1The Challenge

A researcher had their EB-1A petition challenged with an extensive RFE that questioned 4 of the 6 criteria they had claimed. The original petition, filed by another attorney, had weak documentation and generic arguments. USCIS specifically questioned the significance of the client's published articles, the nature of their judging experience, and whether their contributions were truly of 'major significance' to the field.

2Our Strategy

We assembled a comprehensive 200-page response package. For each challenged criterion, we provided detailed documentation with cross-references. We obtained 8 new expert opinion letters from recognized authorities across 3 countries. We created citation analysis reports showing the real-world impact of the client's research. We reframed the contribution narrative around specific, measurable outcomes rather than general claims. Every assertion was backed by primary-source evidence.

3The Outcome

The RFE was overcome and the petition was approved. The total process from our engagement took 8 months. This case established a strong precedent in our practice for how to approach complex RFE responses — treat every RFE as an opportunity to strengthen the case, not just address the deficiencies.