An Analysis of NIW Cases Approved from July to December 2020
From July to December 2020, our firm received 26 NIW case approvals. USCIS approved 19 of these cases without Requests for Evidence (RFEs).
Out of the 26 NIW cases approved during this period, many applicants had a Ph.D. degree when applying. However, 8 of these applicants, or approximately 31%, 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 product design, Chinese philosophy, and nursing, 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. |
17 |
65% |
Master |
8 |
31% |
Bachelor |
1 |
4% |
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 12. The median number of independent citations they received was 97. The average processing time for these applications was 444 days, or over 14 months. The longest it took to approve an application was 2217 days, while the shortest was 216 days.
| Median number of Journal papers |
12 |
Median number of independent citations |
97 |
Average Processing days |
444 |
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 tailoring to the new standard.
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 26 NIW cases approved from July to December 2020, please refer to the table below.
Client |
Degree |
Research field |
Journal papers |
Independent Citations |
Job title |
RFE |
Filing date |
Processing days |
1 |
Ph.D. |
Neuroscience |
14 |
831 |
Professor |
No |
9/13/2019 |
320 |
2 |
Master |
Neurology |
18 |
11 |
Chief Physician |
No |
9/3/2019 |
331 |
3 |
Master |
Engineering |
4 |
N/A |
Product Director |
No |
9/17/2019 |
317 |
4 |
Ph.D. |
materials science |
18 |
74 |
Researcher |
No |
8/8/2014 |
2217 |
5 |
Ph.D. |
Cancer |
40 |
334 |
Medical |
No |
11/22/2019 |
285 |
6 |
Ph.D. |
food and flavor |
36 |
838 |
Professor |
No |
1/30/2020 |
216 |
7 |
Master |
Product Design |
N/A |
N/A |
Director |
Yes |
8/12/2019 |
387 |
8 |
Master |
Petroleum |
N/A |
1 |
Researcher |
No |
11/26/2019 |
281 |
9 |
Ph.D. |
Semiconductors |
5 |
124 |
Staff Systems |
No |
1/23/2020 |
223 |
10 |
Ph.D. |
Biological Engineering |
3 |
14 |
Research |
Yes |
7/29/2019 |
401 |
11 |
Ph.D. |
Chinese philosophy |
22 |
119 |
Research |
Yes |
9/4/2019 |
378 |
12 |
Master |
Oil and Gas |
6 |
6 |
Researcher |
No |
2/14/2020 |
251 |
13 |
Ph.D. |
Electrical |
37 |
411 |
Senior Electronic |
No |
12/12/2019 |
315 |
14 |
Ph.D. |
Physics |
9 |
49 |
Research |
No |
2/20/2020 |
252 |
15 |
Ph.D. |
Computer Science |
7 |
133 |
Researcher |
Yes |
7/17/2019 |
470 |
16 |
Ph.D. |
Computer Systems |
24 |
131 |
Lecturer |
Yes |
5/21/2019 |
527 |
17 |
Ph.D. |
Electrical |
24 |
167 |
Professor |
No |
9/7/2019 |
418 |
18 |
Ph.D. |
petroleum |
8 |
50 |
petroleum |
No |
9/25/2019 |
400 |
19 |
Ph.D. |
biophysics |
3 |
5 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
12/21/2019 |
320 |
20 |
Ph.D. |
cancer |
3 |
69 |
Medical Doctor |
No |
6/18/2019 |
506 |
21 |
Ph.D. |
Organic |
8 |
97 |
Postdoctoral |
No |
11/12/2019 |
359 |
22 |
Master |
architectural |
N/A |
N/A |
Executive |
Yes |
5/14/2019 |
541 |
23 |
Master |
art therapy |
N/A |
3 |
Art Therapist |
No |
6/27/2019 |
538 |
24 |
Master |
computer |
N/A |
N/A |
CTO |
Yes |
8/6/2019 |
512 |
25 |
Ph.D. |
Biomedical |
31 |
234 |
Visiting |
No |
10/15/2019 |
442 |
26 |
Bachelor |
Nursing |
N/A |
N/A |
Nurse |
No |
1/24/2020 |
341 |
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Former U.S. Consular officer and Visa Officer , Attorney Sechyi Laiu joined Zhang & Associates, P.C. on June 26, 2017
At Zhang & Associates, P.C., Attorney Laiu specializes on Consular Processing cases and business development. Attorney Laiu also focuses on TN visas, E visas, CBP administrative proceedings (monetary confiscation, deferred inspection), and overseas financial compliance.
Prior to joining Zhang & Associates, P.C., Attorney Laiu worked for the U.S. Department of State as a Chinese and Portuguese speaking diplomat. As a consular-coned officer who served in Vancouver (Canada), Shenyang (P.R. China), and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Attorney Laiu processed over 30,000 visa cases and worked in every section of Consular Affairs overseas (Fraud Prevention Unit, Immigrant Visas, Non-Immigrant Visas, and American Citizen Services).
He uses his experience and expertise to deliver the highest quality of service to our clients.
Founded in 1996, Zhang & Associates, P.C. offers legal services to clients worldwide in all aspects of U.S immigration law. We have successfully handled over ten thousand 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, I-485 I-130, H-1B, O, L and J cases. In the past
over twenty years, we have successfully helped over ten thousand 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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(06/21/2021)