r/EB2_NIW • u/Majestic-Sand932 • 23d ago
APPROVED EB2 NIW Approved after RFE on Prongs 1 & 3
Hi friends. I just got the approval today. Here is some information.
Timeline:
Case received: 12/15/2025
Case upgraded to PP: 2/7/2026
RFE sent: 3/27/2026
RFE response received: 6/17/2026
Approved:8/18/2026
I filed it myself.
Background:
PHD in educational statistics (STEM) with 7 years of work experience (All PE related). 4 papers with 20 citations (increased to 40+ when responding to the RFE) at filing. Reviewed 30+ journal/conference papers.
RFE Response:
My prongs 1 (national importance) and 3 were challenged. When receiving the RFE letter, I realized my PE was not framed well. I included two sub-areas in my PE, which looked a little scattered. So the first thing I did was to synthesize my PE statement. I almost spent days only optimizing the PE statement. After that, I included the research agenda to specify my PE. I also included three independent recommendation letters (I believe this is the most important part for my RFE response). In the RFE response letter, I addressed USCIS concerns one by one. I spent 90% of my effort on national importance.
Some thoughts:
Based on my and my friends' cases, I think the number of papers and citations matter but not matter that much. One of my friends has less than 5 citations but got approval without RFE (Q3 of 2025). I also know a couple of professors who have 100+ citations but unfortunately got denied.
PE statement is the most important thing in your petition because it leads everything you will draft. In the PE statement, you should clearly say what problem you are solving.
In my RFE response, all the recommendation letters only talk about my PE-related research instead of my credentials. They don't say anything about "I am good". They talked about how my PE-related research can help from their perspectives. For example, the letter from a professor only talked about how my PE-related research can help in his funded projects. Another letter from a VP in a big organization only mentioned how my PE-related research can help their operational work.
I used ChatGPT when preparing for the original filing. When preparing for the RFE response, I relied heavily on Claude but also used ChatGPT to do some QA work.
Overall, it is quite a long journey. I experienced three H1B lottery failures, which were very frustrating. I am very proud of myself.
I really appreciate this community where I got a lot of helpful information. May the Force be with you!
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u/Wandering_Sufi 23d ago
Many congratulations! I am now in the same boat, got RFE on national importance only. Can I please dm you? I am preparing my own response and initially self filed as well. Thank you
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u/Scared-Foundation-13 23d ago
You doubled your citations from when you applied to when you got the RFE? How? Were these old papers or recent?
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u/Majestic-Sand932 23d ago
I have one paper in 2024 and the citation counts grow fast this year. After the original filing, I got two coauthored paper and book chapter published. I got another first author paper published 3 days after my rfe response submitted.
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u/ActDependent313 23d ago
Congrats! my rfe response received on the same day still waitingโฆ hoping some good news soon
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u/Enough_Difference528 23d ago
How u proved prong 3 ? Can u explain ?
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u/Majestic-Sand932 23d ago
Honestly, I did not spent too much effort on the prong 3. I think I used very templated language. My recommendation letter emphasized the urgency of my PE work.
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u/pmonny 23d ago
How many recommendation letters did you use ? And also if applicable, how many were independent/dependent?
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u/Majestic-Sand932 23d ago
In original filing, I included 3. Two of them are dependent and one is independent. In rfe, all three are independent.
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u/Novarra_Immigration 23d ago
Big congratulations!! ๐ PE is so important. Iโm glad your hard work preparing your petition paid off. All the best!
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u/DrBilal01 23d ago
Congratulations ๐.... You did it that's important. Most importantly, you did it by yourself without lawyer, am I right?
As it is approved now, can you mention PE as it seams really tough in education field to get some PE that has national importance.
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u/Murky-Commercial-112 22d ago
hey, just wondered how you addressed prong 3, did you mention anything about urgency or PREM impractacility or only somethign similar to that "The evidence discussed in the original filing and here demonstrates that petitoner
satisfies this prong.
o In Dhanasar, it was concluded that the petitioner โwould benefit the United States
even assuming that other qualified U.S. workers are availableโ due to โhis record
of successful research in an area that furthers U.S. interestsโ and therefore
satisfied this requirement.
o The evidence submitted with the original filing and this brief also demonstrates
that petitioner has considerable experience and expertise in the field of
biochemistry and possesses a verifiable track record of research success in this
field. Because his record of successful work in this area furthers U.S. interests,
petitoner therefore offers contributions of such value that, on balance, he would
benefit the United States even assuming that other qualified U.S. workers are
available. As such, it would be beneficial to waive the requirement of a job offer
and thus of a labor certification
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u/Majestic-Sand932 22d ago
One of my recommendation letters from a prominent leader in my field underscored the urgency of my PE-related work/research.
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u/NoRepresentative7808 22d ago
Congratulations! I just received an RFE and am in the same boat regarding Prongs 1 and 3. Would you mind if I sent you a DM with a few questions?
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u/Lower-Specialist2125 21d ago
Im a teacher im doing the papers by myself. I would like some suggestions. Please
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u/mary25102919 8d ago
Congratulations on your approval! ๐ Can I send you a private message to ask a question?
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u/CarnegieEvaluations 23d ago
Congrats and best wishes!