An Analysis of NIW Cases Approved from October to December 2016
From Octoberto December 2016, our firm received 56 NIW case approvals. USCIS approved 45 of these cases without Requests for Evidence (RFEs). In addition, from October to December 2016, our firm also received 42 EB-1 case approvals.From Januaryto December 2016, our firm received 285 NIW approvals and 220 EB-1 case approvals.
Out of the 56NIW cases approved in the past three months, most applicants had a Ph.D. degree when applying. However, 16of these applicants, or approximately 28%, only had a Master’s degree when their cases were filed. Among samples of approved applicants, most conduct research in Medical Science, Biology and Engineering, while others focus on mathematics, digital marketing, and business administration, etc. Those who work in fields related to Engineering, Medical Science and Biology are forced to compete with a large number of applicants from which the USCIS can only approve the strongest applications.
| Ph.D. |
39 |
70% |
Master |
16 |
28% |
Bachelor & others |
1 |
2% |
Those who work as a “Postdoctoral Research Associate”, “Research Scientist/Engineer”, “Assistant Professor’, or any other similar title mainly conduct research, produce papers, and attend conferences. Because of the nature of scientific work, such applicants find it easier to show that they have exerted national influence and sustained a past record of achievement through more objective evidence (i.e. citations, downloads, commercialization of work, etc.). Of course, this should not discourage you from applying if you feel you lack such evidence. On the contrary, each case varies and USCIS could deem your particular qualifications and skill set to be of intrinsic merit to the United States. USCIS does not adjudicate petitions solely on the basis of concrete numbers. With our highly experienced attorneys, we will help you highlight your strongest professional assets, while downplaying your weaker ones.
In addition to the above, we have also compiled other relevant data from our samples. The median number of journal papers published by these applicants was 9. The median number of independent citations they received was 79. The average processing time for these applications was 143days, or about 5 months. The longest it took to approve an application was 356 days, while the shortest was 33days.
Median number of Journal papers |
9 |
Median number of independent citations |
79 |
Average Processing days |
143 |
Before you start the application process, it is imperative that you consult a highly trained legal professional. By consulting with an attorney at our firm, you will learn not only about your options, but also specific application strategies for your immigration needs.
If you are interested in contacting us for a free consultation, please call our offices at 1-800-230-7040 or email us at info@hooyou.com.
For more information on the 56 NIW cases approved from Octoberto December 2016, please refer to the table below.
Client |
Degree |
Research field |
Journal papers |
Independent Citations |
Job title |
RFE |
Processing days |
1 |
Ph.D. |
Molecular |
10 |
1060 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
74 |
2 |
Master |
Business |
N/A |
N/A |
CEO |
No |
74 |
3 |
Ph.D. |
neuroscience |
8 |
102 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
272 |
4 |
Master |
polymer science |
12 |
90 |
Research |
No |
268 |
5 |
Master |
geotechnical |
N/A |
N/A |
Researcher |
Yes |
211 |
6 |
Ph.D. |
computational |
9 |
200 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
42 |
7 |
Ph.D. |
Mathematics |
19 |
18 |
VP, Credit Risk |
No |
271 |
8 |
Ph.D. |
biological |
7 |
121 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
242 |
9 |
Master |
Digital |
N/A |
N/A |
Researcher |
Yes |
192 |
10 |
Ph.D. |
Human |
12 |
96 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
48 |
11 |
Ph.D. |
medicine |
4 |
N/A |
Director |
No |
54 |
12 |
Master |
computer |
N/A |
N/A |
researcher |
No |
75 |
13 |
Ph.D. |
solar energy |
12 |
84 |
Researcher |
No |
355 |
14 |
Ph.D. |
environmental |
4 |
10 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
292 |
15 |
Ph.D. |
Chemical |
26 |
200 |
researcher |
No |
266 |
16 |
Master |
Engineering |
N/A |
N/A |
Deputy |
Yes |
193 |
17 |
Ph.D. |
Synthetic |
13 |
74 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
90 |
18 |
Ph.D. |
biomedical |
12 |
134 |
Researcher |
No |
40 |
19 |
Master |
information |
2 |
n/a |
Senior Architect |
Yes |
356 |
20 |
Ph.D. |
Power electronics |
14 |
n/a |
Systems |
No |
43 |
21 |
Master |
communication |
10 |
2 |
Researcher |
Yes |
238 |
22 |
Ph.D. |
materials science |
4 |
26 |
Researcher |
Yes |
120 |
23 |
Ph.D. |
Pharmacy |
9 |
336 |
Research |
No |
40 |
24 |
Master |
patent |
N/A |
N/A |
Principal |
No |
58 |
25 |
Master |
Gas and Energy |
14 |
17 |
Researcher |
No |
66 |
26 |
Master |
mechanical |
2 |
24 |
mechanical |
No |
74 |
27 |
Master |
Petroleum |
N/A |
N/A |
Senior |
Yes |
350 |
28 |
Ph.D. |
transportation |
12 |
26 |
Construction |
No |
291 |
29 |
Ph.D. |
Medical Science |
30 |
180 |
medical doctor |
No |
64 |
30 |
Ph.D. |
Physics |
5 |
6 |
Physicist |
No |
120 |
31 |
Master |
civil engineering |
5 |
N/A |
civil engineer |
No |
43 |
32 |
Ph.D. |
computational |
7 |
15 |
Researcher |
No |
66 |
33 |
Ph.D. |
orthopedic |
3 |
N/A |
Director of |
No |
46 |
34 |
Ph.D. |
mechanical |
25 |
106 |
Researcher |
No |
38 |
35 |
Ph.D. |
Cancer |
N/A |
N/A |
Researcher |
Yes |
123 |
36 |
Ph.D. |
sports injuries |
N/A |
N/A |
Researcher |
Yes |
142 |
37 |
Ph.D. |
environmental |
4 |
101 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
283 |
38 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Researcher |
Yes |
132 |
39 |
Ph.D. |
Electrical |
18 |
39 |
Engineer |
No |
33 |
40 |
Ph.D. |
agricultural |
41 |
N/A |
Postdoctoral |
No |
66 |
41 |
Master |
space coordination |
N/A |
N/A |
interior designer |
No |
72 |
42 |
Ph.D. |
biostatistics |
9 |
22 |
Associate |
No |
55 |
43 |
Master |
Mechanical |
20 |
201 |
Mechanical |
No |
64 |
44 |
Ph.D. |
oral microbiology |
9 |
45 |
Researcher |
No |
55 |
45 |
Ph.D. |
medicine |
3 |
20 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
247 |
46 |
Ph.D. |
human-computer |
3 |
88 |
Software |
No |
339 |
47 |
Ph.D. |
advanced |
4 |
n/a |
Engineer II |
No |
256 |
48 |
Ph.D. |
health |
4 |
N/A |
Medical Director |
Yes |
147 |
49 |
Ph.D. |
Biostatistics |
18 |
290 |
Senior |
No |
37 |
50 |
Ph.D. |
liver |
7 |
41 |
Researcher |
No |
56 |
51 |
Ph.D. |
Biomedical Sciences |
4 |
26 |
researcher |
No |
62 |
52 |
Ph.D. |
Applied |
16 |
60 |
Research |
No |
308 |
53 |
Ph.D. |
Information |
38 |
1677 |
Professor |
No |
42 |
54 |
Ph.D. |
mechanical |
4 |
N/A |
Mechanical |
No |
314 |
55 |
Ph.D. |
Robotics |
17 |
138 |
Senior Robotics |
No |
37 |
56 |
Master |
geomechanical |
2 |
19 |
Geomechanics |
No |
44 |
Founded in 1996, Zhang & Associates, P.C. offers legal services to clients nationwide in all aspects of U.S immigration law. We have successfully handled thousands of immigration cases.
At Zhang & Associates, P.C., our attorneys and supporting professionals are committed to providing high-quality immigration and non-immigration visa services. We specialize in NIW, EB-1, PERM, and I-485 cases. In the past
twenty years, we have successfully helped thousands of clients get green cards. If you plan to apply for a green card, please send your CV to Attorney Jerry Zhang (info@hooyou.com) for a free evaluation.
Zhang & Associates, P.C.
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| Tel: | 1-800-230-7040, 713-771-8433 |
| Email: | info@hooyou.com |
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(02/24/2017)