawyer can be a stressful decision, and we will be with you every step of the case preparation process.

"David was the attorney for several of my colleagues and friends who worked in academia, who recommended David to me without hesitation. For my EB-1A petition, David gave me clear guidance at the beginning and was involved in every step of the preparation process : gathering evidence, writing statements, drafting letters of recommendation and filling out forms among others. David always provides timely instructions, feedback and answers to my questions and emails. My petition was approved less than two weeks after submission. I am so excited about the outcome and I am extremely grateful for David's and his team's efforts on my case! Thank you!"

- R.Z.

Computer scientist gets NIW approval without RFE (May 2022 issue)

This month we're sharing a success story of an information scientist who used our traditional NIW service and got approved without an RFE. This client had a unique research background in information science related to management solutions, and we were able to build a strong petition using their education, employment, publications, citations and funding as evidence. This objective evidence was paired with the letters of recommendation we produced on their behalf, further illustrating the importance of the client's research and achievements.

Thanks to our firm's experience in preparing letters of recommendation and extensive legal briefs, we successfully demonstrated to USCIS that this information scientist's research was not only of direct benefit to the national interest, but that they were exceptionally qualified and successful in their field. As a result, this client received approval without issuing an RFE. They were so pleased with the approval of their NIW petition and their experience working with us that they subsequently expressed interest in retaining Ellis Porter to prepare an EB1A petition with our highly skilled immigration team. This shows that our clients consistently trust us to handle their immigration needs.

“I am very pleased with the service I received from Ellis Porter. I hired Ellis Porter to process my NIW petition. Those efforts culminated in a successful petition that was approved without an RFE. I would like to thank Ellis Porter, especially Jonathan Goslow, for helping me get to this point in my career.”

-M.H.

NIW Approved for Plant Biologists - (April 2022 Edition)

At Ellis Porter, we feel the pain of our clients when it comes to dealing with the huge and inefficient bureaucracy that is USCIS. It can often feel like you are being treated with complete indifference, which is why, to prevent this frustration, we strive to offer our clients a special personal touch during the case preparation process. We are here to answer all of your questions as quickly and comprehensively as possible, and ultimately to explore what makes each case strong and unique so that we can emphasize those aspects in the case materials we prepare. We feel that this approach really pays off, not only in terms of our clients' satisfaction with our service, but also in terms of our record of approved cases.

The NIW case we prepared for this client, Ph.D. candidate in plant biology, is a good example. Although one of his papers had a very high citation rate for a publication in his field, he was still early in his career, having published only a few papers. So instead of just relying on the numbers, our team dug much deeper into the client's work and identified areas of emphasis that we knew, based on our extensive experience, USCIS would value during adjudication. For example, we have collected media sources that show that research on iron signaling in plants - the client's primary area of ​​focus - is not only of scientific interest, but also critically relevant to solving major global problems such as malnutrition and food insecurity. We also highlighted funding from international agencies, as well as produced a handful of "significant" citations, highlighting cases where other researchers directly referenced and built on the client's previous work and discussed them in detail in the legal filing. This demonstrated that, despite the client's relatively meager publication record, his work had already had a tangible impact on the advancement of his field. During the case preparation process, we listened and answered all of the client's questions and concerns, ensuring that the final petition is one that both we and the client have complete confidence in. That confidence proved to be well founded, as the case was approved in just three months.

I am extremely happy that I chose Ellis Porter to assist me with my EB2-NIW I-140 petition and intend to continue to recommend their services to people in need of immigration assistance. My attorney and team answered my questions and helped me gather the necessary evidence quickly and efficiently. Not only did they carefully build a successful case on my behalf, but they were very helpful from start to finish. I have no doubt that anyone in need of immigration assistance would benefit from working with the attorneys at Ellis Porter.

-A.B

NIW Approved for Mathematicians - (April 2022 Edition)

The highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter is pleased to announce that we have been able to assist this highly skilled client to successfully file an NIW petition. This client earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from a respected international institution and is now pursuing a Ph.D. student at a top university in the United States. He also had an impressive background of publishing highly cited papers in top journals.

It should be noted that this client works in the field of mathematics, a field known for its lower publication and citation rates, and one that is often difficult for non-experts to understand (especially in terms of the practical benefits that mathematical research can offer).

However, thanks to our team's proven expertise and history of working with clients across a range of disciplines, we were able to demonstrate that our client's achievements—especially his citation count—were quite significant in the context of his field, and we were also able to convincingly articulate how his research, far from being only theoretical, is concretely useful for the United States.

David is very professional, knows his business very well and you can trust him completely with all the NIW app alerts. He knows the laws and procedures related to NIW very well and in detail and is very good at communicating and answering your questions. I was very pleased with his service and would highly recommend to anyone seeking a green card through NIW. It is worth mentioning that my case was a purely scientific case (PhD background in mathematics), and it is well known that there are human-specific challenges in pure science fields (small number of citations, papers, etc.). In particular, David was very experienced in the special situation for applicants of pure scientific fields, which are very valuable and rare.

-S.H.

Approved NIW for Medicinal Chemists - (April 2022 edition)

This client retained the services of Ellis Porter for an expedited NIW petition because her overall credentials were strong. In addition to an impressive citation record, this client has published in prestigious journals and authored patents as well as journal articles. Moreover, her work was recognized by receiving an award for pharmaceutical workers. In addition to her academic achievements, her research has helped her colleagues and medical professionals provide fundamental information for the treatment of patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, this client is a distinguished member of her field with a proven record of success, which USCIS recognized in its approval of her petition.

I am grateful to Andy for helping me complete the petition. I came across the Ellis Porter website when I became interested in NIW. I requested a free consultation and Andy was confident I would be approved. That made me believe him. He directed me well to file a petition. He also responded quickly to my questions. I felt comfortable while filling out the petition. I got approved for I-140 without RFE two weeks ago. If my friend is thinking about petitioning for a green card, I would highly recommend Andy! Thanks again!

-H.Q.Q.

RFE-Free NIW Machine Learning Researcher Approval - (March 2022 Edition)

We are excited to announce the approval of an EB-2 NIW I-140 petition filed on behalf of a PhD student conducting research at the intersection of computer science and mechanical and mining engineering. Aspiring NIW applicants often come to us concerned about whether they can qualify for an EB-2 visa and NIW without a PhD or senior position. However, the great news is that we have received many approvals for PhD candidates and early career professionals in a variety of fields and industries. We know the ins and outs of the system well enough to determine how best a student or intern can qualify for an EB-2 visa without the need for a sponsoring employer.

Eligibility for an EB-2 visa can be established by having the equivalent of a US advanced degree, proving five years of progressive work experience after the equivalent of a US bachelor's degree, or even proving what USCIS calls "exceptional ability." Having guided many applicants through obtaining NIW approval in all of these categories, we flexibly tailor our legal strategy to whatever credentials a client has when they start working with us, rather than expecting them to fit into a "cookie cutter" mold. We know that one size does not fit all, and we pride ourselves on putting our clients first – namely, targeting the EB-2 subcategory that best fits their experience and then helping them establish a clear plan for future work in the US . that USCIS can fall behind.

The researcher featured above came to us with an undergraduate degree in mining and a master's degree in mining and nuclear engineering, the same field in which they earned their PhD in the US. They were interested in using artificial intelligence and data analytics to enable the development of intelligent, autonomous technologies that make mining, quarrying and other high-risk mechanical and resource extraction operations safer and healthier. In addition to earning their academic degrees, they have published several papers in journals and conference proceedings, and several of these papers have garnered citations at a rate that exceeds the norm in the field. The researcher has also collaborated with a manufacturer of rubber products for mining and industrial applications, participated in a federally funded project, and disseminated his findings and expertise in numerous professional venues.

We compiled documentary evidence of these relevant accomplishments and received several complementary recommendations from other members of the field, providing USCIS with a detailed and systematic explanation of why this proposed research was meaningful and beneficial to the United States, and how the researcher's prior accomplishments demonstrated that it would be able to follow their intended goal. In the end, USCIS readily agreed that they were not only eligible for an EB-2 visa, but also for a waiver of the labor certification and job offer requirements. We are as thrilled with this outcome as we are excited about what our client will do next thanks to this approval!

As I approached my PhD, I was looking for a lawyer with enough experience to file my NIW. A friend recommended Ellis Porter to me. I contacted Andy Ingebritson directly and he asked me to send him information about my education and career. In the meantime, I also contacted 2 other law firms. So after an initial assessment and communication with 3 different law firms I decided to choose Andy from Ellis Porter. The part that impressed me the most was that he was willing to go through multiple rounds of communication at no cost to me even before I finalized it. They worked very hard to put together a very strong case for my NIW application. The application was submitted even before I graduated. Whenever I needed any help or had any question/concern throughout this process, I would contact him directly and get an immediate response from him or his assistant. It was a pleasure working with him and Ellis Porter. Just 2 weeks ago I got my NIW approval without any RFE and I couldn't be happier that I chose Ellis Porter Law Firm. Thank you for making my path to permanent residence (green card) easier. I have already recommended them to all my friends who are planning to go this EB-2 NIW route.

-D.L..

NIW approved without RFE- (March 2022 issue)

While USCIS considers quantitative metrics when evaluating NIW cases, here at Ellis Porter, we focus on petition preparation that also focuses on the qualitative attributes of clients' cases. Qualitative achievements in your field cannot be measured, but that in no way makes these attributes of your petition any less valuable. Indeed, here at Ellis Porter, we pride ourselves on crafting petitions that best represent our clients, and that can't be done using a template or boilerplate language. In this month's landmark approval, our client has chosen to work with us using our expedited NIW service. While this approach drastically reduces the time required to prepare a case by eliminating the need to obtain letters of recommendation, we focused our customized approach on highlighting the qualitative attributes of his case in his legal brief, including notable collaborations he worked on, exceptional peer-review and editorial record, and invited speeches that further distinguished him from his colleagues. This is another example of how retaining a legal team skilled in handling less frequently seen evidence is another important factor in deciding who to work with. We are pleased to report that our client was able to get their NIW approved without an RFE.

My family and I received the exciting news that my NIW case was approved. I have already informed a number of my colleagues about Ellis Porter's excellent service. Ellis Porter's expeditious NIW service helped me prepare my case in just a few short weeks. With so many other things to focus on, including my research and family, Ellis Porter's expedited service helped me file my case quickly so I could continue to spend my time on my personal life. I am deeply grateful to Ellis Porter for helping me get my case approved so quickly.

-S.A.

NIW petition approved without RFE in less than 11 months- (March 2022 issue)

This month's success story highlights the case of a talented computer engineer whose research is focused on designing new technologies to protect against piracy and malware. After creating a strong set of letters of recommendation that detailed the niche technical aspects of this client's work, our team used those letters as the basis for the final legal brief, which explained the relevance of the client's research to both his field and the US at large. Letters of recommendation allowed our team to craft a narrative that offered comprehensive insight into the client's past research experience and how his background prepared him to continue making significant progress in his field. Importantly, the legal brief described the client as a well-rounded leader in the field of computer science, providing holistic descriptions of his federal research funding and unique citation statistics, going beyond superficial discussions of his publications. At the end of the day, this client was extremely satisfied with our team's work, walking away with an approved NIW in less than a year since first retaining our services. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors!

I am truly grateful to Ellis Porter for all their help in getting my NIW approved. Jonathan and Chelsea did a great job with my case. I was especially pleased with the composed letters of recommendation and file organization they used during my case preparation. Indeed, I was also quite impressed to see the focus of my research understood to the point and beautifully presented in the letters of recommendation. Overall, I highly recommend Ellis Porter for their professionalism and experience.

-P.S.P.

Information Technologist Receives NIW Approval Without RFE (March 2022 Issue)

In this success story, we highlight a recent I-140 EB-2 NIW approval for a client working in the information technology field. Our highly skilled immigration team worked with this client to gather a variety of materials to support their petition and ultimately used standard types of evidence such as publications, citations, funding and peer review services, as well as US and international patents to support the client's case . Based on this evidence, we produced a comprehensive legal brief that covered the inherent importance and economic value of the client's IT work. Each piece of evidence included in the petition is contextualized in the summary to clearly communicate that the client is engaged in critical research, is well-positioned to continue their research career, and meets the requirements of the EB-2 NIW.

Many clients aim to submit their claims as quickly as possible and Ellis Porter excels in this area. For this case, we worked alongside the client to rapidly develop a robust evidence package to be submitted to USCIS, ultimately taking less than five months to prepare their case. Once submitted to USCIS, this EB-2 NIW petition was processed in just six months and was approved without an RFE. Therefore, this client's entire NIW process was completed in less than a year. Timely preparation of petitions is one of the advantages of working with Ellis Porter. As this case demonstrates, our ability to expeditiously develop strong petition packages is a great asset to our clients. In addition, this case exemplifies the benefits of using Ellis Porter's expedited NIW service, which facilitates efficient case preparation for individuals filing NIW.

I am very grateful to John and his team for their efforts, management and guidance in filing my I-140 petition. They reviewed my case and processed my petition in a timely and professional manner, and their work allowed my case to be approved in less than 6 months without an RFE! I doubt you could find such quality service in another company. Ellis Porter is the best in the business.

-Dr. S.A.

Biomedical Engineer Approved without RFE- (February 2022 release)

Preparing and filing an I-140 petition can be a daunting prospect. The byzantine requirements and precedents that govern how USCIS adjudicates I-140 cases might lead one to assume that the amount of time and effort required to prepare a successful petition is too much for someone with a busy career, like many of our clients. Fortunately, we at Ellis Porter have case preparation down to a science, enabling us to streamline the process and offer an expedited NIW service to select clients. This can be of great benefit to clients like this one, who was able to go from retaining our services to submitting their case in just over a month.

You don't have to be in the upper echelons of your field to qualify for our expedited service. For example, this client, a biomedical engineer with an interest in advanced neuroscience technologies, had a respectable but relatively modest research record at the time of application—seven publications and fewer than 100 citations. But despite having relatively little evidence of the impact of his research to work with beyond those publications and citations, we were able to quickly prepare a very strong petition, as evidenced by the fact that his case was approved without an RFE in just five months. As is the case with many of our expeditious clients, we asked relatively little of him while performing this feat, and most of the work he did consisted of preparing a concise six-question career summary and a two-page personal statement. We mostly took care of the rest, including conducting independent research on the significant merit and national importance of the client's work, citation rates in his field, and the prestige of the institutions he was affiliated with. This case illustrates that while the I-140 process can be daunting, we pride ourselves on making it as hassle-free as possible for our clients.

I am happy to share with you that my NIW application (I-140 petition) was accepted in just 5 months without any RFE. I believe this was possible with the help of David Allen, Ellis Porter PLC, whom I engaged to prepare my case. After a free profile assessment by Ellis Porter PLC, I was offered a fast track service that does not include any reference letter to apply. I worked with David for almost 40 days (held on July 21, 2021; case sent to USCIS on September 2, 2021), before the final application package was delivered to USCIS. In order to work out a timeline for case preparation, I first had to fill out 6 questionnaires that included a summary of my career. It took me several weeks to prepare a 6-page career summary. The career summary not only helped me in writing the 2 page personal statement, but also helped David in preparing the final legal brief. Second, I filled out several forms and collected the necessary documents. Third, I prepared a 2-page personal statement. After I submitted all these documents, it took David less than a week to prepare the final 85 page legal brief. In addition, with the help of my career summary, David did an impressive amount of research and collected a lot of evidence/statistics from the web to prepare the final legal summary. I was immediately convinced with the legal submission on the first reading. David prepared such a high quality legal brief so quickly that I cannot but praise his expertise and professionalism in preparing the NIW case. I would highly recommend David if you have been thinking about hiring a lawyer for your NIW application.

-AND.

EB-1A approved without RFE- (February 2022 release)

Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration team was happy to help this highly qualified client get her EB-1A petition approved. This client had three degrees related to her field, all from reputable universities, as well as significant research experience in academia and private industry. She has published several highly cited papers in top journals and received significant funding for her research work.

Overall, her work is valuable to the development of new pharmaceutical therapies, ultimately benefiting patients across the United States. Thanks to the strong, detailed reference letters we prepared and the thorough, well-argued legal brief, we were able to take advantage of this client's exceptional accomplishments and consolidate them into a clear argument that this client meets all the requirements for an EB-1A petition. Ultimately, this client's petition was approved with superior processing and no RFE.

David was my attorney in my EB2-NIW and EB1A applications. He and his team did a great job on both of my applications. He paid great attention to detail and answered all my questions very quickly.

-AS.

Approved NIW for Medicinal Chemists - (February 2022 edition)

With two graduate degrees in her field and another PhD in progress, this client has spent many years conducting research in medicinal chemistry. During her career, she has studied at some of the world's leading institutions, and her publications have been cited more than 70 times. We were able to convince USCIS of her many accomplishments in her area of ​​expertise and demonstrate that her work has significant value. In particular, her work improves public health and advances the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which in turn provides substantial economic benefit to the United States. Overall, we have successfully demonstrated that she is a respected member of the scientific community with an established career who deserves a national interest exemption.

I am grateful to Andy for helping me complete the petition. I came across the Ellis Porter website when I became interested in NIW. I requested a free consultation and Andy was confident I would be approved. That made me believe him. He directed me well to file a petition. He also responded quickly to my questions. I felt comfortable while filling out the petition. I got approved for I-140 without RFE two weeks ago. If my friend is thinking about petitioning for a green card, I would highly recommend Andy! Thanks again!.

-J.K.

Approved NIW for Electrical Engineers employed in industry without RFE- (February 2022 edition)

This month, we are excited to reiterate the recent approval of a machine learning and imaging engineer whose I-140 petition was found to meet all requirements for a national interest waiver. This petition was prepared and filed in just over four months - a period that included preparing and obtaining letters of recommendation from experts in the field - and was approved in less than six months without any Request for Evidence (RFE) being issued.

The client earned a PhD in electrical engineering in the United States. After proving that they were eligible for NIW based on their possession of an advanced post-baccalaureate degree, we proceeded to determine how they were well-positioned to execute an undertaking with fundamental merit and applicability to the US national interest. The client proposed the development of innovative algorithms for applications involving image analysis. We understand that research using artificial intelligence, computer vision, neural networks, and other cutting-edge approaches to power image processing technologies is versatile and has many practical applications that benefit many aspects of American society. Therefore, we made it clear to USCIS how this client's image processing work could translate into advancements in the domains of medicine, agriculture, homeland security, national defense, and numerous others. In addition, this client proposed that they implement their venture in part by working with a private sector company, where they would develop and test machine learning techniques to detect and combat identity fraud. Thanks to our efforts, USCIS had no trouble realizing that this work would indeed benefit the US to the extent that it outweighed the benefits of the labor certification process.

Many of our existing and potential clients express concern about shifting gears from academia to industry when it comes to their employment and professional pursuits. However, we are increasingly finding that there are many viable ways to establish industry-focused work as an asset to the US in general. Furthermore, this client has published a small number of academic papers that have garnered only a few dozen citations at the time we submitted the request. Therefore, our narrative of the client's past accomplishments and an explanation of how the client will build on those accomplishments in the future proved more important to USCIS considerations than a fertile background.orfuture intentions in academia or the public sector. It is gratifying to see USCIS officials appreciate the well-crafted accounts of our clients' goals and capabilities that we are proud to provide to both academic and industry petitioners.

I am glad to have retained the services of Ellis Porter. In addition to the quick response time, I was particularly impressed by the dedication behind their draft recommendation letters. Given the difficulty level of my PhD field of research, it certainly wasn't easy to get the technical details as precise as they were. Everyone I corresponded with was pretty thorough and prompt, and my I140 was approved pretty smoothly. I highly recommend them.

-Dr. K. T. S.

NIW approved for clinical investigators without RFE- (January 2022 issue)

Many of our clients come to us concerned about their citation record. While citations can be a very useful tool for a NIW petition, citations are far from the only indicator a court clerk should consider. For one of our clients with experience in clinical research, we sought to highlight the myriad ways in which she distinguished herself as a researcher capable of continuing her important work in the US. Part of our strategy involved highlighting some of her qualitative evidence.

This involved extrapolating the significance of several of her citation examples to show how her research influenced other experts in her field. In addition, our client was able to provide good evidence of the ways in which her field has recognized her achievements, including funding from notable organizations, completed peer reviews, and editorial board experience. For our case strategy, we ensured that we were able to prepare six strong letters of recommendation that highlighted the qualitative features of her case, with particular emphasis on her professional achievements. Through our winning strategy, our client was able to get her case approved without an RFE.

I just got my I-140 approved and wanted to thank John and Caitlyn for all the professional support they have given me and your help with the handling. I have already posted in different community groups that you handled my case professionally and helped me file my I-140 quickly. I would definitely recommend Ellis Porter to anyone unsure of which company to use; the service they provided was great value. They are the best in the business!

-Dr. M. T.

Expert in Agricultural Economics approved without RFE- (January 2022 edition)

Our success story this month highlights an agricultural economics researcher who applied for an EB2 NIW in less than two months and was approved eight months later without an RFE. In drafting his legal brief and gathering supporting materials, our team focused on the most relevant compliments of this client to ensure an efficient turnaround with all documents and quickly move through the stages of case preparation.

While this client had strong objective credentials, with a citation record of close to 200, and articles published in several top journals; we believe that client expertise cannot always be quantified and can be demonstrated in countless ways. Ultimately, our goal is to portray each individual as a well-rounded professional in their field, not a collection of statistics. This may include highlighting evidence of editorial work and professional leadership experience, as we did with this client, or discussing other career achievements such as patent grants, receipt of financial grants, or prominent citations of the client's work. As with all clients, our team worked with this researcher to craft a story about his contributions to the field of agricultural economics, rather than using a generic cookie cutter for his case. This client was very satisfied with the efficiency and quality of the I-140 filing and decided to continue working with Ellis Porter on the I-485 filing.

Sean and his assistant Emily were incredibly kind and attentive to the details of my case. They did an outstanding job handling and evaluating my materials and making sure each document served to strengthen my case. They diligently reviewed my information every step of the way, while also communicating very effectively. I really feel they went above and beyond to get my case approved by USCIS. Ellis Porter exceeded my expectations with the exceptional quality of his work. I can't thank them enough for making my petition a success!

-J. N.N.

NIW Applied Mathematics Researcher Endorsement - (January 2022 Edition)

This month's success story features an applied mathematics researcher who relied on us to effectively communicate both the theoretical value and practical utility of their work to USCIS. We were able to translate the abstract concepts associated with this client's work into explaining its tangible impacts on future research and various industries, from engineering to medicine. Moreover, this client had a low citation count, with just over twenty citations at the time of submission. We have successfully emphasized the importance of their citation records by discussing them in terms of their specific field, while also supporting this quantitative evidence with a well-rounded body of qualitative evidence. Indeed, one of the strengths of Ellis Porter's services is our skill in tailoring petitions to specific client needs; we use individualized combinations of qualitative and quantitative materials to develop robust evidence packages.

Furthermore, individual immigration matters are of great importance, and clients should be able to easily contact and communicate with their attorney throughout the case preparation process. We provided this client with consistent, informed guidance and worked with them to put together an excellent petition. This case resulted in an approved NIW without an RFE, which was deserved based on the client's qualifications and the diligent case preparation that went into this NIW petition.

I was very happy to hear the good news that my NIW petition was approved! I would like to thank John and his team for all the great work they did on my case. They are very professional and approachable, and I would not hesitate to recommend their service to anyone submitting an NIW petition. In addition, I plan to continue working with them in the next phase of the process. Thanks Ellis Porter!

-Dr. A. T.

Chemical Engineer approved without RFE- (December 2021 edition)

Our team is thrilled that so many of our clients ended 2021 with the news they were hoping for: that their I-140 petitions were approved. Including this client, a chemical engineer with expertise in developing decarbonization technologies aimed at improving sustainability in several large industries. Thanks to our team's efficient but always thorough case preparation efforts, this client went from signing a contractual commitment to filing their case in just eight weeks; the petition was ultimately approved without an RFE.

Although this client had a strong citation record at the time of filing—nearly 300 citations—the attorneys at Ellis Porter are not content to rely solely on numbers when preparing a case. Our goal is to construct a convincing narrative and emphasize all the most important credentials of a given client.

For example, in this case we submitted statistics showing that while the client's total number of citations was impressive on its own, when placed in the context of the client's highly specialized field with relatively low citations, it was even more so, since several of his publications are ranked in the very top percentiles of the most cited works in the field. We also provided examples of significant citations to the client's publications, illustrating the direct and pervasive impact on the field beyond a purely quantitative perspective. Combined with evidence of other relevant accomplishments, such as a granted patent, government funding, and peer review service, these inclusions demonstrate how our diligent and knowledgeable approach to evidence gathering and case preparation so often leads to successful petitions like this one.

I was very pleased and lucky that my case was approved! The dedication of Jonathan and the Ellis Porter team contributed to this success. Thank you for your professional support and follow-up. All information and tasks to be done were clear and coherent from the start. From documentation support to positive feedback on unclear areas, ease of payment methods and everything you need to prepare the relevant details for your NIW application. I am very satisfied with all the professional support. If you are looking for a US green card through NIW, the Ellis Porter team is the right company to work with. Thanks to Jonathan and the Ellis Porter team for a job well done and professional legal support. Cheers! Greeting,

-I. M.

NIW approved without an advanced degree- (Dec 2021 release)

Ellis Porter was very happy to help this client get his national interest waiver request approved. This client did not have a higher degree and instead wanted to qualify as an individual of exceptional ability; while some attorneys may advise someone in such a situation not to file for NIW until they have at least a master's degree, thanks to our extensive experience, we were able to help this client achieve his goal with his current credentials. Our dedicated staff was able to demonstrate that this client more than met the qualifications for exceptional ability and met the other requirements for a successful NIW petition, specifically highlighting his experience and credentials, the recognition he has received from professional organizations in his field, and his research achievements. . This client's successful petition is further proof that Ellis Porter's dedication to clients' individual circumstances and preparing a uniquely tailored approach for each client is key to achieving your immigration goals.

I am so thrilled that my NIW Exceptional Ability Petition was approved, and without an RFE! Although I did not yet have a college degree when I applied, my attorney, John Goslow, and his paralegal, Emily, determined exactly how to demonstrate that I met the national interest-based EB-2 visa requirements. Not only did they skillfully select the appropriate criteria that demonstrated my expertise, but they also made it clear that my work was useful to the US on a broad scale. This approval opens up exciting opportunities for me and I look forward to continuing to work with Ellis Porter to obtain my green card. Partnering with Ellis Porter and his highly skilled immigration team has already paid off incredibly well and I look forward to what my future holds now more than ever.

-D.P.B.

Approved NIW for Petroleum Engineer - (Dec 2021 Edition)

This client came to Ellis Porter after an unsuccessful NIW petition was filed with another law firm. Overall, we were able to demonstrate his strong capabilities and significant achievements, as well as emphasize the broad impact of his work in the field of petroleum engineering. His work also has applications outside of his industry and academia, and has attracted the interest of an oil and gas company that wants to commercialize some of his research. Overall, this client is a distinguished member of his field with a proven record of success and deserves a national interest waiver, which we successfully demonstrated to USCIS.

I engaged the services of David for a foreign worker immigration petition and I am excited to say that the entire process exceeded my expectations. My first application with another lawyer was rejected, but after I switched my second application to Ellis Porter, David was able to get my application successful. Admittedly, my case was not easy, but David was able to work out the intricacies. Unlike many lawyers who have a limited number of case profiles that they deal with, David is versatile and experienced in navigating a wide range of experiences. He can evaluate clients' details and strategize for their Form I-140 applications or help them get a strong RFE response and ultimately get approval. I have already recommended David to my peers and will continue to do so.

-P.O

EB-1A Approval for Bioinformaticians without RFE- (December 2021 release)

As 2021 draws to a close, we are excited to highlight the recent EB-1A approval for a bioinformatician with just over 400 citations; rather than the thousands one might think required for scientists applying to this category. Opportunities to represent clients whose achievements can be demonstrated both "quantitatively" (eg through citations of their research papers) and "qualitatively" (eg through recommendations from fellow experts) are always welcomed by our team. In just over a week, an officer in the cutting-edge processing unit at the Texas Service Center found that this bioinformatics researcher met the three eligibility criteria we claimed and deserved entry into the United States to continue conducting cutting-edge research at the intersection of biology and informatics.

After the client provided us with a summary of their accomplishments and career goals, we determined which of the 10 outstanding ability criteria set forth by USCIS best matched their accomplishments. Choosing the right criteria is a crucial step and a process where Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration team truly excels. We were able to argue the client's case based on their publication of more than a dozen scientific papers, receipt of citations and federal funding as a visiting associate, and the services of a reviewer and journal editor, as well as the testimony of six experts (including a co-author, former supervisors, a scientist who used the client's work in own research and other educated members of the field outside the client's immediate circle). We created a clear, detailed account of the client's impact and reinforced the key points with our own external research. For example, we obtained and described objective evidence showing that several of the client's papers were cited much more frequently than other papers published in the same field and time frame.

Between the client's professional track record and the testimonials and supporting evidence we collected, USCIS was convinced that our client - a researcher specializing in using computational methods to derive meaning from vast amounts of biological data - is an outstanding researcher. This is where our ability to identify our clients' strengths and convey those strengths to USCIS has proven to be a winning combination. We look forward to advocating for many more similar cases in 2022!

I am writing this review to express my gratitude to Mr. Andrew (Andy) and his dedicated team for their hard work, unwavering support and kindness throughout the process of obtaining my I140 under the EB1A category. Mr. Andy was always attentive and accommodating, and made sure that I got quick answers to my questions. His work ethic, extensive knowledge and experience in this field, and his effective leadership enabled a smooth and fast process. I highly recommend Mr. Andy to anyone looking for an immigration attorney.

-R.K

NIW Approved Mathematician without RFE- (November 2021 issue)

Our client was a mathematician who focused on advancing fundamental mathematical principles. The challenge of this case was to show the court clerk how the client's work, an advanced area of ​​mathematics, applied to the NIW framework. By demonstrating the broad applicability of the client's work on dynamic systems to a myriad of fields and areas of US interest, we were able to effectively demonstrate to the officer how the client met the first step of the NIW framework.

To confirm these points, we have compiled six professional letters confirming the relevance of the client's work to US interests, as well as demonstrating the client's suitability to continue to perform the proposed work in the near future. Indeed, through a thorough review of the client's materials, we submitted documentation that demonstrated how his experience and multiple skill sets were directly related to the work he intended to do. Although our client had five citations at the time his case was filed, we were able to show that while the citations are useful evidence, additional documentation supporting the relevance of his work to the field was included to substantiate the facts presented in the petition. In light of our assessment and thoroughly prepared materials, USCIS ultimately agreed with our arguments and granted approval to this case without an RFE.

I am very happy that my case was approved! It was a pleasure to have John as my attorney. He made a strong petition on my behalf, I really appreciate it! I highly recommend Ellis Porter for NIW Petition as they look at your credentials and create a petition that fits your case perfectly. You will have a great experience working with them.

-Dr. S.M

EB1A for Molecular Biologist Fast Track Approval After NOID (November 2021 Issue)

This month's success story highlighted our team's commitment to seeing cases through to completion. This EB1A Molecular Biologist candidate has been a clear asset to his field and to the United States with his research focused on immunology and RNA biology. Thanks to our team's responsiveness and quick processing of draft materials, he was able to submit his petition in about a month and a half.

Despite his clear expertise and accomplishments in his field, USCIS initially issued a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), which was understandably disappointing and frustrating for both our client and our team. However, despite this minor setback, our team was committed to disproving the NOID under the strongest terms and confident that we could eventually win approval. After carefully reviewing the NOID and the final merit determination guidelines in the USCIS policy manual, which clearly contradicted the language of the NOID, we were able to obtain this client's EB1A approval. This just goes to show that once we commit to a case, we're all in it to the very end.

I am very grateful to Andy and his team at Ellis Porter for their efforts in getting my EB1A I-140 approved. Andy and Emily worked hard and fast to prepare a legal summary and highlight all the categories under which I was eligible for EB1A. The whole process only took about 45 days and Andy and Emily were always available to answer any questions quickly. We were initially disappointed to receive a NOID from USCIS despite a strong case. However, Andy and his team were undeterred and respectfully refuted the NOID, pointing out why the USCIS officer misapplied their own guidelines. This quickly resulted in approval notices. Overall, I was very pleased with my experience with Ellis Porter and would recommend him to anyone applying for an EB1A.

-N.G

NIW Approval for Construction Management Engineer - (November 2021 Edition)

For this approval, our client obtained a doctorate in engineering and focused his work on researching ways to make various structures more resilient. This type of work is very valuable, as it enables governments at the local and national level to make better informed decisions to mitigate the risks and costs caused by man-made and natural disasters.

At the time we submitted his request, our client had only 15 citations. However, we knew he was well qualified for the NIW petition, so we worked with him to highlight his strengths. For example, those citations referred to his publications that appeared in well-ranked journals in his field, a fact we certainly noted. In addition, one paper is highly cited relative to other papers published in its field for the year of publication. Highlighting these types of statistics to USCIS helps provide them with a quantitative way to assess the impact of a petitioner's work.

But such quantitative statistics are not the only way to measure value, so we also made sure to describe a number of qualitative measures of the value of our client's work for his area. Namely, we described his research works and the ways in which they were used by the authors who cited his work, and we also discussed the funding of his works by federal organizations. Moreover, while our client had a strong education in his field, he also had experience working in a variety of positions in the industry—experience that we were able to use to demonstrate to USCIS how well-rounded and versatile our client's skill set was. Finally, we rounded out this discussion and evidence by supplementing it with strong letters of recommendation drafted specifically to highlight the client's strengths and the ways in which they qualified for an NIW petition. Overall, USCIS agreed with our assessment of the client's qualifications, as his case received approval from the Nebraska Service Center.

I am very grateful to Mr. Allen for helping me with my NIW green card application. I received my green card in the mail last weekend and I am very pleased with the service he and his wonderful team provided. They were very prompt in their services and quick to respond to my questions.

-A.B.

NIW approved for biophysicists without RFE- (November 2021 edition)

In this case, the client was an academic researcher in the field of biophysics. In the materials we prepared, we emphasized the strength of her experience and credentials, as well as the importance and benefits of her work focused on epigenetics.

In strategizing this case, we chose to highlight not only research publications and citations, but also additional documentation that demonstrates others' interest in her work and recognition of the importance of her work. We also submitted letters from experts who could explain in detail their views on the importance of her work. This case was approved without the issuance of an RFE, demonstrating that the submitted materials met the NIW requirements.

I had the pleasure of working with John through the immigration firm Ellis Porter on my NIW application to eventually apply for a US Green Card and was recently approved! John and his team worked tirelessly on my case, not in a one-size-fits-all approach, but planned specifically for my case and went above and beyond to ensure I got the perfect case! He always answered all my questions patiently and in detail and helped me understand his every step. He was actually the one who sometimes pushed me to make the perfect case. Additionally, his job left me with little work as he took care of most of the process. He was very professional and went through all the documents with me (letters of recommendation, my statement of purpose, my career summary, etc.), and honestly, I was also impressed with the picture he made of me for my NIW case! I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to apply for a US green card through NIW. I am eternally grateful to have walked him through this process, which thanks to him and his team was a walk in the park for me! So thank you John for all your amazing work and I hope you know how much you have changed my life!

-S.G.K.

NIW and EB-1A approved without RFE- (October 2021 issue)

In some scenarios, individuals may be interested in applying for two types of employment-based visas, as was the case with a pharmacometric researcher from China who felt it was in his best interest to file an EB-1A after filing an NIW petition. As many of our clients know, changes in the visa bulletin and immigration policies more broadly can affect the speed with which clients from different countries can obtain green cards. This client initially decided to submit an NIW petition, which we prepared over four months and submitted immediately. However, just three days after filing his NIW petition, this client also inquired about filing an EB-1A petition. Considering the current China visa bulletin and NIW and EB-1A processing times, we were able to advise this client on the best time to begin preparing and filing an EB-1A petition.

Due to the strong NIW case we initially prepared, this client's NIW was approved one year after submission, without a Request for Evidence (RFE) being issued. Given the success of his first case with Ellis Porter and the changes in the China visa bulletin, the client later decided to retain our services to file his EB-1A as well. Once again, we were able to immediately put together a compelling case for this client, filing his EB-1A petition just three months after he decided to pursue EB-1A. This is due in part to our ability to quickly translate the evidence he previously submitted with his NIW into his EB-1A case and to gather new materials and several letters of expert recommendation, ultimately combining that evidence into a cohesive, strong EB-1A petition . Like his NIW, this client's EB-1A was approved by USCIS without an RFE. Our history of accomplishments in NIW and EB-1A approvals is illustrated by this client's experience at Ellis Porter, which demonstrates how having an attorney with extensive expertise in employment-related cases and current knowledge of immigration conditions benefits clients and their changing immigration needs.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Ellis Porter for helping me get my NIW and EB1A petitions approved. I was shocked to see that my EB1A was approved without an RFE just a day after applying for premium processing. Jonathan's material drafts were detailed, well written and fast. I am delighted to have worked with Jonathan and cannot recommend them highly enough. Thank you again!

-Y.B.

Expedite NIW approved without an advanced degree - (September 2021 edition)

Many of our clients are interested in filing their NIWs as quickly as possible given the lengthy USCIS processing times and, often, their need to establish an early priority date. That's why we offer our fast track service for NIW clients, which allows faster submissions by waiving letters of recommendation. But even clients with hundreds of citations and other strong credentials sometimes worry that choosing this option puts them at a disadvantage in terms of their chances of approval. However, with our years of insight into what makes a particular I-140 case viable, we are very experienced in crafting petitions that do exactly what USCIS is looking for, even for clients with less than compelling credentials.

This client was a molecular biologist focused on research related to antimicrobial drug development. Even with a relatively modest 58 citations and no PhD. at the time of submission, we offered him our prompt services and were able to build a strong case without any letters of recommendation. We have provided significant citation examples that demonstrate that while the client may not yet have accumulated hundreds of citations, their work has still had a tangible and demonstrable impact on numerous other researchers in their field. We also submitted evidence of his peer review work and membership in the profession, demonstrating his status as a recognized expert in his field.

Also, key to our case strategy was our evidence-based discussion of why the development of new strategies to combat microbial disease is critical to addressing ongoing, major public health problems in the United States. The case was ultimately approved without an RFE, illustrating our ability to pinpoint and highlight the most relevant evidence for each case we take on.

My wife and I are very grateful, delighted and humbled by your hard work in putting together the I-140 petition that was approved. I had a very positive experience working with you on my petition, as you were very responsive and professional. I am happy to recommend you to my friends and colleagues who also want to get permanent residence in the USA. Thanks again to you and your entire team at Ellis Porter LLP.

-g. D. P.

I-140 approved without RFE- (August 2021 issue)

Despite having filed hundreds and hundreds of our "Expedited I-140s" in 2020 alone, we still sometimes hear concerns from potential clients about a case submission strategy based on not submitting a single letter of recommendation with their I-140 application. We understand the hesitation, of course, but to be sure, we never recommend such an approach to a particular client unless we are absolutely confident that it will not decrease their chances by one percent.

This success story is one of our "Expedited I-140s" that was filed without any letters of recommendation, did not receive an RFE, and was approved without a hitch. The key to recommending such an approach is to have knowledge of which cases can go without letters and which would benefit from their inclusion in terms of a) improving overall success rates and b) reducing the chance of RFE. Fortunately, not only do we have experience with thousands of petitions, but we collect so much hard data that helps us conduct statistical analysis to clarify those profiles that would and would not likely benefit from letters in their petitions. For those who don't, they can save literally a thousand dollars on a petition in attorney fees and file their cases in weeks, not months. Both aspects save time and money for clients, which of course is always our goal.

I am really happy that my I-140 EB2 NIW was accepted and I would like to thank John and his team for their work to make this happen and for the excellent job done. His team's guidance, timeliness, and support were critical to the success of my case, which did not receive an RFE. It was an AWESOME experience!! The whole experience went smoothly and I am happy to recommend their service to anyone considering applying for a NIW petition.

-Dr. R.O.

EB-1A Petition Approved for Neurobiology Researcher - (July 2021 Issue)

One of the most common myths about the EB-1A petition is that the petitioner must have a very high citation count. Indeed, one can find lawyers and internet commentators who think that a person must have thousands of citations to even consider filing an EB-1A petition. Unfortunately, this type of misconception often leads people who might have a good chance of EB-1A approval to give up on filing an EB-1A petition.

There are a number of ways that a person with a more modest number of citations can still qualify for EB-1A. We were fortunate to work with a neurobiology researcher to do this. The attorneys at Ellis Porter have extensive experience working with EB-1A petitioners who do not have thousands of citations. We were able to devise a uniquely tailored strategy that did not rely solely on the number of petitioners' citations. Instead, we were able to draw on her wealth of other accomplishments and credentials, including her critical roles in leading organizations, her impressive publication record, and her extensive peer review experience. Thanks to this strategy — and the expertise of attorney Ellis Porter — we were able to secure EB-1A approval for this client.

I am extremely appreciative of the professional team at Ellis Porter, especially John, who went above and beyond for my EB1A petition. My EB1A case was filed with top processing and received an RFE, but John knew the best way to respond to ensure my case was approved quickly once we responded to the RFE. Every step of the way he was available to answer my questions, explain his thinking and offer his top tips. I am very grateful for all the efforts Ellis Porter put into my case and I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to file an EB1A petition with experienced and knowledgeable attorneys who know how to get the job done.

-Dr. R.G.

NIW Approved Biochemist without RFE- (June 2021 edition):

One of the main goals we hear from most clients is the desire to file their case as quickly as possible. Traditionally, one of the biggest factors in slowing a case from launch date to filing is simply getting letters of recommendation from their authors; something often beyond our control as a law firm and as a client. This is indeed one of the main advantages of our expedited access to I-140 NIW; not submitting a single letter of recommendation with the case. By focusing on objective evidence and building a case from the bottom up instead of forcing it into a cookie-cutter template, we can build cases based on sending zero letters of recommendation and have a 99% approval rate (and a lower RFE rate).

This success story is one such case where we built a case entirely around objective evidence from a biochemistry postdoc, sent zero letters, and got the case approved without an RFE. Given the individual's strong research background, there was simply no need to send letters. This is supported by our internal data which originally showed that the individual did not help their case by spending the time (or money) to do so. After spending just a few weeks filing their case, they achieved the same result as someone else writing letters for less money and less stress in the process.

I would like to give Ellis Porter's High-Skilled Immigration team a 5 star review. They got my NIW case approved without an RFE. Throughout the entire process of working with them, they were very professional and paid close attention to the details of my case and credentials. At each stage, they let me know what materials I need to secure and how best to secure them. I highly recommend their services!

-A.R.E.

NIW approval without RFE- (May 2021 issue):

We often hear something similar to the idea that "it's safer to apply for NIW if the researchers are in academia". Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. At any given time approximately 30-33% of our clients work directly in industry and it is important to note that their success rate is almost identical to someone in academia. The idea that academia is safer than industry is based on half-truths and misinformation because it can often be the other way around, depending on some circumstances. What matters is what someone does in any environment and how it relates to the national interest.

In this success story, we examine a client working directly in industry developing non-addictive pain relievers for a pharmaceutical company that has been granted a NIW without an RFE. As many clients do when they initially come to us, they dreaded the idea that their work in the industry might hurt the potential of their case. However, as long as something in the national interest such as research and development is being done, even for a private employer, it works just as well as someone from academia publishing papers. Building this case around an individual's academic and professional experience, we constructed an NIW focused on the impressive attributes of an individual's academic and professional career. In short, working in the industry does not have to be a disadvantage in the case, it can actually be a strong asset.

I am very grateful for your tremendous contribution to the success of my case. Your gradual professional guidance played a key role in its approval. You gave me good advice on how to proceed and strategy for my request. Thank you very much for working with me and helping me get it approved.

-Dr. A. D.

NIW Approved Developmental Neurobiology Researcher - (April 2021 Edition)

This client had a strong case, with nearly 600 citations at the time of submission and publications included in several of the most prestigious journals in her field. Moreover, her papers are highly cited, some of them in the top 1% for the year of publication. This client also had experience of education and employment at some of the world's leading institutions. Although not required for NIW, this client also had peer review experience and served on the editorial board of several journals. Her own work has been funded by government institutions, further proving that she has earned a reputation as a leader in her field of study. Overall, her case was solid, had significant real-world implications, and we were able to successfully demonstrate that her accomplishments more than deserved the endorsement her case received.

Filing an EB2-NIW petition with John at Ellis Porter was bliss. I really appreciate your hard and fast work. Timeline was one of my most important factors and you definitely surpassed any other law firm I consulted with. As you know, I have already referred several clients to you and continue to do so in my personal network and the international community of scientists in general, noting your excellent, client-oriented, friendly and professional work. I was very impressed with how quickly you completed my EB2-NIW (and provisional O1A) filing petition, while paying great attention to detail. Thanks, John and team!

-H.B.

NIW approved for entrepreneurs without RFE- (March 2021 edition)

Here at Ellis Porter, we welcome opportunities to work with individuals who, as business professionals, seek national interest relief. We recognize that the Dhanasar decision provides a flexible framework within which to demonstrate that many entrepreneurs and their unique business ventures benefit the United States to an extent that outweighs the benefits of the US workforce certification process. The endorsement highlighted here shows us that those whose businesses are outside of academia or the public sector should not be deterred from pursuing NIWs, not even in the slightest.

One of our approved entrepreneurs specializes in agile project management, helping companies of all sizes – from start-ups to established companies – implement management and organizational changes to increase business value, revenue, productivity, employee morale and customer engagement. In short, their company is focused on making businesses more adaptable and scalable. We demonstrated this client's ability to benefit US through their organizational agile transformation consulting business through their combination of academic training (including a Master's degree awarded shortly before we applied) and industry experience as a consultant and project manager. By demonstrating that this client's work could strengthen the US economy by strengthening its business and that the client possessed relevant skills, knowledge and successes to build upon in the future, we skillfully demonstrated to USCIS that they warrant NIW.

Thinking creatively and determining how our clients' goals and qualifications align with NIW's requirements is one of our passions, and we're always thrilled to see how that passion translates into the results our clients are looking for.

Jonathan provided unparalleled service and excellent advice for my NIW petition. As a project management consulting professional, my credentials, while strong, are somewhat unusual compared to most research-based NIW petitions. Jonathan provided me with expert guidance and reassurance throughout the case preparation process, which ultimately resulted in my NIW being approved without an RFE. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate his guidance through this process. I could not have obtained these results without his keen insight.

-L.L.

Expedite NIW Approved Biomechanical Researcher- (February 2021 release)

Many of our clients are established professionals in their fields with little time to devote to the painstaking case preparation required by many other firms for their NIW petitions. In cases like these, where our clients already have exceptional credentials, we recommend our pioneering fast track approach. The first of its kind, our expedited NIW service increases the speed of the course preparation process, giving our clients more time to focus on their critical research and professional academic careers. We designed this service intentionally to allow our clients to devote more time to their important workflows while we work to prepare the backbone of their case preparation.

Our client, a biomechanics researcher doing important work at the federal and university level, contacted us inquiring about our fast service. With an already outstanding citation record, we were able to align other key components and features of her laudable career and fine-tune this evidence into a concise yet powerful and compelling summary. Tailoring our approach to our clients' achievements, our expeditious service provides the perfect balance of quality and attention to detail, all within a tight deadline that best suits our clients' fast-paced lifestyles across research disciplines.

I was excited to see that EB2NIW approved the case! I was very pleased with his (Jon's) handling of the case, especially since I followed his instincts and decided to go with expedited service (without a detailed review of my work or letters of recommendation). Yes, that's right, I didn't ask people I didn't know to write me letters. You are great! Thank you for your help and support with my application.

-H.M.

Electrical and Computer Engineer has I-140 NIW approval without RFE- (January 2021 issue)

We understand that the immigration process can seem daunting and overwhelming to many. That's why we personalize the case preparation process for each individual client, ensuring they have the best chance of approval without wasting time or money on steps that are unlikely to affect the outcome of their case. Our NIW process at Ourexpedite allows clients to submit just a few weeks without sacrificing the quality of submitted materials. With our excellent approval record for expedited NIWs, clients to whom we recommend this option can be confident that they are in an excellent position to move to the I-485 stage as quickly as possible.

This success story highlights NIW's swift approval for our client who is an electrical and computer engineering specialist. We were confident that her credentials and experience stood on their own, so we combined the various highlights of her career to build the strongest possible case, demonstrating the national importance of her work. In addition to outlining her accomplishments in her field, we detailed her future plans to explain specifically how and why the US would benefit from her continued research here. Without wasting time collecting additional letters of recommendation, we submitted this documentary evidence ourselves and were thrilled when her case was approved on the first try without an RFE!

With the NIW expedite option, I was able to file my case in a few weeks. Thanks to Ellis Porter for helping me file my case quickly. I was so impressed with their service that I hired them again to help me with the I-485 process. Thank you!

-H.B.

EB-1A Approval for an Asset Manager Employed by an Agricultural Equipment Company - (December 2020 Edition)

Achieving EB-1A approval is often more difficult for individuals who are not traditional researchers, but strong, individualized case preparation mitigates this challenge. In this case, our client worked in the property management field and was employed by an agricultural company. His experience included two business degrees, software development skills and a history of employment at various companies. As such, we were unable to base the client's case on the typical publication and citation evidence used for research clients. Instead, we prepared a unique case strategy based on his membership in relevant professional organizations, experience in evaluating the work of others in his field, authorship of articles published by software development organizations, primary employment with a large agricultural company, and high salary. Documentary evidence supporting his case is supported by numerous letters of recommendation from experts familiar with his work. Overall, we were able to assemble a strong body of evidence to demonstrate that this client meets the requirements of EB-1A, even with a non-traditional, unique business background.

Our firm has repeatedly achieved outstanding success with unusual cases and we recognize the value and rare qualifications of professionals who may not fit the traditional employment visa criteria. For this client, we confidently took on the unique circumstances surrounding his EB-1A petition and were able to achieve a successful outcome. When the USCIS review of this client's petition was significantly delayed, we were able to advise our client through the service request process on his case. Likewise, when the client was subsequently issued with a Request for Evidence (RFE), we put together a solid RFE response, which ultimately led to the approval of his case.

I am so glad I contacted Ellis Porter for help with my EB1A petition. With special thanks to Jonathan, I was able to get my EB1A approved despite not having the traditional profile of a researcher with publications and citations. I highly recommend Ellis Porter to anyone seriously interested in filing an EB1A petition where creative thought and unique categories need to be argued to USCIS.

-P.K

I-140 NIW approval for mathematician- (November 2020)

In this case, our client was a mathematician studying problems in the areas of corporate and banking finance. Although much of the specificity of his research was abstract, given his focus on mathematics, we worked with the client to understand the applications of his research in areas that impact the US economy. Given the many problems the US economy has been facing lately due to problems in corporate finance and banking, we had no problem demonstrating the importance of our client's work to the United States as a whole. At the time of application, he had several publications in leading journals in his field and about 30 citations to his publications. This type of evidence is great for showing USCIS that one's work has made an impact in the field, and is especially impressive given that mathematics is generally poorly cited.

Our many years of experience working with researchers have allowed us to become familiar with these different nuances of academia and so we knew it would be beneficial to his case to discuss this point and provide supporting evidence to support the low citation of published papers within the field of mathematics - thus the number of citations of our client stands out as even more impressive than it would otherwise be. In addition to submitting this evidence, we also submitted strong letters of recommendation from other experts in the client's field attesting to the value of his research and his expertise in his chosen field of study.

Working together with the client, we were able to create a detailed legal brief explaining to USCIS why our client qualifies for a National Interest Waiver. Overall, USCIS ultimately agreed with our assessment of the client's work and its value, as his case was approved in less than six months at the Nebraska Service Center without an RFE.

John was the attorney for my EB2-NIW petition. He demonstrated impressive attention to detail and an excellent ability to understand my area of ​​expertise in a relatively short amount of time. Communication was professional, fast and efficient. My case was approved without any difficulty. I highly recommend John as an immigration attorney.

-T. V

NIW Approval for Process Optimization Specialist working in Petroleum Engineering - (October 2020 Edition):

Although the NIW petition can often work well for students and recent graduates, this type of petition is not limited to those who work in academia. Here, our client earned his master's degree nearly two decades ago, and his career took him into industry after that, and as such he has not published papers or presented at conferences as many of the NIW petitioners do. Instead, he gained experience in his field working for leading oil companies in numerous locations around the world. Over the years, he has developed many new methods to better optimize the performance of the technologies used in his industry. Since we couldn't submit any publication or citation evidence of the impact of his work because it was industry related, we thought outside the box and instead submitted a variety of other evidence, including numerous letters of recommendation from other experts in his field, internal company reports and presentations, and descriptions of his specific plans to continue working in the United States.

While some immigration attorneys would be hesitant to take on a non-traditional case like this, after reviewing his profile and overall career history, we could see that there was certainly a case for him qualifying for an NIW petition, as his work provided clear value to an industry important to the United States and since he had an impressive amount of experience and influence in his chosen field. USCIS agreed with our assessment, as his NIW case was approved at the Texas Service Center in just over six months.

I was very pleased to hear that my NIW petition was approved. When I first approached Ellis Porter, I was optimistic that I could get NIW approval. John explained to me the pros and cons of the application, and after discussion we decided to proceed with the NIW petition. I was quite impressed with the brief he put together and his guidance throughout the process. He provided thoughtful insights and explanations on each point. I'm glad I turned to Ellis Porter and would be happy to recommend them to anyone considering a NIW petition.

-g. L.J.

NIW Public Health Researcher Endorsement - (September 2020 Edition):

In this case, our client was a public health epidemiological researcher from China. While studying at prestigious universities, including one in the United States, she was still pursuing her Ph.D. In addition, she had several publications in field journals that received 10 citations at the time of initial submission. Overall, it is our opinion that this researcher had a good NIW case that should be approved. Despite this, the case initially received an RFE challenging whether our client was in fact in a good position to continue to advance her endeavors in the field. This is actually not an unusual RFE for a PhD candidate, but we knew she was in a good position to continue to improve, which we wanted to demonstrate in her RFE response.

Specifically, in order to respond to the RFE, we first provided USCIS with an update on our client's recent accomplishments. This evidence made it clear that she is not only likely to continue to be successful in her field, but that she has been proven to be successful since we filed her case. In addition, we provided additional letters from other experts in her field who could attest to the impact of her past work and who confirmed the importance of her ongoing studies in the field, and further explained exactly how she intends to continue her work. While it may sometimes seem like USCIS is asking for vague evidence or evidence that has already been submitted, there is no need to be afraid to respond to an RFE if you have an experienced attorney on your side.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first contacted Ellis Porter for help with filing my NIW petition, but John explained the process clearly and made sure to thoroughly answer all my questions at every point in the process. After receiving the RFE, I was concerned that my case might be rejected, but John laid out a clear plan for how we would proceed and what additional evidence I needed to collect. It turns out I needn't have worried, as my case was approved shortly after we submitted the response to RFE. Thank you so much for your hard work, John and the rest of the Ellis Porter team!

-gđa. F.T.

NIW Approved Civil and Environmental Engineer - (August 2020 Edition):

In just over six months, we got NIW approval for this environmental and civil engineer who had a master's degree, but no PhD. Although she had a respectable publication record, we knew she had an even stronger case after she explained more about her work and the ways in which it had been supported, implemented and disseminated by other players in her field.

For example, the studies she has participated in have received millions of dollars in funding at numerous levels, from the US federal government, to state governments, to investment from private companies. In our experience, the fact that our client's work has received such broad funding sources is demonstrable evidence that many people and organizations find value in the research she conducts and have reason to believe in the likely success of her work.

But even more convincingly as proof of the value of her work, her research is diligently and consistently carried out by these same institutions. The US military uses the maps she helped create, and several private companies have implemented her methods directly into their operations, including a start-up company founded specifically to commercialize a product she developed. By also including evidence that this client intends to continue working on similar projects in the future, we made it clear to USCIS how important it is for the United States to retain its talent.

While it is important to consider the usual types of evidence that USCIS finds persuasive, such as evidence of publication and citations, a truly strong case often includes other types of evidence that show exactly how one's work affects the area and how allowing the person to continue working in the country is crucial.

I was delighted to hear that my NIW was approved. I am very grateful to John who provided me with excellent advice at every point of this process. Whenever I had a question about anything related to immigration, he always got back to me quickly and gave detailed and thoughtful answers. When we were working on developing the best strategy for my NIW, he encouraged me to think about all the ways in which my work was used and I believe we were able to generate a lot of really useful arguments for my petition by working together in this way. Many thanks to the HSI team of John and Ellis Porter!

-Mrs. AH.

NIW Approved Environmental Engineer - (July 2020 Edition):

In this case, our client was an environmental engineer working to improve our understanding of the impact of air pollution on public health. Increasing awareness of this area is essential to help researchers and policy makers make the best possible decisions to limit these negative impacts. USCIS agreed that this work is clearly important to the nation. Our next step was to demonstrate that our client is well positioned to continue to advance in this field, and we demonstrated this by providing information about her prestigious background in the field and discussing her publications and citation record, as well as describing her specific research endeavors in more depth. . In addition, we also discussed the client's peer review service and submitted letters of recommendation from experts in her field giving a subjective opinion of the value of her research. Overall, USCIS found the evidence compelling and decided that this client merited a national interest exemption.

I am very happy that my NIW case was approved! It was great working with John and EllisPorter's highly skilled immigration team. At every moment of the process, I knew that my case was being given exceptional attention to detail, leaving nothing important out. I am happy to recommend them to anyone looking to get a personalized service for their NIW petition.

-dr. HERE. X.H.

NIW Approved for Computer Scientist - (June 2020 Edition):

When this client first approached us and explained his work and background, we knew we could help him design a strong NIW petition. For more than a decade, he has studied numerous topics in his field and developed new methods and models for solving long-standing problems. Although USCIS officers are generally not trained in advanced scientific study topics, we wanted to make sure they understood that our client had consistently produced valuable and ground-breaking work that advanced the work of his colleagues. To do this, we discussed our client's research work and its value in detail, and we also supplemented these descriptions with other evidence, including letters of recommendation from other experts in the field, invitations to present his work, and discussion of funding his work had received. from private and state entities. Working together, we were able to develop a case that demonstrated this client's work and his value to USCIS, and his case was approved.

The NIW process ended up being more detailed than I initially expected, but John was always available to discuss my questions and consistently responded with thoughtful responses addressing my concerns. In fact, he is really amazing and responds too fast. He took care of our case and I never had a problem with him being late. At every moment of the process I felt as if he had his fingers on the pulse of my case, as he gave me specific advice on a range of evidence. Thanks to John's attention to detail, I believe we filed the best possible case and he added things to make my case much stronger. Thanks for helping me get NIW approved!

-dr. HERE. K.D.

NIW approved with an emphasis on qualitative evidence in the field of chemistry - (May 2020 edition):

As many of our clients know, USCIS puts more emphasis on the importance of citations. While citations are indeed one way to measure the impact a researcher has made on their field, they should by no means be an essential element of a petition. In this month's landmark endorsement, our client possessed several dozen citations for his work, as well as a wide range of qualitative evidence showing that his work had attracted the attention of other experts in his field. Our client was able to provide impressive qualitative evidence, including emails requesting the use of his work by an international organization, funding from various US and international organizations, and a large number of citation examples that rely heavily on our client's publications to informed their research studies. Thanks in large part to the extensive experience HSI attorneys have gained through years of preparing high-profile immigration petitions, our client's petition detailed how his work not only made a lasting impact in the field through his citation record, but also through our client's qualitative evidence. After careful petition preparation, our client received NIW approval without an RFE in just six months.

I am a PhD candidate in the United States, I was looking for a lawyer who could help me determine what is required for NIW approval during a very busy and stressful period of my academic career. Jonathan Goslow and the HSI team not only helped me determine what evidence the USCIS officer would consider meaningful, but also guided me through the NIW preparation process keeping in mind that I don't have a lot of free time outside of my PhD work. Not only did I get NIW approval without an RFE, but I was so impressed with John's team that I re-engaged Ellis Porter to handle my adjustment of status. Jonathan was great to work with and I can't recommend him and his team enough. I am so glad that I will continue to receive their help in the next stages of my immigration journey.

-OH.

Approved NIW for Mechanical Engineer after RFE- (Special Edition):

Even when you have a strong case and a large amount of good evidence, USCIS can sometimes surprise you by issuing a Request for Evidence - RFE. It's important not to panic when you receive an RFE, as sometimes the officer issuing the RFE may just want a simple clarification or explanation. Even when an RFE can seem daunting, as in this case where the reviewing officer challenged almost every part of this client's original petition, approval is still likely if you have hired an experienced attorney who is familiar with your case and the best ways to respond to an RFE.

Here, the reviewing officer provided a list of additional evidence that we could submit to further support the client's case; however, it quickly became clear to us that we had already submitted much of this newly requested evidence with the initial submission. Based on this observation, we suspected that the reviewing officer had not actually taken much time to review our client's case prior to issuing the RFE, so we chose to respond with a simple strategy of explaining to the officer that we had already submitted much of this evidence, and included several more detailed explanations and materials. This strategy worked in the short term, as our client's case was approved shortly after USCIS received our response. While it is true that USCIS can be confusing at times, it is still possible to be successful if you have an attorney experienced in understanding their requirements.

It's never exciting to hear that you've received an RFE. But after speaking with John and reviewing his proposed RFE response strategy, I felt more confident that my case would still be successful. I worked closely with John to secure the additional materials and information he needed to respond to my RFE, and his plan was ultimately successful, as my NIW was ultimately approved. I am very grateful that I chose to work with Ellis Porter and John, because of his confidence and knowledge of RFEs, they felt we could still get NIW approval, which eventually happened.

-g. J D.

Approved NIW for Physician and Researcher - (April 2020 edition):

When this client approached us and explained her work, we knew she had a good NIW case as long as we made sure to properly explain her work to USCIS. Specifically, this client is a research physician who has studied a range of topics in clinical medicine including oncology, radiology, and hematology, and has additionally had experience working as a practicing clinician. While it is clear to us that her multiple experiences and education are well-qualified to continue to make groundbreaking strides in her field, we have occasionally seen USCIS misunderstand the work of physician researchers and issue RFEs on the basis that a clinician's work is not of national importance per se since clinicians provide only localized care. For this reason, we highlighted the research work of our client, because the AAO previously confirmed that the research is of national importance. Therefore, our strategy for this client was to include a detailed discussion of her past and ongoing research and its success in our explanation of her accomplishments and ongoing research plans. USCIS ultimately agreed with our assessment of our client's ability, as they approved her NIW without an RFE.

What great news that my NIW petition has been approved! Attorney John Goslow was very helpful throughout the process of gathering and organizing my supporting documents, as well as putting together the submission we submitted to USCIS explaining why I qualified for NIW. At every point I felt he had a good understanding of my case and the points we should make to ensure success. It was great working with John.

-Dr. S.S.

NIW Approval after RFE for Mechanical Engineer- (Special Edition):

Sometimes when we receive an RFE from USCIS, it's clear they haven't spent much time reviewing the evidence we originally submitted. That was true in this case, where our client was a mechanical engineer whose work improves energy efficiency in buildings and other systems. Although we detailed his work in our original submission and provided numerous examples that underscore the importance of work in this area to the United States, including letters of recommendation from other experts in the field and information from U.S. government agencies that confirm the value of this type of research to improving energy efficiency in the U.S.- in, USCIS nevertheless issued an RFE seeking additional evidence that our client's work has significant merit and national importance. Likewise, although we provided a letter from the client himself explaining his specific plans to continue working in his field, USCIS questioned whether he was in a good position to continue moving forward with those plans.

Fortunately, it wasn't difficult to respond to this RFE. To answer the client area importance question, we simply referred the USCIS officer back to the original petition and provided details of the US government funding of the client's work and additional statistics on the importance of the client area to the United States. Additionally, since the initial petition, the client has begun working with a US National Laboratory, so we were able to use this evidence to demonstrate both the national importance of the client's work, as well as to demonstrate that it is likely to continue to impact its field while worked in the USA. Within a month of submitting the response package to the RFE, USCIS approved the NIW petition.

John Goslow did a fantastic job on my NIW petition. Although I was initially nervous after receiving the RFE, John assured me that we had a lot of good evidence to answer him with. In the end, he was right and I was very happy to hear that my case was approved less than a month after we sent our response to RFE. Both the initial submission and the RFE response were very detailed and I would be happy to recommend John and Ellis Porter to any mechanical engineer looking to submit an NIW petition. Thanks again, John and the HSI team!

-Dr. C.O.

Mathematician Approved- (March 2020 edition):

As many permanent residence applicants know, requests for evidence ('RFEs') are never fun to receive. Although USCIS appears to issue RFEs more frequently, each RFE is different and should be handled with professional care. Our attorneys not only review RFEs to see what evidence according to USCIS the petitioner is missing, but also to find any misstatements or misapplication of the law by the participating officers. The highly skilled immigration attorneys at Ellis Porter have extensive experience responding to literally hundreds of RFEs, so you can take comfort in the fact that when you hire us to process your petition, you also have a strong, experienced RFE team for your unfortunate RFE issue.

In this month's landmark endorsement, our client is a mathematician with strong credentials who submitted his petition to the Texas Service Center. When his case was received by RFE, our attorneys noted that the clerk of court who reviewed the case made significant errors, including ignoring key evidence included in the original petition. After gathering new evidence to bolster our client's original submission, we prepared a response to the RFE that addressed the officer's concerns, corrected the officer's errors in the RFE notice, and used new documentation submitted with the response to the RFE to confirm that our client clearly qualifies under the NIW standards. The clerk eventually agreed with our attorneys and issued a NIW approval to our client just a few months later. Long story short, although RFEs can be daunting, having an experienced attorney in your corner can make all the difference!

After speaking with Jonathan about the officer's obvious mistake and hearing Jonathan's plan to address the officer's concerns, I felt very confident that I had hired the right legal team to prepare my case. Jonathan demonstrated expert knowledge of what the clerk of court was looking for, and based on Jonathan's recommendations, we compiled additional evidence to make my strong case even stronger. After receiving my NIW approval notice, it's clear the judge agreed with us! I am so glad I hired Jonathan and am very grateful for all the help in my case from the High-Skilled Immigration Team!

-Dr. M.Z.

NIW Approved for Fast Access - (Special Edition):

In a significant endorsement this month, our client's research has received hundreds of citations, has been published in some of the most prestigious journals in his field, and has been invited to give many notable speeches by other experts in his field of clinical research. The High-Skilled Immigration team at Ellis Porter believes that merely highlighting the underlying evidence – including our client's prolific citation and publication record – should not be the sole focus of a petition. Indeed, our legal team devised a strategy that incorporated our client's notable speaking engagements, memberships, degrees from prestigious universities, and the impact of the client's research on real-world clinical medicine. The moral of this month's success story is that while many law firms emphasize the importance of a few quantitative metrics as the "end-all-be-all" for USCIS, there are many more avenues for evidence that we can look for and highlight for each client. Our winning strategy was confirmed after our client received NIW approval without an RFE.

I am truly grateful to Jonathan Goslow and the Ellis Porter team for helping me get NIW approval so quickly. Jonathan was always available to answer my questions throughout the NIW process. The petition he prepared for my case did an outstanding job of showing my accomplishments. Jonathan advised that my credentials were best suited to Ellis Porter's expeditious NIW service and as a result I was surprised and impressed at how quickly my case was brought. I have already recommended Ellis Porter to many of my friends and colleagues.

-dr. HERE. S.G.

Researcher turned entrepreneur - (February 2020 edition):

In this month's landmark endorsement, our client was a former PhD student who decided to start his own company after graduating. Because his case would not be based directly on publications or citations, we knew this client would need to combine strategies that cross paradigms. By critically analyzing their situation and combining strategies that have been successful in the past for both researchers and entrepreneurs, this client was able to obtain approval without an RFE.

When I started researching immigration companies for my NIW, I knew it would be a challenge to find a lawyer who could understand how my research and entrepreneurial plans intersected. Jonathan was able to not only understand how my research experience directly related to my business endeavors, but was able to clearly communicate those plans in my letters of recommendation and legal brief. My legal team produced extremely high quality materials for my claim, which for me was one of the most important attributes I was looking for in the firm I chose. Jonathan also supported me by responding quickly to my immigration questions throughout the process. I was so impressed with Jonathan's work on my NIW petition that I later decided to hire him again to handle my O-1 visa and my family's adjustment of status case. I am grateful to the HSI team with Ellis Porter for all the work they did to get my case approved so quickly, with special thanks to Jonathan Goslow for his attention to detail and careful preparation of my case.

-H.S.

NIW Six Month Endorsement for Materials Scientist - (Special Edition):

In this month's landmark endorsement, our client is a materials scientist completing his postdoctoral research at a renowned university. This client focuses his research on developing new approaches for new medical and laser technologies. Although our client already possessed strong credentials when he hired us, the petition we prepared further highlighted a number of qualitative attributes of his case, including collaboration agreements with well-known companies and extensive funding for his research. While the petition preparation process is an important element that our clients value, we also pride ourselves on our attention to client communication. Our client was very satisfied with the response of our staff and lawyers to his questions about the preparation of the case. Not only was our client able to obtain his NIW in just six months, but his case was approved without an RFE.

After speaking with attorney Jonathan Goslow, it was clear to me that the highly skilled immigration team has extensive experience handling cases with credentials similar to mine. Even though I knew my credentials were good, I wanted to make sure I was putting my case in the best hands. Not only was John able to get my case going in just a few short months, but I was so impressed with his work that I engaged Ellis Porter to prepare my AOS application at the same time. My results speak for themselves! For anyone who already feels confident in their credentials but wants to be sure their case is under the best possible care, I cannot recommend Ellis Porter highly enough.

-Dr. M.K.

NIW Exceptional Ability Approval for a Bioinformatics Researcher- (January 2020 edition):

Although it is often thought that an NIW petition requires an advanced degree, this is not necessarily the case. For example, while this client was studying for his PhD, the highest degree he had already earned was a BS degree. Nevertheless, we were able to successfully help this client obtain NIW approval through exceptional ability by demonstrating that he has a Bachelor of Science degree related to his area of ​​expertise, that he is a member of several professional organizations related to his field, and that he has received significant recognition for his achievements in your area. Specifically, we demonstrated this recognition in a number of ways, such as including letters of recommendation and testimonials attesting to the utility and value of the client's work, as well as discussing media coverage and funding for the client's research. Our strategy worked well as this client's case was approved without receiving an RFE. It's good to remember that there is more than one way to get NIW approval!

It was great working with the Ellis Porter High-Skilled Immigration team and John. When I reached out about a possible NIW petition, I wasn't sure the best way to describe my accomplishments to USCIS, but John was able to suggest a number of pieces of evidence that should support my case well, including help with affidavits and letters of recommendation . And it worked! My case was approved without a problem. Thanks Ellis Porter and John!

-g. C.Y.

Approved NIW for Process Optimization Specialist working in Petroleum Engineering - (Special Edition):

Although the NIW petition can often work well for students and recent graduates, this type of petition is not limited to those who work in academia. Here, our client earned his master's degree nearly two decades ago, and his career took him into industry after that, and as such he has not published papers or presented at conferences as many of the NIW petitioners do. Instead, he gained experience in his field working for leading oil companies in numerous locations around the world. Over the years, he has developed many new methods to better optimize the performance of the technologies used in his industry. Since we couldn't submit any publication or citation evidence of the impact of his work because it was industry related, we thought outside the box and instead submitted a variety of other evidence, including numerous letters of recommendation from other experts in his field, internal company reports and presentations, and descriptions of his specific plans to continue working in the United States.

While some immigration attorneys would be hesitant to take on a non-traditional case like this, after reviewing his profile and overall career history, we could see that there was certainly a case for him qualifying for an NIW petition, as his work provided clear value to an industry important to the United States and since he had an impressive amount of experience and influence in his chosen field. USCIS agreed with our assessment, as his NIW case was approved at the Texas Service Center in just over six months.

I was very pleased to hear that my NIW petition was approved. When I first approached Ellis Porter, I was optimistic that I could get NIW approval. John explained to me the pros and cons of the application, and after discussion we decided to proceed with the NIW petition. I was quite impressed with the brief he put together and his guidance throughout the process. He provided thoughtful insights and explanations on each point. I'm glad I turned to Ellis Porter and would be happy to recommend them to anyone considering a NIW petition.

-g. L.J.

No quote? No problem! NIW Civil Engineer Approval Without Citation - (December 2019 Edition):

Our client in this case was a civil engineer. Although she had an impressive background in her field, including several advanced degrees and publications along with experience working with numerous paratransit organizations, her publications were not cited at the time we submitted her request. While we understand that citations are only one indicator of influence in one's field, it can be difficult to convince USCIS of such influence without a citation. To address this challenge, we first worked with the client to identify significant ways in which her work was implemented by others working in the construction industry. This was not challenging as our client had actually developed a number of models that were actively used by transport organizations in a number of countries. After identifying these examples, we looked for ways to demonstrate this implementation of her work, such as drafting and including testimonial letters. All in all, we were able to easily demonstrate the importance of our client's work and she received NIW approval.

Putting together a good case for my NIW petition ended up being easier than I expected thanks to the help of Jonathan and Ellis Porter! When I first approached the EP, I was not sure what type of evidence would be best for my case, although I felt that I did indeed have the necessary qualifications to obtain an NIW. When I discussed my background with John, he agreed with me and together we were able to create a strong case that successfully convinced USCIS. I am so glad I decided to work with Jonathan!

-Dr. M.R.

NIW approved for entrepreneurs without RFE- (special edition 2019):

While it is widely known that the NIW category is a great option for researchers, it is actually a viable option for many business professionals and entrepreneurs as well! As noted under the Dhanasar decision, professionals in business ventures with plans to provide substantial benefit to the US may also pursue NIW. In this month's landmark endorsement, our client is a successful entrepreneur with a well-established plan to build an employment-focused services company.

Fortunately, while entrepreneurial NIW cases are relatively rare, Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration attorneys are well-versed in how best to prepare such cases. Our lawyers reiterated the precedent set in Dhanasar for entrepreneurs, reiterating the overall importance of entrepreneurship to the national interest. Given the extensive and detailed plan our client had for his business, we were able to clearly demonstrate how he is well positioned to continue implementing this plan for years to come. By building a connection between our client's past work and his future business goals, we were able to get his NIW petition approved in just 8 months.

I want to thank the highly skilled immigration team, especially attorney Jonathan Goslow who prepared my NIW petition. After hiring another law firm to handle my situation, I had a very clear vision in mind of the type of law firm I wanted to work with for my NIW petition. Jonathan and his team fit well into this vision. After an extensive review of my situation, Jonathan and his team prepared a straightforward, sharp NIW petition that focused on all the essential elements of my business and entrepreneurial goals. Importantly, John was able to not only prepare my petition quickly, but also took the time to explain in detail what evidence was useful to my case and why. The case preparation process was a valuable learning experience, and after receiving a positive outcome on my RFE-free petition, it is clear to me that I made the right choice.

-G.N.

No advanced degree? No problem! NIW Approved Bioinformatics Researcher of Exceptional Ability - (November 2019 Edition):

Although it is often thought that an NIW petition requires an advanced degree, this is not necessarily the case. For example, while this client was studying for his PhD, the highest degree he had already earned was a BS degree. Nevertheless, we were able to successfully help this client obtain NIW approval through exceptional ability by demonstrating that he has a Bachelor of Science degree related to his area of ​​expertise, that he is a member of several professional organizations related to his field, and that he has received significant recognition for his achievements in your area. Specifically, we demonstrated this recognition in a number of ways, such as including letters of recommendation and testimonials attesting to the utility and value of the client's work, as well as discussing media coverage and funding for the client's research. Our strategy worked well as this client's case was approved without receiving an RFE. It's good to remember that there is more than one way to get NIW approval!

It was great working with the Ellis Porter High-Skilled Immigration team and John. When I reached out about a possible NIW petition, I wasn't sure the best way to describe my accomplishments to USCIS, but John was able to suggest a number of pieces of evidence that should support my case well, including help with affidavits and letters of recommendation . And it worked! My case was approved without a problem. Thanks Ellis Porter and John!

-g. C.Y.

The entrepreneur has NIW approval without RFE- (special edition 2019):

As we have noted in many of our success stories, the High-Skilled Immigration team believes that every case is unique - that is, there is no such thing as a "standard" or "typical" case. A wide range of professionals can qualify for a NIW petition under the Dhanasar Framework, so working with an attorney who takes the time to emphasize your accomplishments and credentials under this legal standard is invaluable. For this month's landmark approval, our client is a PhD student in electrical engineering. Interestingly, although his work has already resulted in dozens of citations, he has also been contacted by many of his colleagues to share their models for their own work, which we took particular care to emphasize in the client's legal brief. In addition to this evidence, our client has also been active as an editorial board member for numerous publications, which we mentioned in his legal brief to demonstrate his continued contribution to his field. In addition, our attorneys made sure to emphasize that our client's research is directly relevant to the prevention of cyberattacks, which is of course important to US security interests. In addition to the quality of his legal brief, our client was also impressed with how easily he was able to get in touch with his attorney. We are pleased that our client received NIW approval without an RFE.

As a PhD student, I contacted Ellis Porter Immigration Attorneys knowing that I was investing a significant amount of time and money in the next step of my immigration goals. Therefore, it was incredibly important to me that my attorney be sensitive and thorough in his work. I'm basically an electrical engineer, so I came up with a research plan to find the best lawyer. I read a lot about the process and came up with a list of questions to ask different attorneys. I have contacted so many immigration attorneys across the US. To be honest, Jonathan Goslow stood out in so many ways, he was honest, very realistic in his answers, very sensitive, straight to the point, very patient and aware of the immigration system and how you should approach it based on your current situation. I ended up hiring Jonathan to handle my NIW petition and I'm so glad! Not only was Jonathan thorough and reassuring throughout the process, he also provided me with high quality letters of recommendation and a legal brief on short notice. To say that I am impressed with his work is an understatement! Jonathan offers very high quality services for affordable fees and no hidden/surprise fees, he explains everything clearly up front. His team is highly qualified and also very responsive, thanks Chelsea Affholter. This is a journey where you have to be very careful who you end up choosing. It is worth mentioning that I have visited various websites to see the ratings of immigration attorneys and I want to emphasize that these ratings do not reflect the truth of the actual winning rate. I know that other colleagues choose other lawyers, which I mentioned when choosing, and unfortunately, their cases did not go through, knowing that they paid a lot more fees and there were a lot of hidden fees. Thanks again to the highly skilled immigration team, especially Jonathan Goslow.

-Dr. M.S.

Computer NIW approved for computer engineer with 20 citations, no PhD- (October 2019 edition):

In this month's landmark approval, our client was a researcher in the field of computer engineering, with a specialty in wireless security and cyber attack prevention. Although our client was still in the process of completing his PhD, he had already been cited 20 times by the time his case was filed. This is of course an impressive citation record in itself, however our NIW case strategies go beyond simply highlighting impressive citation metrics. Indeed, given the direct relevance of the client's work to national security, it was worth noting at length in his petition how critical his ongoing work is to US interests. Our petition also outlined how his work impacted his colleagues in the field through impressive additional metrics. By demonstrating the tangible impact of your research on your peers as well as future national security applications in the United States.

As many of our clients know, working with an attorney well versed in NIW strategies is critical to a successful petition. While highly skilled immigration attorneys have extensive experience in NIW petitions, it's also important to hire an attorney who is available to you—in fact, our client in this month's landmark clearance was able to speak directly to his attorney in less than 24 business hours on many occasions. The High-Skilled Immigration team understands that your pressing immigration issues require attention and the utmost attention.

I had a wonderful time working with the Ellis Porter team, especially attorney Jonathan Goslow. Jonathan was always quick to respond to my questions and comments, and had time to talk to me on the phone if I had additional questions. I was impressed with his approachability and how thorough he was in answering all my questions about the immigration process. It was also very encouraging to hear that Jonathan had extensive experience preparing NIW petitions for researchers with similar credentials to myself. I was extremely impressed with the quick outcome of my NIW submission. Thanks again to Jonathan and the Ellis Porter team for all their hard work preparing my case!

- Mr. DO.

Approved NIW for Electrical Engineer - (Special Edition):

When this client detained us, he explained to us that his goal was to get a green card. Unfortunately, even though we were confident he had a strong I-140 petition, he would not be able to immediately file for the next step of the process (adjustment of status) because he was born in China and the NIW and EB1A priority dates were not current for China at the time. So we had to think outside the box to help this client achieve his goal and come up with a "grand strategy" for his situation.

While an EB1A approval usually has a more current priority date than an NIW approval for someone born in China, the EB1A must also meet a higher standard, so it can be more difficult to get an EB1A case approved. Our client had strong credentials so we developed a personalized approach that would best suit this client's needs. To increase the chances of approval and secure a priority date as soon as possible, we first submitted this client's NIW petition, which was approved without an RFE. We were then able to take the time to put together a strong EB1A petition with minimal additional work on behalf of the client, which we subsequently filed. Finally, to ensure his ability to remain in the United States while waiting for his priority date to become current, we also quickly filed an O1A petition on behalf of his employer, which was also quickly approved.

While there are a number of ways to work in the United States and obtain a green card, many of these ways are not the most expedient or cost-effective options. At Ellis Porter, we take the time to understand your specific situation and needs and develop an immigration strategy specifically for you, carefully outlining the pros/cons of each scenario to best suit your situation and priorities.

When I contacted Ellis Porter, my goal was to continue working in the United States and eventually get a green card. Being born in China, I knew that the situation would probably be a bit complicated since my priority date would not be immediate. However, when I explained my situation and goals to John, he developed a filing strategy for me that ultimately secured me a priority date with this approved NIW petition, and in the meantime filed an O1 petition for me to continue working in the US while I wait for my priority date to become current. John and his colleague were always patient and efficient with my requests and all queries were answered within 48 hours. Our cooperation was incredibly smooth. I am so happy to have worked with John and the rest of the Ellis Porter team and cannot recommend them highly enough!

-X.G.

A psychiatric nurse practicing outside the US is NIW approved (September 2019 edition):

Many different types of professionals can qualify for an NIW petition. In this case, our client was a psychiatric nursing professional working outside the United States. His work addresses a wide range of topics including grief awareness, substance abuse and racial inequality. In addition to performing clinical duties, he has also established various programs and committees at his workplace to address various mental health issues. Our client plans to continue researching and advancing the best ways to address substance abuse at the clinical, community, and policy levels. All in all, it was clear to our client that true health care requires a holistic approach to treating the person as a whole, and his work has reaffirmed that commitment time and time again. By describing the various accomplishments in his career and providing further evidence of the value of such work, we were able to clearly demonstrate to USCIS how this man's work was of clear benefit to the country.

When I first contacted Ellis Porter, I wasn't sure if I had the right experience to qualify for NIW since I do clinical work in addition to research. However, after speaking with John, he explained that my experience and skill set should be a good fit for NIW. Moreover, he emphasized both my clinical and research experience for my application, and this was clearly the right strategy – my case was approved without an RFE! Thank you John and Ellis Porter!

-Dr. A.F.

NIW Approved with our Fast Track - (August 2019 Edition):

The highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter prides itself on striking a balance between quality and timeliness. We know our clients are looking for an attorney who will provide a customized legal approach to their case preparation based on credentials and needs. For this month's approval, our client already had a strong NIW case, but wanted to make his case quickly while ensuring his claim was tailored to his unique credentials and evidence. Indeed, while our client possessed objectively strong evidence for his NIW petition, he also had numerous evidence that did not fit the "standard petition form," such as the use of his patent work by other organizations. This evidence, while easy to overlook, can be extremely useful in showing how the petitioner fits within the NIW framework. Our client was not only able to file his case quickly without sacrificing the quality of the petition, but his case was ultimately approved in just a few months.

While I knew I had strong NIW credentials when I first started looking for a legal team to handle my petition, I knew I wanted to prioritize the quality and depth of my petition. Getting the case out quickly was also a top priority, and while quality and speed may seem mutually exclusive, my attorney at Ellis Porter (Jonathan Goslow) was able to prioritize both. I cannot recommend the Ellis Porter HSI team enough!

-dr. HERE. M.H.

NIW Approved Water Treatment Specialist - (July 2019 edition):

For this approval, our client had good qualifications in his field of water treatment. When we filed his case, he was on his doctorate and had already published several papers, which themselves received dozens of citations. Moreover, due to his expertise and innovative research, several companies have expressed interest in collaborating with him and commercializing his discoveries. While these are all strong arguments for a NIW petition, the truth is that USCIS does not always adjudicate cases consistently, so it is very helpful to have an immigration professional in your corner when filing this type of petition. For this client, we were able to convince him of the strength of his petition and help him provide the best evidence possible, including compiling and including testimonial letters from industry leaders interested in adopting his work. Since we never know exactly what kind of evidence a USCIS officer will want to see when deciding your NIW petition, it's a good idea to be safe and cover all your bases with the help of experienced immigration attorneys like those at EllisPorter.

The NIW petition seemed like a complicated process, which is why I contacted EllisPorter. John was very responsive and made excellent suggestions based on my specific background, guiding me through each step of the process so that no step was too overwhelming. With his help, I was able to present my case confident that we had put together the strongest possible NIW case. This turned out to be true as my case was approved without an RFE. Thanks to John and EllisPorter!

-Dr. M.A.

Expedit NIW approval for a case filed in two weeks - (Special Edition):

When this client, a physicist studying liquid crystals, contacted us, we knew he had a strong NIW case and were excited to work with him on his NIW petition. In addition to his publications and citations, his work has also received media coverage and government and corporate funding. Moreover, his field of study has clearly been of great benefit to the United States, as liquid crystals are used in a number of ubiquitous technologies. While any one of these facts alone may not be sufficient to secure NIW approval, we felt we could create a legal brief that would strongly support his case explaining to USCIS how all of these facts together demonstrate that our client qualifies for NIW petition. Indeed, our belief was justified, as this client's case was ultimately approved by USCIS.

When I contacted EllisPorter, I was interested in submitting my NIW petition as soon as possible. John assured me that EP would be able to help me with this goal, which they certainly did - we filed my NIW petition about 2 weeks after I hired EllisPorter! It is also clear to me that they did not sacrifice quality for speed as my case was approved without receiving any RFE. If you are looking for a law firm that is willing to work closely with you to efficiently draft a high-quality petition, I highly recommend that you contact EllisPorter.

-g. T.T.

NIW approved with few citations- (special edition):

A common anxiety among people hoping to file an NIW petition is finding an attorney who will invest the time and care to understand their unique credentials. The highly skilled immigration team is proud to be known for developing tailored and personal strategies for our clients. In this case, we were able to assist the client with unique experience and expertise and, with our personalized reference letters and legal brief, get his NIW petition approved.

Our client has experience in academic publishing and research, and we were able to discuss these points in his legal brief. However, what really sets him apart – and what really makes him an ideal candidate for NIW – is that he has extensive experience outside of academia, particularly in public policy development work. By discussing this experience, we were able to demonstrate that our client's work (aimed at developing public policy to mitigate climate change) was clearly beneficial to the United States. Equally important, we were also able to show how this work prepared him to advance his career in the United States. By choosing the right legal team for his situation, our client now has an approved NIW.

I had a pleasant experience working with Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration team on my I-140 case. Attorney John Goslow was spot on in identifying the most important parts of my resume. I am so glad I hired an attorney who took the time to develop a strategy that was unique to me. I recommend John Goslow and the entire HSI team to anyone looking for a personalized approach to their I-140 petition!

-K.Z.

(Business NIW Approved- (Special Edition):

A common problem encountered by people who wish to submit an NIW petition is the difficulty in connecting past work in academic research and publishing with a proposed endeavor aimed at working in private industry or entrepreneurship. Fortunately, the highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter has worked with many clients who have faced this issue, and we are adept at developing customized solutions to present our clients' past work and their future goals as a coherent story. In one case, our client had extensive experience publishing papers in the field of computer science, and we were able to show how those papers—and the hundreds of citations they received—illustrated the impact he had on his field. This, in turn, allowed us to show that this experience, as well as his experience as a professor and entrepreneur, prepared him to lead a business focused on providing opportunities to people traditionally underrepresented in the technology industry through online education programs. By building a connection between our client's past work and his future goals, we were able to help him get his NIW petition approved. What's more, thanks to our fast service, he was able to get his petition approved without reference letters and without filling out a long summary of his accomplishments, saving time and money.

(NIW Endorsed by someone in the industry- (Special Edition):

While the NIW petition is known as an avenue for many academic researchers, NIW is actually viable for many scientists working in industrial settings as well. These individuals conducting research in industrial settings may feel intimidated by citations, since publication in an industrial setting is less common than in academia. For these individuals, it is important to remember that while citations are important, other qualitative documentation can be just as valuable as citations.

In a significant endorsement this month, our client is a highly qualified mechanical engineer with direct experience of improving energy use in buildings. Thanks in part to our client's outstanding research findings and practical experience, his work has not only been widely disseminated among other academics in his field and cited dozens of times, but has also been used in practical applications to improve energy use in buildings. This case is a perfect example of how the right immigration team can construct a case to highlight the impact of the petitioner's work on a broad scale.

NIW approved by Ellis Porter Expedite Service- (Special Edition):

Every NIW petitioner is unique, so every NIW petition needs a unique strategy. Some petitioners need a lot of supporting evidence to satisfy the NIW petition requirements; for example, someone working in a theoretical field with a low citation climate may need several reference letters from experts to provide context for their work. However, other people who have had a more easily demonstrable impact on their field may not need such supporting documentation. Because we evaluated our client's specific credentials—including the fact that he had published a number of journal articles that had been cited more than 100 times—we knew he had a good chance of approval even without supporting materials such as letters of reference. This assessment was reinforced by the fact that he was studying breast cancer and cancer metastasis, a proposed endeavor with clear public health benefits. As a result, we advised this client to use our expedited service, which saved him time and effort by not having to worry about preparing materials that were ultimately irrelevant. Our client was able to get his petition approved without an RFE and without a time- or labor-intensive process.

I am so pleased to have chosen Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration team for my NIW petition. They made the whole process simple and quick without sacrificing quality or results. The staff is very responsive and a pleasure to work with.

-F.M.

NIW Expedite Approved for Industrial Workers - (Special Edition):

Our talented and highly successful clients often have little time to prepare their NIW petitions due to the demands of their research and academic positions. With this in mind, the HSI team at Ellis Porter has developed a special expedited NIW preparation service for our highly successful clients who have accumulated hundreds of citations in their research careers.

In this month's landmark approval, our client is a highly experienced immunology researcher with over 1,000 citations. While our client's citation record alone is an outstanding achievement, his legal brief also emphasized the qualitative elements of his case, such as his clinical trial work and membership in prestigious organizations. Through a well thought out, thoroughly prepared expedited petition, our client was able to obtain NIW approval without an RFE.

Jonathan made my case preparation extremely smooth - based on his experience handling expeditious cases for investigators with similar qualifications to myself, I was confident from the start of my case preparation all the way through my submission that I had hired the right attorney. Not only did Jonathan and the HSI team make my case preparation a breeze, but I was very impressed with their attention to detail. For example, my legal brief skillfully describes my research history in a comprehensible way that a judge can easily understand, while emphasizing how important my work is to the US. I am so glad I hired the right immigration team to handle my case!

-Dr. M.F.

NIW Approval for Industry Specialist - (June 2019 Edition):

As demonstrated by several of our past landmark approvals, the highly skilled immigration team prides itself on our extensive knowledge and experience in highlighting unique, qualitative evidence. Having handled literally thousands of cases, the HSI team is well equipped to emphasize non-traditional evidence in our NIW petitions. Many of our clients who work in the private sector, for example, have good evidence to show the importance of their work in their fields. In these cases, it is crucial to hire the right legal team that is best suited to highlight the private sector experience in the petition.

In this month's landmark endorsement, our client has an impressive record of publication and citations, but what could easily have been overlooked were his experiences in improving broadcasting in the United States. Because he did not work in an academic environment, his current work was not implemented in the form of citations. We were able to prepare a petition that not only highlighted some of the more commonly recognized evidence of his influence in the form of quotes, but also explained in detail how his work in broadcasting was another manifestation of his influence on the ground. Through this explanation, we were also able to demonstrate that his projected work in this arena is critical to US interests. Although unique, qualitative evidence may be uncommon, situations like this demonstrate an important point: NIW petitions are best prepared through a thorough, comprehensive discussion of the client's career achievements and credentials.

My area of ​​research spans several relevant academic and practice fields, and during my search for a lawyer, I knew I wanted someone who had experience with cases similar to mine. Jonathan's impressive record of endorsements was a perfect fit for what I was looking for in an attorney. Not only was communication with Jonathan very quick and efficient, but my case was prepared in a similar manner. I was so impressed with Jonathan's handling of my I-140 petition that I hired Ellis Porter to also handle my adjustment of status case.

-A.L.

EB1B Approved with Focus on Qualitative Evidence - (Special Issue):

An EB1B petition requires that you not only meet at least two of Kazarian's criteria, but also that you complete a final merit decision where a USCIS officer considers all of your evidence together to decide whether or not you are outstanding in your field. For this client, a mechanical engineer working for a qualified employer, we were able to demonstrate that he met not just two, but three of the required criteria. Although not technically required, we believe that providing this additional evidence helped convince the USCIS officer that our client was in fact outstanding in his field. Moreover, the final determination of merit takes a more subjective view of the evidence provided, as it considers all the evidence together to understand the bigger picture of the client's impact and their work in the field. For this reason, we not only provided objective evidence such as the client's publications and peer review confirmations, but also provided specific examples of how our client's colleagues have used their work, a discussion of the prestige of the journals in which the client's work has been published, and detailed letters of recommendation from others. experts in the client's field who could personally confirm the value that the client's work brings to ongoing research in his field of expertise. In our experience, this comprehensive approach to gathering a diverse set of evidence ensured that our client smoothly met the final merits decision and ultimately obtained approval of their EB1B petition.

It was great working with John and EllisPorter on my EB1B petition. At every point in the process, they provided guidance and suggestions that helped make my case as strong as possible. Additionally, John and his team responded promptly to all of my questions and concerns throughout the process. In the end, I have no doubt that their expertise paid off – my case was approved in less than two weeks without an RFE! I would recommend EllisPorter to anyone looking for professional guidance when it comes to an EB1B petition.

-Dr. S.A.

NIW Endorsement with Special Attention to Qualitative Evidence - (Special Edition):

One question our clients often struggle with is which of their accomplishments would USCIS find most impressive? This is a challenging question – not all USCIS officers adjudicate cases the same way, and it can be difficult to determine exactly what an officer is looking for. Even our clients with good citation records know that preparing a strong petition goes beyond just their citation record. It is far more impressive to provide the adjudicating officer with a comprehensive, well-rounded synopsis of their career history and accomplishments than to simply highlight only a citation record. What would be considered most important to a USCIS officer in reviewing an NIW petition might seem like common sense, but in our experience, it's best to have an experienced legal team in your corner to help you evaluate what documentation is ideal to submit for NIW. In this month's approval, our client knew he wanted to hire an attorney who could comprehensively illustrate the full impact of his work in the field and thus show exactly how these achievements in materials science directly align with US interests. While our client himself had a very high citation record, he also had several other numerous outstanding accomplishments that would otherwise have been overlooked in the rush of case preparation. By selecting a legal team with proven expertise in creating custom petitions, our client obtained NIW approval in just over 8 months.

Although the Ellis Porter legal team assured me throughout the case preparation process that my credentials were strong, I was most concerned about making sure that my case highlighted all of my most impressive accomplishments in a way that would impress the officer. While I've noticed that many web forums discussing immigration have mixed reviews about what is most important to USCIS for NIW, I'm glad I hired Jonathan Goslow to guide me on what evidence is best formideliver. This took a lot of the guesswork out of it for me – and saved me a lot of time and worry – so I can't recommend the Ellis Porter High-Skilled Immigration team enough!

-Dr. NAS.

NIW Engineer Endorsement with Several Citations - (May 2019 Edition):

In order to qualify for an NIW petition, USCIS requires you to demonstrate that the work you are doing is important and that you are well positioned to make strides in your field in the future. For researchers, these claims are often proven by providing evidence of an extensive publication and citation record, but this begs the question – what if you don't have an extensive publication and citation record, due to the nature of your field, industry experience, or some other reason? Can a researcher still qualify for an NIW petition without strong publication and citations?

If you hire the right immigration attorney, the answer is a resounding yes. In this case, our client was an automotive engineer who not only had a great academic background, including several advanced degrees from highly regarded institutions around the world and experience leading several academic departments, but also had experience working in the private sector, where he succeeded apply your knowledge to impact real-world industries. Unfortunately, his publication and citation records were weaker than many who submit NIW petitions, but after learning more about his specific research and experience, it was clear to us that he should qualify for this petition. First, he had ample evidence of the importance of his work, which we were able to demonstrate by including mentions of government and private funding for his studies, awards he won, and industry interest in his work. Moreover, we have included a detailed discussion of the specifics of his research work and his future plans to continue working in his field. Given our experience with NIW petitions, we knew what specific topics to highlight which ultimately resulted in success for this client.

AAfter speaking with John I was confident that my NIW case could be very successful. Once we began the process of gathering and documenting my case, I could see that the materials John put together for me really explained the details of my research so that the USCIS officer could understand their importance to human security, the US economy, and the environment. I would recommend John and EllisPorter to anyone who thinks they may qualify for NIW, as I am confident that their expertise played a large part in my approval!

-Dr. T. O.-H.

NIW Zero Citation Engineer Approval - (Special Edition):

One of the many benefits of hiring Attorney Ellis Porter for your NIW preparation is that you have a team of RFE experts ready to process your RFE response should you need it. A poorly written RFE can make it difficult to decipher what the court clerk is looking for, making it even more important when choosing an experienced attorney to handle your case. Fortunately, our attorneys on the highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter are experienced in responding to EB-2 and EB-1 RFE requests, so when you hire an HSI attorney to prepare your application, you also have a strong RFE response advocate in your corner should you need it. In this landmark special issue approval, our client prepared his own I-140 NIW application and soon found himself with an RFE. Unsure of how to respond to what the officer was asking, our client sought the advice of a highly qualified immigration team to respond to his NIW RFE response. Although our client has only had a few citations, he has very strong qualitative credentials, including the fact that his work has been used by notable US institutions. It even boasts several highly regarded memberships, which the judge overlooked, among other things. Although it was very clear in his initial submission that our client wanted to continue his work in petroleum engineering, the judge was not even sure what our client's proposed venture was. Our strong rebuttal to the NIW RFE response elaborated very clearly on our client's proposed venture and highlighted its outstanding achievements as strongly as possible. Ultimately, our client's case was approved just a few short months after submitting his RFE response.

After I submitted my NIW petition, I received an RFE from the Texas Service Center clerk. My original submission was very clear, however RFE questioned even the clearest aspects of my case, including what I intended to do in the United States and how well I was positioned to do my job. It was extremely disheartening to receive this news, not to mention that the language in RFE's notice was frightening and vague. I am so glad I engaged Jonathan and the HSI staff to address my RFE response. Jonathan was able to answer all my RFE questions very quickly, and his wealth of knowledge and background in RFEs became clear to me early in the case preparation process. I am extremely grateful for Ellis Porter's help with my NIW petition. Choosing the HSI team for my NIW RFE response was the right choice!

-Dr. I.M.

NIW reported in weeks and approved in months - (April 2019 edition):

Many of our clients are busy, highly successful researchers who devote themselves and their free time to conducting key, ground-breaking new research in their disciplines. Their brilliance and hard work is clearly seen through their credentials, but their lack of free time presents an additional challenge during course preparation. With these specialized individuals in mind, our experienced attorneys have refined our fast-paced case preparation process to suit fast-moving clients with strong track records. This month's landmark endorsement is one such client with an outstanding track record of achievement over several decades in the field of zoology. Our attorneys worked closely with this client to gather evidence of his good background, while also preparing a legal brief based not only on his quotes, but also on the strong qualitative evidence our client was able to provide. Ultimately, his case was filed in just a few weeks and approved in a matter of months.

Due to the nature of my work, most of my day is often focused solely on my teaching and research responsibilities, leaving me little time to concentrate on preparing my I-140 case. Fortunately, the Ellis Porter High Skilled Immigration team offered me a service based on my credentials that involved a little document production on my part. The processing time for my petition and submission was very fast! Not only were John and the support staff incredibly communicative whenever I had questions, they were also very prompt and efficient in preparing my case. I'm glad my case was approved and I can't praise their professional services enough!

-Dr. S.R.

NIW Zero Citation Approval - (Special Edition):

Many people are under the impression that only researchers working in traditional publication-oriented academic positions are eligible for an NIW petition. This misconception is reinforced by individuals who only look at publication and citation records and ignore other good evidence to fit their cases into a preconceived mold of what an NIW petition should look like. One of the strengths of Ellis Porter's highly skilled immigration team is that we look at all aspects of our clients' backgrounds, not just their publications and citation records. This philosophy led us to work with a client who published a research paper that received a fair number of citations. But the main focus of his career was working in private industry, and he had a professional background that was just as impressive (if not more impressive) than his publishing history. We were able to compile a detailed summary and gather supporting evidence to prepare a petition package that highlighted his work in the industry and demonstrated how that work had a demonstrable impact on his field. We were also able to show how his intended work outside of academia was still inherently useful to the United States at the national level.

People who have published research but now work in private industry or other settings outside of academia, or people who plan to work outside of academia in the future, may be discouraged by individuals who only work with traditional researchers or only highlight their clients' research publications on the cost of another experience. This case demonstrates that by paying attention to all aspects of a client's background and working closely with the client throughout the petition process, Ellis Porter attorneys can help people with proposed endeavors outside of traditional research demonstrate that they, too, qualify for an NIW petition.

I definitely recommend Ellis Porter. They worked closely with me and really understood my background and career. The strategy they developed was unique to my situation and highlighted my many strengths, rather than just relying on citations because that wasn't the only aspect of my career applicable to my petition. The entire process of filing my petition went smoothly because Attorney John Goslow guided me through the process very well, and the rest of the Ellis Porter staff were always quick to respond and their responses were always based on my specific situation. I am grateful to Ellis Porter and Attorney John Goslow for the amazing job they did with my petition.

-g. S.M.

NIW approval with qualitative evidence- (March 2019):

As many of our clients know, USCIS places great emphasis on reviewing quantitative aspects of an applicant's case, such as citations. We believe that while citations can certainly be good evidence of how influential a researcher has been in their field, citations alone should not be the deciding factor in obtaining approval. However, what can turn a good case into a great case is highlighting other qualitative attributes of the applicant's credentials or accomplishments through careful case preparation and close collaboration between the client and their attorney. In this month's approval, our client's citation record was directly linked to excellent qualitative evidence such as collaboration with a research center and numerous significant citations to his work that helped him stand out from just a good case toGreatthe case. This careful preparation ultimately led to our client being approved for NIW.

When I first contacted Jonathan Goslow at Ellis Porter, I knew I was looking for an attorney who would be able to go beyond simply highlighting my citation record and really dig deep into my career accomplishments to prepare a strong case. Jonathan and other attorneys and legal staff from the highly skilled immigration team carefully reviewed my case and prepared my petition. I was so pleased with the Ellis Porter legal team that I decided to hire them to process my I-485 petition.

-Mr. AD.

Non-Researcher Approved for NIW- (Special Edition):

An NIW petition is often thought of as a petition for researchers, but in fact non-researchers can also get an NIW petition approved—especially if they have an attorney willing to take the time to understand their unique background in the context of NIW petitions. In this case, our client was a software engineer with a decade of experience in his field. Although he did not have the usual publication and citation record often associated with an NIW petition, we could see that his credentials still qualified him for NIW petition approval. By explaining to USCIS that his diverse experience working in a number of private industries showed that he was likely to continue to excel in his field and by submitting evidence from a variety of sources such as letters, media reports and information about the client's successful projects, we were able to USCIS -to demonstrate that our client is qualified for NIW petition approval.

That being said, the NIW petition doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all category that only applies to researchers. Each person's background is unique, so each case is judged on its individual merits. This approval is one example that demonstrates the importance of demonstrating to USCIS that a petitioner is well positioned to advance their field, whether or not they are a traditional researcher.

I am so glad to have been able to work with Attorney Jonathan and the HSI team at Ellis Porter. I was hesitant to file an NIW petition because I knew my situation was unusual, but after speaking with Jonathan, he convinced me that I should qualify for an NIW petition approval even though I have gained most of my experience in the industry. Looking back, it's clear that I made the right choice! I am happy to recommend Ellis Porter to anyone who thinks they might qualify for an NIW petition - the lawyers there are very knowledgeable and can explain the pros and cons of filing any type of petition given your qualifications, providing the best advice for your particular situation.

-U.F.

NIW approved through exceptional ability without an advanced degree- (February 2019):

This month's featured approval is an NIW case for a client working in the field of RNA and cancer biology. This researcher focuses his work on studying the physiology of cancer to learn what mechanisms drive cancer progression. Our client is a dual M.D. and Ph.D. candidate at a prestigious American institution. As our client had not yet obtained an advanced degree at the time of application, we ensured a thorough discussion of his eligibility as an individual of 'exceptional ability' based on his membership and extensive recognition of achievement. This client's case is an excellent illustration of the value of engaging an experienced attorney with extensive experience handling cases from a variety of academic profiles to ensure the best possible outcome. Although our client is an expert in cancer biological systems research, his case would not fit into a normal, boilerplate legal template since he does not have a graduate degree. We were able to put together a petition that reflects not only how the element of 'exceptional ability' is satisfied, but also how his ongoing contributions are critical to the interests of American healthcare. While the value of our client's research to US interests is very clear, we made sure the legal brief provided a thorough breakdown of the benefits of ongoing cancer research, including reduced treatment costs and improvements in public health. Our legal strategy strongly emphasizes cultivating a crafted and highly customized petition, and we think the quality of our work is reflected in our approvals.

Due to the unique attributes of our client's case, it was essential for him to be able to contact his attorneys directly throughout the case preparation process. Our client can get in touch with their lawyers directly by phone or email at their convenience.

I highly recommend working with the Ellis Porter High-Skilled Immigration Team. Although I initially had a lot of doubts about which immigration company to contact, as there are so many options, my first contact with Jonathan immediately cleared everything up. The difference Jonathan made was that he approached each case on a personal basis: there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Like everyone else who has gone through this process, I had so many questions and concerns. Jonathan was very patient throughout the process to explain every single issue and offered me an option that WORKS BEST for ME instead of one that would cost me dearly. Jonathan is not only a very competent and experienced attorney, but he was also extremely prompt and responsive throughout the entire preparation process. The flow of my case preparation was also extremely efficient. I am very glad that I decided to keep the HSI team at Ellis Porter. I can't thank Jonathan enough for all his hard work in helping me get NIW approved!

-H.N.

NIW Low Citation Case Approval - (Special Edition):

When you hire Ellis Porter to process your I-140 petition, you'll be hiring a single attorney to work with you from start to finish. From your initial inquiries through case preparation and filing, you can contact this person at any time with your immigration and case related questions. Our client, a postdoctoral chemical engineer, discovered this firsthand while working with John Goslow on his NIW petition. While in some ways our client had the same kinds of credentials that many NIW petitioners have—a solid publication and citation history with strong experience in their field—we found that each case could be strengthened by attention to detail. For example, by working closely with this client to understand his work, we were able to elicit examples of specific ways his colleagues used his findings to advance their own studies, which in turn helped us clearly explain to USCIS how our client's work impacts the work of his fellow researchers. When used in conjunction with objective evidence such as the prestige of the journals in which the client has published and statistics on the high citation rates of the client's publications, we have found this type of qualitative evidence to be very useful in ensuring a successful NIW petition.

We often hear stories about clients who often jump between lawyers and paralegals, which often results in unclear communication, misunderstandings and unnecessary stress. If you have a question about your particular case, you want it answered by an attorney who knows your case. At Ellis Porter, we know that you and your work are unique, and therefore you deserve an attorney who will take the time to learn the unique details of your case.

When I was researching which firm to retain for my NIW petition, I knew I didn't want to work with a law firm that answered my questions with answers on forms that seemed like they were going to use boilerplate templates to start my case. I was concerned that filing my case like this might not allow my credentials to be properly presented to USCIS, so I was grateful when I contacted Ellis Porter and John answered my questions quickly, clearly, and thoroughly. John was available to address my concerns during every step of the I-140 process and I believe his attention to crafting a case that would uniquely highlight my credentials and accomplishments was a key part of the approval of my NIW petition. Many thanks to Ellis Porter and John for the time and energy you put into making my case a success!

-Dr. HERE.

EB-1A Approval for Plant Biologist - (January 2019):

Even if a person's credentialsyou shouldto be good enough for EB1A approval, a lot depends on how that information is presented to USCIS. In this case, our client, a plant biologist, had previously been denied while working with another law firm. Our client knew his credentials warranted a claim of exceptional ability, but after being rejected elsewhere, he was unsure what to do. Fortunately, he reached out to us at that very moment and after speaking with him and reviewing his credentials, we could clearly see that he was well qualified, and so we happily agreed to work with him to file a new EB1A petition despite his previous denial because we clearly could see that his "story" was simply not told in the right light.

While his previous materials were helpful, we noticed a few areas that we thought could be improved to better showcase his credentials. For example, his previous EB1A petition claimed his field of molecular biology and genetics. However, after talking with the client and studying his case in more depth, we decided together that plant biology would probably be a better area to search for as it is more specific. This in turn allowed us to show that his more specific field was generally a lower cited field, which is more difficult to show for the broader field of molecular biology and genetics. In addition, the RFE the client had previously received disputed the claim that he had made original contributions of great importance to his field. We could see that this was clearly untrue as our client had made a number of significant contributions in his field, so we tried to find a better way to convince USCIS of this fact. Ultimately, we decided on a more holistic approach that considered not only the client's specific contributions but also their impact, which we demonstrated by describing significant citations of his work, the wide dissemination of his findings, the extensive funding he received, and the recognition of his work by a leading organization in its field. Furthermore, we asked the client to draft a letter of future intentions to submit with his case. In our experience, submitting such a letter is useful as it helps explain in detail how the client intends to continue to progress in their field in the future. Overall, our well-rounded presentation of the client's past contributions, their impact on his field, and his plans to continue his research work in the United States resulted in success for this client, and his new EB1A petition was approved in just 40 days even without the top processing.

I can't believe my EB1A case was approved in 40 days without top processing! I can't thank Ellis Porter enough. Jonathan and the HSI team were always realistic, yet optimistic, and made the whole process simple and stress-free. Before I came to EllisPorter, I previously filed an EB1A elsewhere, but it ended up being denied. So I reached out to John to see what could be done to fill the EB1A with EllisPorter instead and what ways were available to improve my second petition. Jonathan assured me that there were many things we could do and that making the case to focus on my specific strengths would likely lead to EB1A approval, and he was right. I am happy to recommend Ellis Porter not only because they helped get my case approved, but because they were great to work with and clearly experienced in filing thorough, personalized EB1A petitions.

-Dr. R.B.

NIW Expedited Case Approval- (Special Edition):

For this month's approval our featured client chose our 'expedite NIW' service. One of the benefits of working with our highly skilled immigration team is knowing that your case is handled by an experienced attorney preparing your application from start to finish. Our expedited NIW service is available to well-qualified individuals, who could submit their case in just a few weeks. The advantage of the expedite service is the fast delivery time. Given our approval rate and the ability to quickly file a case, NIW expedite service is a win-win for our clients.

For a prominent approval this month, our client was able to file his NIW petition in just a few weeks. Our client's HSI attorney provided comprehensive feedback on the best evidence to submit with his case, leading to approval in approximately 6 months. In addition to the peace of mind of knowing he had hired an experienced firm, our client was able to reach his attorney within 24 business hours for any questions or concerns he had regarding his case. The High-Skilled Immigration team prides itself on pioneering a personalized approach to petitioning and we strongly believe that our approval rate is a result of this highly individualized process. Whether you are interested in filing an NIW, EB-1 or O1 application, our clients can be confident that their HSI attorney will be available every step of the way.

Attorney John Goslow was an invaluable source of information and reassurance throughout the NIW process. I was excited to learn that John believed my credentials were strong enough to proceed with EllisPorter's expedited service and I believe this greatly expedited the submission process. It was also comforting to know that my attorneys have such strong success with NIWs. The fact that my case was approved so quickly without an RFE is impressive and I could not have done it without John and the HSI team. I am very grateful to the HSI team at Ellis Porter!

-Dr. BORN

NIW Public Health Researcher Approval - (December 2018):

One advantage of our NIW service is that our designed approach to petition preparation allows the qualitative achievements of the petitioner to really stand out as exceptional. This month's featured endorsement is a perfect example of why an individualized approach to a case is absolutely critical to the outcome. We have had the privilege of working with a public health researcher who has contributed greatly to the design of public health programs established by national government institutions. Not only has her research been invaluable in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, but her work has also been instrumental in informing public policy initiatives around the world. As vital as this client's research is to public health initiatives in the US and abroad, this impact is not only directly reflected in her rock-bottom citation record.

Our attorneys were able to demonstrate that this individual not only had a significant impact on public health research, but was equally, if not more, influential in the successful implementation of public health initiatives in the United States and abroad. By detailing her contributions to prominent government agencies, we were able to demonstrate to the adjudicating officer that this client's research was vital to her field and that she would be a vital asset to future public health initiatives in the United States. Due to the complexity of this client's case, we have provided a permanent line of communication that is available to our client either by call or email. Ultimately, our client was able to secure NIW approval within just a few months.

Due to the complex and non-traditional nature of my research, I needed an attorney who could communicate clearly and effectively with me to build a strong case. In my opinion, the HSI team is nothing short of exceptional. Although I researched several other immigration attorneys before hiring John and his team, I believe I made a wise decision in choosing Ellis Porter to prepare my case, and the success of my petition speaks to the quality of their service.

-gđa. M.L.

EB-1A approval- (special feature):

One of the many benefits of retaining the highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter is the collective experience of our attorneys in responding to hundreds of requests for evidence or RFEs. Despite preparing a strong case, sometimes the RFE is issued by a strict officer. This is especially true in the EB1A context, but having an experienced attorney in your corner can make all the difference between approval and denial. This is exactly what happened to one client who had a strong case overall.

Our client filed an EB1A petition in the field of computer science with over 500 citations. Although our client provided a large amount of documentation highlighting the impact of their work in the field, the USCIS officer reviewing their case argued that the evidence provided was insufficient in two ways: 1) there was insufficient documentation to demonstrate that the petitioner would continue to work in their area, and 2) there was no documentation in the original petition to show that original contributions of great significance were made. It was clear to our experienced attorneys after reviewing this RFE that USCIS had mishandled the petitioner's case, as we had included evidence in the original petition that satisfied both of these two areas. Nonetheless, we provided our client with a comprehensive RFE rebuttal strategy that thoroughly incorporated the documentation submitted with the original petition as well as new evidence to help show the officer why he or she was clearly wrong in his or her thinking. Not only were we able to reassure the client by providing a detailed RFE response strategy based on our experience, but they were able to get their RFE questions answered directly from our attorneys in 24 business hours or less throughout the process. We are happy to say that our client's case was approved in less than two weeks after his RFE response was submitted.

Receiving an RFE is scary. The legal part of the RFE notice makes it difficult to understand what USCIS is actually asking for. After spending weeks preparing my case, the last thing I wanted to receive was a request for additional evidence from USCIS, especially considering that we had already included the evidence they requested in my application. Despite this setback, John's experience made me confident in responding to this officer's concerns and took most of the stress out of the entire RFE response process. He and the entire HSI team were prompt, easy to contact, and accommodating of my questions and thoughts during the RFE response process. While receiving an RFE is not ideal, if I had to go through the process again, I would not think twice about retaining John to handle my case.

-Dr. S.G

NIW Endorsement for Automotive Researcher with Industry Experience - (November 2018 Edition)

It's important to recognize that every case is unique, so an experienced attorney who knows what aspects of your past to highlight or avoid discussing can be the key difference between approval or denial. In this case, the client is an automotive scientist who had a modest number of publications and citations at the time of submission. However, it was clear to us that his experience in the industry also confirmed his expertise in his field. With this in mind, we created a more comprehensive legal strategy for this client, highlighting not only his academic qualifications, but also his extensive work for the automotive industry. In particular, we have not only submitted evidence of his publications and citation records, but also a number of more qualitative evidences. For example, this client provided a statement explaining his specific plans to continue working in his field, which detailed how his previous accomplishments prepared him to continue with his current and future research projects. In addition, we also demonstrated the client's expertise by discussing his peer review work and submitting letters of recommendation praising his research from other experts in his field. By working closely with this client to understand his specific strengths, we were able to craft a personalized legal strategy that led to the case being approved.

It was a pleasure working with Jonathan and the highly skilled immigration team at Ellis Porter. It was easy to get in touch with Jonathan whenever I had questions, and he always answered my questions quickly and thoroughly. It was clear to me that he had a good understanding of my work and its importance, and I believe that understanding and his knowledge of immigration law led to the success of my petition. Working with the EP put it off my mind because I knew the lawyers there were very experienced with NIW petitions, and that experience was clear to me while working with them. I am happy to recommend Ellis Porter to anyone considering a NIW petition.

-Dr. Y.C.

NIW approved with six citations - (Special Edition):

One thing we've learned time and time again is that citations are only one factor a USCIS officer should consider when deciding an NIW petition. While citations can show that your work has made an impact in your field, there are many other ways this can be demonstrated if you have an attorney who knows what to look for. For example, in this case, the client was projecting the creation of new materials of interest to a number of defense industry players in the US and abroad. This work was funded by various institutions. Because his work provided sensitive information about ways to improve the safety of military personnel, he was not always able to publish and disseminate his findings. Because of this fact, this unpublished but important work could not be cited even though it provided key information essential to improving the security of US military personnel. Therefore, since we could not refer to citations as evidence of the impact of this work, we instead focused on providing other evidence, such as evidence of funding this work received and letters from experts familiar with the projects attesting to their relevance to the field and the United States.

Moreover, while this client only had one publication that received citations, we were still able to capitalize on this fact by pointing out that this publication was very highly cited for its year of publication in the client's broader engineering field. In addition, we also provided evidence of the exceptional prestige of the journal that accepted his work for publication, which we argued confirms that other leaders in his field consider his work relevant and worthy of dissemination to his field at large. As further evidence of this client's leading status in their field, we have also included documentation that expert editors have independently contacted the client to perform peer review work, clearly demonstrating that his peers value his opinion and expertise in his field of study.

Overall, we provided USCIS with a variety of different types of evidence to demonstrate that this client's work laid the foundation for further development in his field of study and was of such value that it would benefit the United States to approve his NIW petition. By working with the client to develop a narrative that clearly explained the value of his work to the United States military and economy, while submitting a wide range of qualitative evidence confirming the impact and importance of this work to ongoing studies in the field, we were able to present this client's case to USCIS in such a way way he got NIW approval without RFE in just 3 months.

I wasn't sure I qualified for NIW when I contacted the highly skilled immigration attorneys at Ellis Porter because I only had 6 citations, but I knew my work was important to the United States. After finishing work for defense organizations and a private company, I contributed to important projects that gave me significant experience, but I was worried that my publications and citation data might still be a problem. After speaking with Jonathan, he explained that we could use other evidence to help me qualify for NIW. Working together, we established that I had a number of qualifications that were helpful for the NIW petition, such as funding for my work and letters of recommendation from experts who were happy to support my petition. I am grateful that he took the time to understand my unique situation. With his help, my case was approved in less than three months, meaning I can continue my work that benefits the US military and industry. Thank you Jonathan and Ellis Porter!

-J.H.

NIW approved with qualitative evidence - (October 2018 edition)

This month's featured approval is an NIW case in the field of analytical chemistry. This researcher expanded her analytical chemistry towards important innovations in medicine and epidemiology. While the intrinsic value of our client's work was very clear to us at the outset, we ensured that the significance of her field to the interests of the United States was amply emphasized through objective statements in the legal brief. Our client already had a strong record of achievements and significant achievements, but we decided to emphasize them in more detail. This was accomplished throughout the legal review by gathering strong quantitative documentation that outlined how our client maintains a position of importance in her field. The notable journals in which her work has been published, her impressive citation data, and detailed letters of recommendation explaining her accomplishments ultimately helped our client obtain NIW approval from USCIS. In fact, one of our clients' favorite aspects of our service is the ease and accessibility of communication with her attorney. We strongly believe that this collaborative method of communication is another important factor that leads to rapid RFE-free approval.

In light of the uncertainty of the future of immigration laws, my main requirements for my attorney include extensive experience and up-to-date knowledge of immigration policy. The attorneys at Ellis Porter embody both of these qualities. Jonathan thoroughly explained the NIW procedure and requirements to me. His extensive experience in submitting cases of similar quality to my credentials was also very encouraging throughout the case preparation process. Jonathan was always very easy to reach by email or phone. If I had to go through the NIW process again, I would not hesitate to hire the High Skilled Immigration team at Ellis Porter to handle my case!

-Dr. V.C.

EB-1A Approved with Qualitative Evidence - (September 2018 Edition)

One aspect of our expertise that we are most proud of is our ability to craft petitions that highlight the qualitative attributes of our clients' achievements. Our EB1A strategy goes beyond just highlighting impressive citation metrics for our clients: we highlight other qualitative attributes to demonstrate our clients' importance to USCIS. We believe that this is a sign of the high quality of EB1A services.

For our September featured case, our client is a successful chemist who had several commendable accomplishments beyond citation metrics alone. We have created this individual's EB1A case with the intention of focusing not only on their citations, but also on how frequently their work has been published in leading chemistry publishing venues, as well as the selection of their work for further research worldwide. -renowned research institution and media coverage of several reputable media. By carefully cultivating a petition that focuses on both citation metricsiqualitative attributes in tandem, we have prepared a case that clearly highlights the significant impact our client has made on chemical research in the US and abroad.

Many of our clients also recognize that working closely with an attorney is an important part of developing a coherent legal strategy and ultimately preparing a strong petition. That's why we understand how important it is to be accessible to our clients and to answer their questions and concerns in a short period of time. Our client was able to get in touch with their attorney within 24 business hours or less to discuss an appropriate legal strategy with their attorney in detail or ask questions about their case. Having legal representation by your side is invaluable as you navigate the EB1A process, and that's why we prioritize communication with our clients.

A priority for me when choosing an attorney for my EB1A was to ensure that important aspects of my accomplishments and career were highlighted in a way that strengthened my case, with the goal of eventually being favorably reviewed by USCIS for approval. Working with the High Skilled Immigration group at Ellis Porter, it quickly became clear to me that my attorney was adept at crafting a petition that highlighted all of my impressive attributes without diminishing the impact of my citations. During my case preparation, the attention to detail that Jonathan and the entire legal staff at Ellis Porter paid confirmed my original impression that I was able to speak with him personally on multiple occasions to discuss our case strategy and evidence in-depth: Ellis Porter provides quality advantage by customizing my case to ME. Many thanks to Jonathan and the Ellis Porter staff for preparing my case so meticulously. I will definitely recommend their services to my friends based on my positive experience.

-Dr. J.T.

NIW Approved for Pharmaceutical Researchers - (Special Edition)

Our featured approval this month is an EB-2 NIW client in the field of pharmaceuticals. Our client has a PhD in Pharmacy and intends to continue working in drug research and drug delivery. This individual completed important research on new drug formulations to alleviate cancer and disease. Their experience in pharmacy combined with numerous achievements and recognitions received in the name of their work made it clear to us that this person is an established researcher in pharmacy. While the inherent importance of drug development research to the United States should be obvious, we have provided the adjudicating officer with a breadth of additional resources demonstrating that the pharmaceutical industry benefits the United States, with the intent of avoiding a potential RFE. During the process of preparing the NIW, we worked intensively with our client through phone calls and e-mails. In fact, we believe this collaborative approach led to approval.

As many of our clients can recognize, understanding the legal jargon and process involved in preparing an NIW petition can be a very challenging task. This particular client asked their attorney for clarification on the NIW process and what exactly was required of them in order to prepare the strongest possible petition. Gathering evidence that could be helpful to a NIW case can be difficult to establish on your own, so we make sure to prioritize communication with our clients to make this process as smooth as possible. It was a pleasure to address the issues and discuss the legal strategy in detail with this particular client via phone calls and emails, and we are pleased that this collaboration ultimately resulted in an approved NIW with no evidence requirements.

Learning about the NIW process was a terrifying experience. For me, there was so much confusion about what I needed to prepare and how to send my documents to USCIS that the challenges seemed almost insurmountable. When I first spoke to Jonathan and the High Skilled Immigration group at Ellis Porter, I was impressed by their extensive knowledge and experience with NIW petitions. More importantly, I found it easy to contact Jonathan with any questions I had about my case strategy and other immigration issues. Not only did he do an outstanding job in preparing my case, but he also provided me with reassurance throughout the process. With so much uncertainty and rumors floating around in online immigration forums, it was reassuring to get first-hand legal advice from someone who knows the ins and outs of the employment-based immigration system. I would also add that Jonathan was extremely patient, calm, kind, organized, ready to answer, analyze information and use logic to solve work-related questions and problems,
reliable, responsible and trustworthy and fulfills commitments, honest and ethical, attentive to details, maintaining composure, keeping emotions under control, controlling anger and avoiding aggressive behavior. Thanks in no small part to Jonathan and Ellis Porter, I was able to get my NIW approved!

-Dr. R.A.

NIW approved with zero citations - (August 2018 issue)

A lesson we constantly try to teach is that while citations can be helpful, they are by no means necessary for NIW. Many people believe that you must have a certain number of citations to qualify under NIW. However, nothing in the regulations or statutes requires citation or even mention of the term. On the contrary, it is simply essential to show why they are special or unique, why their work is important and how they stand out from the crowd. This month's highlight is a researcher who has spent decades in the field doing critical work. However, the nature of his work was such that he did not publish that often. Others had told him many times that quotes were important, and he didn't have a good case. In fact, he had an excellent case; it just wasn't looked at properly. By laying out critical aspects of his work history, receiving letters from leaders in his field around the world, and really developing his petition to fit his own personal background, this researcher was approved without being issued an RFE. The lesson once again is that while citations may help a case, they do not make the case and good qualitative development of one's experience and detailed use of their work by others in the field is often critical to success.

Because I had a non-traditional NIW case, I needed a firm that could really make my claim about me and my experience. EllisPorter was just what I needed. Working with John was great. From the beginning, he paid close attention to "my story" so that we could develop our case from the bottom up. He really took the time and attention to build my entire case around who I am as a professional. As a result, I was convinced that my case was indeed a story "about me." I definitely refer my colleagues to John because of the extensive experience I have gained. Special thanks to EllisPorter and John for their excellent work and approval of my NIW!

-Dr. p.s.

EB1A approved with our expedited processing service - (July 2018 edition)

Our expedited processing service is offered to individuals with extremely high credentials to whom we can file their case within weeks. To top it off this month, we're bringing you an EB1A success story. This client had approximately ~180 citations for his work, the vast majority independent in nature. However, where we found the real quality in their case was our ability to play with and develop the massive qualitative part of her case. While many people think that citations are key to an EB1A, what they often don't realize is how critical it is to lay out and play out the details of using one's work for a successful EB1A. So while this person had an average number of EB1A citations, what really made her case "extraordinary" was the evidence we were able to gather about the unique ways others in the field were using their work. Illustrating exactly how important their work was beyond the citations themselves, this case was approved under the highest possible category. Lesson: Citations can help, but if you really want to make your case great, you need to make sure that all aspects of your case are really being developed to their highest potential.

Thanks to John and the EllisPorter team for handling my EB1A case for me. With all the uncertainty surrounding EB1s recently, going into that venture was definitely scary. However, talking to John about my case, talking about the specific elements of my background that he believed we could highlight and the way we designed my whole case around the strengths of my background really gave me the confidence to know that we are playing to fix my situation the best possible. And in fact, my case was approved, thanks in no small part to this attention to the individual details of my past. I would also like to point out the speed with which my petition was prepared, much faster than I expected. Thanks again to EP and their personalized approach in helping me get my EB1A approved.

-Dr. T.K.

O-1 approved less than five weeks after retaining our services- (June 2018 edition)

Our June 2018 featured approval is a fast-track O-1 petition.

USCIS generally recommends filing an O-1 petition at least 45 days in advance. Unfortunately, this is not always feasible when new job opportunities require immediate start dates. We recently had a client come to us after spending a lot of time with another law firm to prepare his immigration petition, but it became clear to him that it would be impossible to file his O-1 quickly because he had no legal work completed at the time he retained our services.

In less than 5 weeks, we were able to prepare his letters of recommendation, legal brief, petition package AND receive approval of his O-1 petition for his start date which was 32 days from the date we were retained. This particular client had an impressive background in IT for an O-1 petition, but since his new position was at a new company, we took special care in preparing the petition and presenting evidence that we thought would best avoid receiving an RFE that would slow down the process. passing judgment. While most of our petitions do take 4-6 weeks to prepare, we made sure to consider this client's unique circumstances and do everything possible to file quickly without sacrificing the quality of our work.

EB-2 NIW Approval for PhD Student in Biochemistry without RFE- (May 2018 Issue)

Our featured approval for May 2018 is an EB-2 NIW client within the field of biochemistry. This person graduated in biochemistry less than 5 years ago and they immediately started their Ph.D. within the same field.

Under the EB-2 NIW category, there are two important aspects that must be proven: 1) the person has an advanced degree or its equivalent in their field OR is a person of exceptional ability and 2) meets all three elements of the NIW test.

After they contacted us for an evaluation, we discussed their goals and preferences and it was clear that getting a green card sooner rather than later was important. Therefore, we conclude that we should file their EB-2 NIW before they receive their college degree, although proving exceptional ability requires more extensive arguments and evidence given that the first aspect of the petition cannot simply be proven by a transcript.

To prove exceptional ability, we had to meet at least 3 of the 6 criteria, so we submitted evidence of: (1) his bachelor's degree, (2) his membership in his field of expertise, and (3) recognition of his accomplishments and significant contributions to his field by his colleagues. We clearly articulated the three criteria we claimed before moving on to discuss how it meets the NIW test, so that an officer can follow the legal brief in a comprehensive and coherent review of his credentials.

We then discussed how various aspects of his profile made him eligible for a waiver of the job offer and labor certification requirements in order to obtain EB-2 NIW approval. Although he planned to pursue a Ph.D. post-approval studies, we focused on the long-term plans he had and how he was well positioned to achieve his career goals. Although ~30 total citations at the time of submission is not a low number by any means, we ensured that these citations were given appropriate weight by showing that the two papers that received citations were highly cited compared to other papers published in the field during the same year.

In addition, we made sure that the clerk was aware that citing one's work should not be the only consideration. We highlighted the grant funding that supported his work, the tools he created to address certain limitations in biochemistry, and we provided letters for individuals who used this work to advance their own to give a clearer picture of the exact impact his work had and what impact it would have. could expect his future work.

Ultimately, this EB-2 NIW petition was approved without an RFE after almost 4 months of processing. Applying on the basis of exceptional ability instead of waiting for the completion of the doctorate. saved this individual precious time, and they are now on their way to getting their green card which will make his future job search and scholarship applications easier to get on time, while making his future travel a lot easier than requiring F- 1 entry visa stamp.

EB-1A Approval for Political Scientist without RFE- (April 2018 Issue)

There are two main reasons why we prepare individualized petitions based on the client's background rather than forcing their credentials into a predetermined template: 1) It gives us the best chance of approval and reduces the chance of unnecessary delay due to an RFE or NOID, and 2) It is what the client deserves as we are entrusted with their momentous decision to continue living permanently in the United States. We have focused our practice on the possibility of close and direct collaboration between client and lawyer because we do not believe that a case managed like a factory assembly line with different staff working on different aspects allows for this individualized approach.

We had the honor of working with a leading political scientist whose work is largely focused on research and analysis of European politics. This individual published many papers, was a journal reviewer, and had many citations for his work; however, presenting the case based on these aspects alone could lead the officer to unfairly compare his profile to other highly cited fields, such as molecular biology or chemistry. We could immediately tell that their backgrounds and experience positioned them as established political scientists, so we looked at ways we could highlight their unique profile.

Apart from his scientific publications, this person had a significant influence on European politics. We were able to show how their roles shaped policy by being invited by senior government officials and entities for analysis, recommendations and creating platforms for discussion and learning. Although we could easily refer to their citation numbers as evidence of their original contributions of great importance, this would not give the officer a complete picture of why they were outstanding. By describing the importance of their contributions to respected organizations and government bodies, combined with showing the prestige of these entities, we were able to present a case with letters of recommendation that support their position as a leader in their field.

Another hurdle we had to make sure was resolved was how their work would benefit the United States. Because they work outside the United States on European policy, it is not immediately clear how their continued work on these issues would relate to United States policy. As a precaution, we provided the court clerk with information about the importance of European politics and how it affects the United States in hopes of avoiding RFE's request for further clarification.

Ultimately, our client was a pleasure to work with and understood our strategy through a series of Skype calls, emails and messages on our secure client portal. This collaborative approach is what led to EB-1A approval in 8 days from a premium processing unit.

EB-1B Approval for Computer Scientist without RFE- (March 2018 Issue)

This month, our team received approval in the Associate Professor or Researcher category for an accomplished computer scientist who developed a minimally invasive colon cancer screening technology. Despite an impressive list of peer-reviewed publications that have been cited more than 100 times, a successful petition for a computer scientist in this category presented certain challenges.

Similar to the EB-1A category, the EB-1B regulations provide specific ways in which the beneficiary can demonstrate their achievements in a given field. However, unlike the EB-1A, the EB-1B must be sponsored by an employer and has additional threshold requirements that must be met regarding the primary position. For example, a job offer in this category must be for the position of researcher. Regardless of the overall strength of the user's credentials, the EB-1B cannot be approved if this threshold requirement is not met. A basic job offer for a research position is often easier said than done. USCIS may request an official job description from an employer handbook or other personnel materials. This causes a problem when employers, for practical reasons, classify an employee according to a pre-existing job description that may not fully reflect his or her duties.

Although the user in this case was heavily involved in cancer research, the user had a PhD in computer science and his official job description was primarily focused on computer programming and software development responsibilities. Anticipating that USCIS may be critical of whether this position meets the threshold requirement, our experienced team carefully selected the most appropriate supporting evidence to not only demonstrate the individual's IT expertise, but also highlight their key research duties. We worked closely with the employer to draft an employment letter that accurately described his research responsibilities. The petition was approved with superb processing with no further evidence requested, and needless to say our client was delighted with the outcome!

EB-1B Approval for a Medical Physicist After Obtaining a NOID from the Hard Issues Officer at NSC (February 2018 Issue)

We were recently presented with an EB-1B case that received a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) from an officer at a service center in Nebraska with a reputation for denying strong cases. The client typically had strong credentials as a researcher, with peer review experience, several first author papers in highly ranked journals, and over 100 citations. However, although the officer found that she met the three regulatory criteria, the NOID was issued because the evidence allegedly did not show that she was internationally recognized as outstanding. Based on our previous experience with the adjudicating officer, we knew that reviews, publications and citations alone were unlikely to be sufficient, so we decided to focus our response on other evidence that might be more persuasive to this officer.

Our client is a medical physicist, but her work in a medical specialty that does not typically employ physicists made her unique. Actually, she isonlyphysicist working in such a department at any institution in the US. Therefore, we started by emphasizing how she is a pioneer in combining the two areas and has become recognized asthea leading expert in the field. We highlighted the letters of recommendation that confirmed this, but knew that letters alone were unlikely to convince the officer. Therefore, we made sure to support these letters with objective, documentary evidence. This evidence included contracts with large pharmaceutical companies and international hospitals that specifically sought our client's expertise on various projects. Our client also chaired the board of a respected professional organization and organized an entire conference on her subject of expertise.

After submitting a response to the NOID, our client's petition was approved in less than a week. Because we were familiar with the adjudicating officer in our client's case, we knew what types of evidence were and were not likely to lead to approval. Therefore, we were able to appropriately shape our response and obtain approval even after USCIS indicated that it intended to deny the petition. Sometimes it's not your credentials that matter, but how they're presented, and that's when an experienced attorney can be the difference between approval and denial.

NIW Medical Physicist Endorsement with Six Citations - (January 2018 Edition)

As we discussed in our EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) blog posts, citations remain one of the best indicators of the chances of success in this category for researchers and scholars. Simply put, a researcher with a high number of citations is likely to have a strong NIW case with a high likelihood of approval. But we understand that there may be good reasons for lower citations, such as working in a field where one's work is more influential in the real world than in academia, and so we know it's important to consider more than just citation counts in a comprehensive NIW evaluation. Such is the case with our latest endorsement.

Our client works as a medical physicist who treats patients and conducts research. While his PhD satisfied the advanced degree requirement and his research on the effectiveness of various cancer treatments met with considerable merit and national importance, the weakness in his case came from his low citations. In order to give him a good chance of approval, it was important to highlight how successful and influential his work was outside of academia. As a clinical researcher, this is only natural: his work is more useful to clinicians who want to provide better treatment for their patients than to other researchers in his field, but this is perhaps even more important work because it affects real people and their health. We were able to highlight this through detailed letters of recommendation from a number of respected experts in the field, including one they had influenced in their own patient treatment.

Overall, through a tailored strategy that focused on our client's individual strengths, we were able to demonstrate that he has extensive experience, that he has conducted successful research that has attracted the interest of others, and that he has made significant progress in important research in the field of medical physics. USCIS quickly approved his petition in less than 3 months because we were able to show that he was well positioned to advance the field of medical physics and that it was beneficial to the US to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements. By taking the time to think about his unique credentials and how best to present them, we were able to help our client achieve his goal of obtaining National Interest Exemption approval.

EB-1A Physicist Approval After Unreasonable RFE- (December 2017 Issue)

An unfortunate fact of life when dealing with USCIS is that sometimes the immigration officer reviewing your case just gets it wrong. It can be frustrating to put a lot of time and effort into preparing a strong petition only to receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) template or, worse, an RFE that misinterprets the law. After all, every time an RFE is issued, the possibility of case rejection becomes very real, so responding to RFEs becomes critically important. But immigration officials are also human and can make mistakes. When this happens, an experienced attorney can be invaluable in correcting the officer and obtaining approval.

This happened to a recent client of ours. A physics researcher and entrepreneur, his credentials were quite strong: he served as editor-in-chief of a major international conference, published articles and book chapters that were cited more than 800 times, invented technology that was patented, and developed nationally adopted standards for measuring agricultural products . Despite this, he received an RFE from an officer who did not seem to understand the EB1A requirements or some basic scientific concepts. First of all, RFE challenged the originality of our client's work because "his contributions appear to be based primarily on established technologies." Indeed, much of our client's career has involved taking existing technologies and modifying them for use in new applications. RFE also challenged the "Authorship of Scientific Articles" criterion, suggesting that our client's publications do not stand out from others in his field due to a lack of originality.

We have adopted a strategy of politely and clearly explaining why RFE got it wrong on these issues. We started by explaining that originality in science does not mean only inventing new technology. Instead, originality can mean building on the work of others to find new uses for an old technology or provide new insight into a problem. We explained that our client's work was original and supported that explanation with evidence that journals typically do not publish non-original research and that patents are not issued for technology that is not novel. We also used court precedent to explain to the officer that USCIS is required to evaluate only the plain language of each criterion and may not impose new requirements.

Our strategy proved successful as the case was approved less than 2 weeks after we responded to the RFE. While the unreasonable nature of RFEs made it challenging, our attorneys have personally responded to over 1,000 RFEs in their careers and know that a clear, well-reasoned response can still help get a case approved. Receiving an RFE can be a very uncomfortable experience, but it doesn't have to lead to rejection. With the help of an experienced attorney, even cases that receive difficult RFEs can be approved.

EB-1A approval for pastry chef- (November 2017):

All too often we get leads that have been evaluated by other firms and subsequently rejected because those firms work in a factory: either your case fits the pre-existing mold or you don't qualify. However, there is nothing about the EB-1A petition category that requires one to have published work citations or to have a certain threshold of citations in order to qualify. Of course, having hundreds and hundreds of citations in a STEM-related field is great and makes things easier when you don't want to actually make a case for someone's individual qualities, but it also fails to recognize the many, many people who don't necessarily have hundreds of citations (or whatever what!) they might qualify if their case is actually just worked out the right way.

Our client in this case was one such client. This client made a career as a pastry chef. And as you might guess, pastry chefs don't tend to publish their work, receive citations, or do reviews. As a result, our client was turned down by several other law firms before coming to us saying he didn't qualify. During our evaluation of his case, we took a close look at his background and found that if his case was simply developed in the right way, we could apply some of the lesser used criteria that we would apply to in order to approve him under the EB-1A standard. As a result, we developed a highly personalized case strategy and began to collect the appropriate evidence for a claim for the following regulatory categories:

• Mainstream media

• High salary

• A critical role

• Membership

Our client actually had not just a close case, but a really good case. All he needed was a lawyer who knew what to look for, where to look, and how to best utilize his key talents and traits. The end result was an EB-1A approved within 15 calendar days.

The lesson of the story? Working with an attorney who doesn't just want to fit you into a pre-existing gap was the difference for our client between giving up on his US immigration dreams and finding a path to an approved EB-1A within weeks.