On April 28^th, 2016, we received another EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) approval for a Research Associate in the Field of Virology (Approval Notice).

General Field: Virology

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Research Associate

Country of Origin: India

Service Center: Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Maryland

Approval Notice Date: April 28^th, 2016

Processing Time: 3 Days (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary:

Thanks to Premium Processing (PP), a respected research associate from India received notification of case approval just 3 days after we filed an EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) petition on his behalf.

So what exactly is PP and why does it only allow certain petitioners to enjoy fast processing?

PP is an add-on option offered by the USCIS. By submitting an I-907 form and paying an additional $1,225, petitioners get to enjoy speedy processing within 15 days instead of 4-9 months. This is undoubtedly an excellent option for those who are hesitant to wait several months for the USCIS to take action on their case, and most likely several more months after that for them to take action on their I-485 application. By opting for PP, petitioners get to cut down the overall time that it takes to complete the green card process. However, there is a catch. Only petitioners who file their I-140s under certain visa categories get to enjoy PP. For instance, only certain EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 visa categories qualify for PP and to our client’s advantage, EB-1A is one of them.

What does it take to build a strong case?

As EB-1A is upheld by a very high standard of law, we worked diligently to prove that our client met three out of the 10 requirements set by the USCIS. Based on his qualifications, we argued that our client had an impressive citation count, an outstanding publication record, and that he is an expert at assessing the work of his peers. Using Google Scholar and other similar sites such as Scopus, we determined that our client’s citation count stood at 362 and that he had published 22 scientific articles at the time of filing. We also documented the 10 times he judged the work of others, proving that his scientific acumen and ingenuity are highly valued by other researchers in the field of virology.

What constitutes additional evidence?

To bolster our client’s EB-1A petition, we incorporated recommendation letters offered by other expert virologists. These 5 letters were obtained by our client and they highlighted the value of his research on characterizing hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in the liver, uncovering sources of viral recrudescence in HIV-1 infections, and profiling drug resistance mutations of various strains of HIV-1. One of his recommenders stressed the importance of his findings by stating that “The need for [Client’s] continued work is great. His research is a driving force behind the reduction of HIV-related costs and must not be hindered for any reason. Barring [Client] from his research pursuits in the United States also bars progress in clinical virology. In the interest of global health, he must remain an active member of the scientific community.”

What next?

A couple of months after our client’s EB-1A petition was approved, North America Immigration Law Group (WeGreened.com) filed I-485 applications for him and his wife. Once the USCIS approves their application to adjust their status, they will become American permanent residents. We wish them the best with this and thank them for choosing our law firm to help them accomplish this important goal.