An Analysis of NIW Cases Approved from October 2018 to March 2019
From October 2018 to March 2019, our firm received 68 NIW case approvals. USCIS approved 55 of these cases without Requests for Evidence (RFEs).
Out of the 68 NIW cases approved during this period, many applicants had a Ph.D. degree when applying. However, 19 of these applicants, or approximately 28%, 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 applied mathematics, performing arts, and cultural heritage, 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 |
57.4% |
Master |
19 |
27.9% |
Bachelor & others |
10 |
14.7% |
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 8. The median number of independent citations they received was 99. The average processing time for these applications was 243 days, or over 8 months. The longest it took to approve an application was 449 days, while the shortest was 65 days.
| Median number of Journal papers |
8 |
Median number of independent citations |
99 |
Average Processing days |
243 |
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 68 NIW cases approved from October 2018 to March 2019, please refer to the table below.
Client |
Degree |
Research field |
Journal papers |
Independent Citations |
Job title |
RFE |
Processing days |
1 |
Ph.D. |
medicine and drug discovery |
11 |
353 |
Quality Assurance Specialist |
No |
263 |
2 |
Master |
construction machinery product marketing |
N/A |
N/A |
Director |
No |
307 |
3 |
Ph.D. |
Translational Medicine |
14 |
97 |
Postdoctoral Research Fellow |
No |
250 |
4 |
Master |
biomedical science |
2 |
614 |
Senior Automation Engineer |
No |
182 |
5 |
Master |
Communications technology |
2 |
145 |
Sr. Marketing Manager |
No |
197 |
6 |
Master |
biomedical science |
5 |
216 |
Research Scientist |
No |
416 |
7 |
Ph.D. |
Applied Mathematics |
4 |
2 |
Assistant Professor |
No |
258 |
8 |
Ph.D. |
biochemistry and medicine |
N/A |
22 |
Assistant professor |
No |
145 |
9 |
Bachelor |
digestive endoscopy |
1 |
N/A |
Medical Chief |
No |
272 |
10 |
Master |
physical education |
3 |
N/A |
Assistant Professor |
No |
206 |
11 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
No |
200 |
12 |
Bachelor |
Real Estate Development |
N/A |
N/A |
Property Manager |
No |
190 |
13 |
Ph.D. |
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry |
21 |
107 |
Research Director |
No |
196 |
14 |
Bachelor |
Business Administration |
N/A |
N/A |
Managing Director |
No |
241 |
15 |
Ph.D. |
Oriental Medicine |
5 |
N/A |
Medical Doctor |
Yes |
281 |
16 |
Ph.D. |
marketing science |
17 |
198 |
Assistant Professor |
No |
189 |
17 |
Ph.D. |
Nanotechnology |
N/A |
N/A |
General Manager |
No |
164 |
18 |
Ph.D. |
cerebrovascular diseases |
27 |
136 |
Medical Resident |
No |
199 |
19 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
General Manager |
Yes |
247 |
20 |
Ph.D. |
Interventional radiology |
40 |
1,011 |
Department director |
No |
180 |
21 |
Master |
Immunotherapy |
7 |
9 |
Technologist II |
No |
366 |
22 |
Ph.D. |
performing arts |
N/A |
N/A |
choreographer |
Yes |
272 |
23 |
Ph.D. |
Bioinformatics |
12 |
168 |
Postdoctoral Research Associate |
No |
426 |
24 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
No |
192 |
25 |
Ph.D. |
Molecular biology |
20 |
640 |
Researcher |
No |
226 |
26 |
Master |
Optical network |
1 |
N/A |
Senior Engineer |
No |
205 |
27 |
Ph.D. |
bioinformatics |
29 |
1306 |
Researcher |
No |
173 |
28 |
Ph.D. |
clinical nutrition |
43 |
695 |
Medical Doctor |
No |
200 |
29 |
Master |
transportation engineering |
6 |
17 |
Vice General Manager |
No |
204 |
30 |
Ph.D. |
engineering and management |
14 |
108 |
Researcher |
No |
208 |
31 |
Master |
Business Administration |
N/A |
N/A |
General Manager |
Yes |
431 |
32 |
Ph.D. |
mechanical engineering |
12 |
20 |
Postdoctoral Associate |
No |
372 |
33 |
Ph.D. |
mechanical engineering |
6 |
40 |
Director of Technology |
No |
224 |
34 |
Master |
Electrical Engineering |
9 |
52 |
Research Scientist |
Yes |
298 |
35 |
Ph.D. |
cancer |
24 |
335 |
Research Scientist |
No |
333 |
36 |
Master |
Financial investment |
8 |
N/A |
CEO |
No |
239 |
37 |
Ph.D. |
Electrical Engineering |
3 |
10 |
Staff Engineer |
No |
169 |
38 |
Ph.D. |
bioinformatics and data science |
5 |
150 |
Drug Discovery Data Scientist |
No |
65 |
39 |
Bachelor |
Oil and gas |
N/A |
5 |
Petroleum engineer |
Yes |
254 |
40 |
Bachelor |
graphic design |
N/A |
N/A |
graphic designer |
No |
208 |
41 |
Ph.D. |
Telecommunication |
9 |
69 |
Electronic Engineer |
No |
168 |
42 |
Master |
mechanical engineering |
2 |
20 |
Mechanical Engineer |
No |
449 |
43 |
Master |
information technology |
2 |
9 |
software engineer |
No |
224 |
44 |
Ph.D. |
Dentistry |
N/A |
N/A |
Representative Director |
Yes |
301 |
45 |
Ph.D. |
software engineering |
14 |
133 |
Software Engineer |
No |
212 |
46 |
Ph.D. |
Biomedical Engineering |
7 |
128 |
Postdoctoral Researcher |
No |
341 |
47 |
Master |
industrial engineering |
N/A |
N/A |
CEO |
No |
213 |
48 |
Ph.D. |
Ophthalmology |
5 |
38 |
Hospital Director |
No |
182 |
49 |
Ph.D. |
geophysical engineering |
4 |
20 |
Senior Research Scientist |
No |
126 |
50 |
Master |
materials science |
10 |
88 |
Engineer |
Yes |
346 |
51 |
Ph.D. |
Electrical Engineering |
14 |
50 |
Engineer |
No |
171 |
52 |
Master |
IT consulting |
N/A |
N/A |
Regional manager |
Yes |
298 |
53 |
Ph.D. |
medical science |
6 |
259 |
Researcher |
No |
176 |
54 |
Ph.D. |
orthopedic medicine |
10 |
N/A |
Hospital Director |
No |
177 |
55 |
Ph.D. |
higher education |
17 |
34 |
Research Associate |
No |
247 |
56 |
Ph.D. |
Biotechnology |
7 |
202 |
Principal Scientist |
Yes |
309 |
57 |
Ph.D. |
hospital medicine |
12 |
20 |
Senior Physician |
No |
221 |
58 |
Ph.D. |
Chemistry |
14 |
190 |
Postdoctoral fellow |
No |
206 |
59 |
Ph.D. |
Management Science |
5 |
N/A |
Researcher |
Yes |
310 |
60 |
Master |
medical technology devices |
N/A |
N/A |
CEO |
No |
214 |
61 |
Master |
Cultural Heritage |
7 |
N/A |
Editor in chief |
Yes |
299 |
62 |
Bachelor |
music performance |
N/A |
N/A |
Associate Conductor |
Yes |
349 |
63 |
Ph.D. |
orthopedic sport medicine |
13 |
56 |
Resident Physician |
No |
211 |
64 |
Master |
Computer science |
4 |
N/A |
Application systems analyst |
No |
214 |
65 |
Bachelor |
semiconductor |
N/A |
N/A |
Principal Engineer |
No |
336 |
66 |
Ph.D. |
biological chemistry |
18 |
382 |
Research Associate |
No |
188 |
67 |
Ph.D. |
Physics |
11 |
101 |
Postdoctoral Researcher |
No |
207 |
68 |
Ph.D. |
Computer science |
5 |
68 |
Database engineer |
No |
207 |
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Former U.S. Consular 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 will use 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, EB-5, PERM, I-485 I-130, H-1B, O, L and J cases. In the past
twenty-two 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 |
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(01/16/2020)