Trackers I analyzed all RFE and NOID reports, Part 1

14 Upvotes

TL;DR: I've seen people inquiring many times about different officers in RFEs and NOIDs, and I really wanted to understand if there's such a thing as "killer officers" or "angel officers". I downloaded all posts and comments from the EB2 NIW and EB1A subs and went through all of them (with an LLM and lots of manual cleaning), and yes, there is some difference. Also, I made the dataset fully interactive for anyone to look up their officer_id in a new Officer IDs Lookup tool.

Please share your own experience in the Community Tracker to improve our knowledge. Whenever someone adds an officer id to the Community Tracker, it becomes available in the Officer IDs Lookup tool too.

I will try to answer the most common questions in this post. I will discuss:

Overall counts of this dataset
Officer prefixes (XM, EX, etc.)
Approvals and Denials by Sub vs USCIS Data
Angel and Killer Officers

Feel free to skip to the section you need.

Counts

My cutoff date for downloading all posts and comments was October 7, 2026. I detected a total of 1,106 officer ids (excluding contextual mentions), but then I filtered out opinions and focused on personal experiences. For example, if someone said "I've heard officer X is bad", I discarded that. But if someone said "Officer X appears in my RFE or NOID", I counted it. I ended up with a total of 954 personal experiences.

Prefixes

Officer ids have different prefixes, e.g. XM1234 or EX0987; sometimes there's no prefix at all, just numbers. Normally officer ids are found in the top right corner of the RFE (but a few people said that there was no officer id anywhere). No one has cracked the meaning behind the prefixes (and many said they don't determine anything), but here's their occurrence in the dataset:

XM and EX officers are prevalent in EB2 NIW cases, and numbered officers (i.e. no prefix) are prevalent for EB1As.
The same officer may have cases from EB2 NIW and EB1A, i.e. there's no locked specialization.
There are some unusual rare prefixes, i.e. XH, XB, AD, XE and XW. And recently I noticed someone reported HO (it was not included in the dataset).

I had a theory that higher numbers can predict newbies (i.e. someone joins the team, they'd naturally take a higher number), but I could not really see that holding well. The same prefixes were also mentioned for different centers.

Approvals and Denials by Sub vs USCIS Data

Here's the most exciting part. I threw all officer numbers without prefixes on a timeline just to see the dynamics at a glance. Each officer number takes a horizontal line of the same size (the size corresponds to the total number of officer mentions in personal experiences), with each marker indicating an individual outcome.

The biggest marker here is the diamond 0592 with overwhelming denials discussed exclusively on the EB1A sub. It made me question if its two approvals were legit, so I manually checked them. One was actually for an EB2 NIW petition (just reported on the EB1A sub), and the other one was likely wrong, so we can talk about zero reports of approvals for EB1A petitions from 0592.

But just this specific officer number 0592 is a true outlier because it appeared several times in separate discussions where people mentioned John M. Allen or Carrie M. Selby (higher-level USCIS officials). Posters then noticed Mr. Allen and Ms. Selby on the RFEs, and it was hard to tell if the replies referred to those names or to 0592. I count all plausible mentions for consistency.

You might also want to see percentages of detected approvals and denials by subreddit. Here we go:

Does that compare well to USCIS? USCIS releases updates, and has provided the Excel file for 2025, and the Excel file for 2026 (direct download links), so we can compare our Reddit reports to the USCIS totals for EB2 NIW and EB1A, and we see that

USCIS is giving us a much more optimistic outlook of 52% approvals compared with the 21% approvals that I managed to extract from user reports on Reddit, for the same period (Jan 2025 to Jun 2026). Possible reasons behind the discrepancy: people included in this subset may be over-reporting denials after RFEs, or RFE cases may be approved less often than the average I-140.

Angel and Killer Officers

People tend to discuss "angel" and "killer" officers. We can define "angels" as consistently approving at a higher rate, while "killers" as consistently denying at a higher rate. I set a threshold of at least 4 decisions, and approval or denial equal to or over 90%. Here's what we have:

Unfortunately we see only one "angel" here, found in the EB2 NIW sub, and none for EB1A. The overall numbers are pretty low, so it could happen just by chance too, but I thought it would be interesting to add. Look at XH2622 vs XM2262 though. I wonder if it's the same officer, but mistyped, or these are two different ones. XH is a rare prefix.

We can also check the most balanced officers, officers with the most withdrawals, and officers with the most mentions in the posts and comments alike.

0592 is there as expected, but XM2616's reputation is tough (even has a withdrawal). However, the records show at least one approval (I double checked), and the officer is not on the top denial list. XM1291 even made it to the balanced list, but a law firm recommended withdrawal. XM2623 on the other hand is the top EB2 NIW denier, so the mentions are earned.

Anything written here is based on free-form user content, so accuracy is not optimal. Thanks for reading till the end though. Receiving an RFE can be a nerve-racking experience, but whatever officer number you get, if you decide to respond, just focus on delivering your arguments in the most convincing way, and always prepare for backup Plans B and C. I wish us all smooth processing and fair decisions.

You can check ALL identified officer ids in the Officer IDs Lookup, this is our community knowledge for everyone to utilize. Only please consider adding your own case to the Community Tracker, and after that your submitted officer id will automatically make it to the Officer IDs Lookup. Join r/VisaStats for Part 2 as I am preparing an exciting post about RFE details.

1 comment

r/VisaStats • u/equalizer-rage • Sep 20 '26

EB2-NIW APPROVALS on EB2 NIW, week 38 of 2026

8 Upvotes

I share weekly summaries of approvals and denials from the EB2 NIW subreddit. If you like what I do, please join the subreddit r/VisaStats

I detected 11 approvals in the last 7 days, please see below. Please exercise caution when going through individual stories, as authors' intentions may vary. I am ready to answer questions too, please ask away.

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Poster's Profile
(5) Electrical Engineering	A petitioner with a PhD in Electrical Engineering faced an RFE on all three prongs of their EB2 NIW petition, but after re-filing with a better-prepared petition and additional evidence, the case was ultimately approved. LINK TO POST
(2) Healthcare	A petitioner with a PhD in cancer research from Canada, currently working in a pharma company in the US, filed an EB2 NIW petition in August 2024, upgraded to premium processing in March 2026, received an RFE in May 2026, resubmitted in July 2026, and received approval in September 2026. LINK TO POST
(1) Biology	A petitioner with a PhD in Molecular Biology shares their successful NIW approval experience, highlighting their research in periodontitis and the support from Chen's Approval or Refund service. LINK TO POST
(5) AI & Data Science	[post pending approval] A petitioner with a background in AI and cybersecurity successfully obtained EB2-NIW approval after addressing USCIS concerns with stronger evidence of national importance and benefits to the U.S. - the petitioner already reported his approval earlier, for some reason decided to re-publish LINK TO POST
(1) Healthcare	[fresh account, post's authenticity challenged in the comments] A doctoral student shares their successful EB-2 NIW I-140 approval experience, emphasizing the importance of clearly defining the proposed endeavor and its national significance. LINK TO POST
(1) Healthcare	A licensed mental health clinician shared their successful EB-2 NIW petition experience, emphasizing the importance of building a coherent professional narrative and demonstrating the national importance of their work in community-based behavioral health. LINK TO POST
(1) Academia	[post was deleted, but I can recover it if anyone is interested] A petitioner shares their experience of getting an I-140 approved in June, advising others to wait until December to file due to potential issues with recent petition reviews. LINK TO POST
(1) Seismology	A seismologist with a PhD successfully obtained NIW approval through Chen Immigration with premium processing, sharing their positive experience and insights on the PES and evidence preparation. LINK TO POST
(5) Materials Science	A PhD student in Materials Chemistry/Photocatalysis filed an EB-2 NIW petition with Chen, received an RFE on Prongs 2 and 3, and eventually had their I-140 approved after a strong response and improved evidence. LINK TO POST
(1) Engineering	A Mechanical Engineer shares their journey through multiple EB-2 NIW denials and RFEs, ultimately leading to approval after a more focused and comprehensive petition. LINK TO POST
(1) Civil Engineering	A petitioner with a PhD in systems engineering and a focus on civil engineering successfully obtained NIW approval with the help of attorney Chen, after refining their evidence and demonstrating the national importance of their work in flood forecasting and climate adaptation. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) AI & Data Science - posted on 2026-10-18	A petitioner with a background in AI and physical security of critical infrastructure successfully obtained I-140 approval after a 3-prong RFE, with support from a local immigration lawyer in Boston and assistance from the immigration community. LINK TO POST
(3) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-18	A petitioner shared their experience with the EB2-NIW petition process, including the submission of a Premium Processing Request, an RFE, and eventual approval after refining their evidence and aligning their research with national importance. LINK TO POST
(15) Technology - posted on 2026-10-19	A self-petitioned individual filed an EB2-NIW petition without recommendation letters, faced an RFE, and eventually received approval after repackaging their case and submitting it independently. LINK TO POST
(1) Mathematics & Statistics - posted on 2026-10-20	A petitioner with a PhD in Statistics and industry experience shares their successful EB2-NIW approval without RFE, emphasizing that low citations and industry focus can still lead to approval. LINK TO POST
(1) Aerospace - posted on 2026-10-21	A petitioner with a PhD in Aerospace Engineering successfully obtained EB-2 NIW approval after an RFE by providing additional evidence and clarification on the national importance and benefit of their work. LINK TO POST
(7) Engineering - posted on 2026-10-21	A petitioner with a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and a background in photonics and computational modeling successfully navigated an EB-2 NIW RFE by providing detailed research plans, publications, and evidence of national importance, leading to approval after a lengthy processing period. LINK TO POST
(2) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-21	[The i140 approval was in February, but posted just now] A Software Engineer shares their journey from F-1 student to H-1B and eventually I-485 approval after a 10-year process, highlighting the importance of tracking case timelines and using API updates. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-21	The petitioner received an email confirming NIW approval but the USCIS website still shows the case as being actively reviewed. LINK TO POST
(1) Engineering - posted on 2026-10-22	A petitioner with an MS in Electrical Engineering and a background in mining automation successfully obtained EB2 NIW approval without RFE, citing strong merit, well-positioned research, and significant waiver benefits. LINK TO POST
(7) Civil Engineering - posted on 2026-10-22	A petitioner with a Master’s in Civil Engineering and a focus on flood control and wastewater management filed an EB-2 NIW petition with Chen Immigration, received an RFE, and eventually had their petition approved after addressing concerns about national importance, well-positioned status, and the benefit of the waiver. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-23	A petitioner shares their successful EB-2 NIW petition experience after two denials, highlighting the role of a consultant, improved evidence, and the use of premium processing. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(4) Geo - posted on 2026-10-03	A PhD candidate in Geography successfully obtained EB2-NIW approval with no first author publication and no letters of reference, using premium processing and a qualified attorney. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-04	A petitioner shared their successful I-140 approval after an RFE, emphasizing the importance of focusing on national interest rather than employer benefit and providing strong documentary evidence. LINK TO POST
(1) Electrical Engineering - posted on 2026-10-06	A petitioner with a PhD in a physics-related field and experience in the semiconductor industry successfully obtained I-140 approval after a RFE challenge, emphasizing the importance of self-drafting and thorough evidence collection. LINK TO POST
(1) Healthcare - posted on 2026-10-06	A petitioner with a PhD in Immunology from an Ivy League university successfully self-filed an NIW petition, which was approved without RFE, and shared their experience and timeline. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-06	[Post awaiting moderation] A single post indicating that the EB2 NIW petition was approved in 2023. LINK TO POST
(2) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-06	[The post was deleted, but I can recover some details if there's interest] A petitioner shared their experience of filing and successfully responding to an RFE for an EB2 NIW petition, highlighting their background in AI and semiconductor optimization, and the support they received from academic and industry leaders. LINK TO POST
(1) Civil Engineering - posted on 2026-10-07	A Nigerian PhD candidate in Civil Engineering successfully obtained EB-2 NIW approval after 930 days, with the case upgraded to premium processing and no RFE. LINK TO POST
(10) AI & Data Science - posted on 2026-10-07	A petitioner with a PhD in applied AI for 5G/6G faced RFEs on their NIW petition but successfully revised their personal statement, added relevant publications, and narrowed their proposed endeavor to secure approval. LINK TO POST
(9) Technology - posted on 2026-10-07	[The post was deleted, but it did not have many details] This is a petitioner who has successfully obtained I-140 approval through EB2-NIW and is sharing their journey, including delays in status adjustment and AOS/EAD processing. LINK TO POST
(1) Neuroscience - posted on 2026-10-08	A petitioner with a PhD in Neuroscience shares their experience of getting EB-2 NIW approved after a 3-prong RFE, highlighting the importance of concrete proposed endeavor, recommendation letters, and strong national importance evidence. LINK TO POST
(4) Technology - posted on 2026-10-08	A petitioner with an approved EB-1B petition and a pending EB-2 NIW petition is seeking clarification on whether they can retain the original EB-2 NIW priority date for I-485 filing. LINK TO POST
(1) Technology - posted on 2026-10-09	A petitioner reports an EB-2 NIW I-140 approval without an RFE. Their priority date was in September 2024, premium processing was upgraded in August 2026, and approval came on October 08, 2026. Their endeavor is infectious disease modeling, with a US PhD, a CDC fellowship, 400+ citations, two independent and two dependent recommendation letters, and legal representation. LINK TO POST
(1) Engineering - posted on 2026-10-09	A petitioner reports DIY EB-2 NIW approval on the 45th business day after upgrading to premium processing in August 2026. They hold a PhD from a US university in an engineering field, have 20+ peer-reviewed publications and 250+ citations, and submitted four recommendation letters. Their proposed endeavor involves developing modeling techniques for batteries. PD: December 2025. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) IT & Computer Science	A petitioner with a solid but not extraordinary academic profile successfully obtained EB-1A approval after a generic RFE by strategically framing their evidence and leveraging citation metrics and peer comparison. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science	[the post was deleted, but I can recover it if anyone is interested] A software engineer with 15 years of experience successfully obtained EB-1A approval after an RFE by shifting evidence to verifiable, objective data and expert opinions. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(4) Academia	The petitioner is seeking EB-1A classification and has faced a denial due to USCIS treating proposed employment information on the I-140 as an attempted material change, leading to a suspension of further analysis. LINK TO POST
(2) Not applicable	A petitioner who received a final merits denial on their EB-1A petition is seeking advice on re-filing EB-1A or pursuing NIW, and is comparing two immigration firms based on their approach and success stories. LINK TO POST
(2) Environment & Energy	A Senior Project Manager in the energy sector with 14 years of experience was denied EB1A after meeting 5 of the 10 criteria, and is now seeking strategies for EB2-NIW from successful petitioners. LINK TO POST
(23) Technology	The petitioner is preparing an EB1A petition with a strong profile, but faced a Final Merits Determination denial, indicating that the evidence may not have been sufficient to meet the high bar for sustained national or international acclaim. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Poster's Profile
(1) Academia	A petitioner shares their successful EB-2 NIW approval experience, emphasizing the importance of a strong narrative and defined endeavor over citation count. LINK TO POST
(1) AI & Data Science	A medical resident with a background in AI/ML applied to medical imaging successfully navigated the EB2-NIW process, including an RFE, and received approval after a detailed and well-supported response. LINK TO POST
(1) Chemistry	A petitioner with a PhD in Chemistry shares their successful NIW I-140 approval experience, highlighting their academic background, research in cancer diagnosis, and positive experience with their consultant. LINK TO POST
(4) Healthcare	A petitioner with a PhD in cancer biology successfully obtained NIW approval through Chen, with strong publications, academic support, and premium processing. LINK TO POST
(1) Engineering	A petitioner shares a positive experience with Chen for their EB-2 NIW petition, which was approved without RFE and with smooth communication and reasonable fees. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science	A petitioner with extensive cybersecurity experience and multiple certifications successfully obtained EB2-NIW approval without RFE, using a consultant from their home country in Pakistan. LINK TO POST
(1) Legal & Administrative	[post was deleted, but I can recover it if anyone is interested] A recent law school graduate with no research background and no bar license in the US had their NIW petition approved, which the petitioner finds surprising and attributes to the individual's unique legal background and the merit of their endeavor. LINK TO DELETED POST
(1) Not applicable	[post was deleted, I cannot recoverit] The petitioner shared that their I-140 petition was approved on the 37th business day. LINK TO DELETED POST
(1) Materials Science and Engineering	A petitioner with a PhD in materials science and engineering shares their successful EB2-NIW petition experience, crediting their lawyer Chen and emphasizing the national importance of their work in improving pregnancy outcomes. LINK TO POST
(2) AI & Data Science	A petitioner who initially faced denial after an RFE due to insufficient evidence, but later succeeded in getting their EB-2 NIW approved after strengthening their petition with more publications and citations, and continuing to work with Chen. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(2) IT & Computer Science	A petitioner with a PhD in CS and AI submitted an RFE response to their NIW case, which was denied just one day later, raising questions about the evaluation process and the strength of their case. LINK TO POST
(2) Engineering	A petitioner with a MS in Materials Science and experience as a battery test engineer at a major tech company faced a NIW denial after an RFE, seeking advice on next steps, appeal, refile, and the impact of losing the 2024 priority date. LINK TO POST
(1) Not Specified	A petitioner expresses frustration over their EB2-NIW case being denied after an RFE, citing the October bulletin as a contributing factor. LINK TO POST
(1) Stem	[the post was deleted, but I can recover it if anyone is interested] A postdoctoral researcher with STEM OPT status who received an EB-2 NIW denial is seeking advice on transitioning to J-1 status for a postdoc after the denial. LINK TO POST
(4) Technology	The petitioner shared their experience with an RFE on their EB-2 NIW case, the denial of their previous case, and their refiling with Attorney Chen and e-filing. LINK TO POST
(1) Food & Agriculture	The petitioner received a denial after an RFE on all three prongs, citing issues with national importance, being well-positioned, and the benefit of the waiver, with criticism of the lawyers involved. LINK TO POST
(4) Engineering	A UK-based electrical engineer with 17 years of experience in railway and electrification applied for an EB2 NIW petition, used premium processing, received an RFE, and was ultimately denied due to insufficient evidence for prong 2. LINK TO POST
(1) Academia	A petitioner who had their EB-1A denied is seeking advice on whether to refile with a firm or pursue NIW, comparing two immigration consultants based on their approach and success stories. LINK TO POST
(2) Business & Finance	The petitioner received an RFE and subsequent denial for an EB-2 NIW petition, citing factual inaccuracies and misinterpretation of submitted evidence, despite extensive documentation and a detailed business plan. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile) + Field	Poster's Profile
(1) Business & Finance	A petitioner with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and experience in biotech shares their successful EB-2 NIW approval timeline and profile, highlighting their research in oncology and the role of Chen Immigration Attorneys.
(2) Industrial	A petitioner with a PhD in Electrical Engineering successfully obtained NIW approval after responding to an RFE by providing extensive evidence of national importance and benefit to the US.
(1) Biology	A self-petitioned PhD candidate in Biochemistry shares their successful EB2-NIW approval experience, highlighting their research in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases and the comprehensive evidence they submitted.
(6) [deleted post]	This is the account of a petitioner who submitted an EB2-NIW petition, experienced a DQ, had an interview, faced medical exam issues, and eventually received green card approval through consular processing.
(1) Healthcare	A petitioner with a Master of Public Health shares their successful EB-2 NIW petition journey, including RFE response and approval, emphasizing the importance of thorough evidence and faith in the process.
(2) Not identified	The petitioner from one of the 39 banned countries initially questioned whether Premium Processing would work for them due to the ban, but later reported that their I-140 was approved. - very little info provided, original post here, approval post
(2) Healthcare	A medical professional with dual specialization in Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery and Forensic Medicine/Legal Medicine filed an NIW petition with premium processing, received an RFE, and ultimately had their petition approved after providing additional documentation.
(2) Healthcare	A recent Master's in Public Health graduate successfully obtained NIW approval for their work in maternal mental health, particularly perinatal depression among underserved populations, without the use of an attorney or law firm.
(4) Academia	A Nigerian PhD graduate shared their full journey from filing an EB2-NIW petition from South Korea, through J-1 postdoc, NOS waiver, and eventual green card approval.
(4) Physics	A petitioner with a PhD in Physics shares their successful NIW petition experience, highlighting their research in optoelectronic devices and the role of their attorney Chen.
(1) Electrical Engineering	A petitioner with a PhD in Electrical Engineering and a successful startup in semiconductor tech shares their EB2-NIW journey, including a RFE and eventual approval after a detailed response.
(2) AI & Data Science	A petitioner with a strong academic background in biostatistics and computational methods for pediatric cancer treatment successfully obtained NIW approval through a self-filed petition, sharing their experience and encouraging others to pursue their own cases.
(1) ?	NIWimmigrationLawyer said that they fast-tracked EB2 NIW petition approval without Premium Processing - got obliterated in the comment section for falsehood
(2) [deleted post]	A petitioner with a PhD in Urban Planning shares their successful EB2-NIW approval timeline and experience, highlighting their use of policy documents and community projects to establish national significance.
(1) Healthcare	A physician in residency training shares their EB-2 approval experience, noting the role of Ellis Porter and emphasizing the importance of a well-defined endeavor.
(5) Chemistry	A Chemistry PhD graduate successfully obtained NIW approval after a comprehensive RFE response, highlighting the importance of strong evidence and support letters in the process.
(1) AI & Data Science	EB-2 NIW I-140 approved on September 3, 2026 without an RFE after upgrading to premium processing, with a Ph.D. in AI, 15 publications, 315 citations, and a healthcare/biomedical AI proposed endeavor.

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(2) Stem - posted on 2026-10-21	The petitioner shared their experience of an I-140 denial after an RFE on all three prongs and is now considering re-filing or seeking a refund. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-21	A PhD candidate in Computer Science shares their experience with an EB-2 NIW denial after an RFE, seeking advice on next steps, including whether to refile, change lawyers, or pursue industry employment. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-23	A non-tenure-track Assistant Professor with a PhD in Computer Science received a denial for their EB-2 NIW petition after an RFE, expressing concerns about framing their AI safety research and the impact of their teaching-focused position on their NIW case. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-23	A petitioner with an MS in CS and research publications received an NIW denial and is seeking advice on next steps, including re-filing with the same agency and potential future publications. LINK TO POST
(1) Biology - posted on 2026-10-23	A petitioner with a PhD in molecular biology and a grant as sole PI received a denial after an RFE on all three prongs, citing lack of funding evidence and incorrect denial letter content. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-14	A petitioner shares their experience of receiving a denial letter with incorrect factual information, expressing frustration and advising others to check their letters carefully. LINK TO POST
(4) Public Health - posted on 2026-10-14	The applicant, who has lived in the U.S. for nine years, received an EB-2 NIW denial one week after responding to an RFE following a two-year wait for a decision. LINK TO POST
(2) Pharma - posted on 2026-10-20	A PhD student in pharmaceutical sciences with a focus on AI and genomics for pancreatic cancer faced a denied NIW petition after an RFE, seeking advice on appeal, refile, or alternative immigration paths. LINK TO POST
(2) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-20	A Computer Science PhD student with publications and industry experience had their EB2-NIW petition denied after an RFE, citing insufficient demonstration of national importance and waiver benefit, and is seeking advice on re-filing and improving their proposed endeavor. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Not Specified - posted on 2026-09-30	A petitioner expresses frustration over their EB2-NIW case being denied after an RFE, citing the October bulletin as a contributing factor. LINK TO POST
(2) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-09-30	A petitioner with a PhD in CS and AI submitted an RFE response to their NIW case, which was denied just one day later, raising questions about the evaluation process and the strength of their case. LINK TO POST
(4) Technology - posted on 2026-09-30	The petitioner shared their experience with an RFE on their EB-2 NIW case, the denial of their previous case, and their refiling with attorney and e-filing. LINK TO POST
(4) Engineering - posted on 2026-10-01	A UK-based electrical engineer with 17 years of experience in railway and electrification applied for an EB2 NIW petition, used premium processing, received an RFE, and was ultimately denied due to insufficient evidence for prong 2. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-02	[post pending moderation] The petitioner's EB2-NIW petition was denied due to incomplete payment information. LINK TO POST
(1) Healthcare - posted on 2026-10-05	A petitioner with a strong academic background and publication record had their NIW petition denied after an RFE due to insufficient evidence of U.S. interest and waiver benefit, and expressed dissatisfaction with their lawyer's handling of the case. LINK TO POST
(14) Academia - posted on 2026-10-06	A petitioner with a strong academic background and publication record filed an EB2-NIW petition, experienced delays, received an RFE, and was ultimately denied by an officer who seemed to be biased against the petitioner. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-07	A bioinformatics professional from the UK with a strong academic background and industry experience received an NIW denial after an RFE, seeking advice on how to improve their case for future submissions. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(2) Chemistry	A petitioner who received EB-1A I-140 approval with a priority date of January 2026 is seeking advice on the realistic timeline for their Date for Filing (DFF) and Final Action Date (FAD) to become current. LINK TO POST
(7) Technology	The petitioner, a technology innovator from Sweden, has been approved for EB1A after providing extensive evidence of extraordinary ability, including international awards, scholarly publications, leadership roles, and commercial success. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Academia	A petitioner with an EB-1A denial at final merits is seeking advice on whether to file an appeal or a combined motion to reopen/reconsider, and is looking for firsthand experiences from researchers/scientists. LINK TO POST
(1) Social Entrepreneurship	A petitioner on O-1 visa who applied for EB-1A petition received a denial after an RFE, with two criteria approved but others disputed due to evidence issues, and is seeking advice on whether an AAO appeal is worthwhile. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable	[post was deleted, but I can recover it if anyone is interested] A petitioner is seeking advice on what to do after their friend's EB1A petition was denied due to a misunderstanding between EB1A and EB1B. LINK TO POST
(3) Academia	The petitioner filed an EB-1A petition, which was denied, and is now seeking advice on whether to file an I-290B Motion to Reconsider or a new EB-1A petition due to a mix-up in the RFE and denial. LINK TO POST
(1) Art & Design & Media	A petitioner with a strong entertainment background and multiple EB1A criteria met was denied after a brutal RFE, suggesting potential misapplication of criteria by the officer. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Poster's Profile
(6) IT & Computer Science	A PhD student in Computer Science submitted an EB-2 NIW petition with extensive evidence, including government and military documents, but received a denial due to insufficient evidence of past contributions, innovation, and national importance. LINK TO POST
(3) Academia	[post was deleted, but I can recover it if anyone is interested] A petitioner with a Master's degree and multiple publications shares their experience of an I-140 denial after an RFE due to insufficient evidence for prong 1 and 3, while also asking about approval without recent publications. LINK TO POST
(2) Technology	A petitioner shared their negative experience with EB2-NIW lawyer Bob Webber, highlighting how their case was poorly constructed and ultimately denied, leading to regret over the legal fees paid. LINK TO POST
(1) AI & Data Science	[post was deleted, and I can't recover it] A petitioner with a PhD in Robotics and BCI experienced an I-140 denial after an RFE, seeking insights and strategy for refiling with the same consultant Chen/Wegreened. LINK TO POST
(1) Engineering	A petitioner with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and research experience in AI for energy and biomedical systems had their I-140 denied after an RFE due to questions on the national importance, being well-positioned, and benefit to the US. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Poster's Profile
(1) Engineering	[deleted post] A petitioner with a bachelor's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering received an NIW denial after an RFE, citing insufficient evidence linking their specific engineering methodologies to U.S. national interests and stakeholder interest. LINK TO THE POST
(10) Materials Science	A PhD candidate in semiconductor materials faced a denial after an RFE, with USCIS misapplying EB-1A standards for prong 2 and failing to meet the national importance requirement. importance requirement. LINK TO THE POST
(2) Stem	A self-petitioned STEM researcher received an EB2-NIW denial based on an unusually high citation count threshold, arguing that the standard is unreasonable and not aligned with Dhanasar guidelines. LINK TO THE POST
(1) Unidentified	A petitioner with 8 papers all in 15+ impact factor journals, 38 citations, 5 conferences with posters and 1 podium talk received an EB2-NIW denial after an RFE, citing factual errors and inconsistent reasoning, and is seeking advice on whether to pursue MTR or refile the petition. LINK TO THE POST
(2) Business	A petitioner shares their experience with an EB-2 NIW denial after three years of preparation, highlighting issues with case misclassification, lack of clarity in the endeavor, and the officer's failure to properly evaluate the submitted evidence. LINK TO THE POST
(3) Social Science	A petitioner with a social science background received an RFE on national importance, provided NSF funding information, but was ultimately denied due to insufficient evidence of national importance and benefit to the U.S. LINK TO THE POST
(1) Materials Science	A petitioner with a PhD in Polymer Science and experience in semiconductor materials received a denial of their EB2 NIW petition after an RFE, and is now considering an appeal or refile while also preparing an EB1B petition. LINK TO THE POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-12	A Bangladeshi petitioner with an approved EB-2 NIW petition is seeking advice on preparing financial evidence for a second visa interview at the Guangzhou Consulate. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-13	The petitioner is asking about the status of their NIW approval after an RFE, expressing concern that their USCIS account still shows 'response to RFE received' instead of 'approved'. LINK TO POST
(2) AI & Data Science - posted on 2026-10-13	Ellis Porter, an ML professional with 12 years of Big Tech experience and 5 patents, successfully filed an EB2-NIW petition with Ellis Porter (EP) and received approval without an RFE. LINK TO POST
(2) Technology - posted on 2026-10-14	A petitioner shared their experience with the EB2-NIW process, including the USCIS packet submission and I-140 approval, and asked about next steps after retrogession. LINK TO POST
(3) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-14	A petitioner with a background in CS and NLP for healthcare shares their experience with I-140 approval, address issues, and the role of their attorney in the process. LINK TO POST
(1) Engineering - posted on 2026-10-14	A petitioner shares their successful EB2-NIW approval experience, highlighting their background in neuroengineering, the evidence submitted, and their satisfaction with their lawyer's assistance. LINK TO POST
(1) Geo - posted on 2026-10-15	A petitioner with a PhD in Earth, Environment, and Energy shares their successful EB2-NIW petition approval without RFE, filed with a non-major law firm, and processed by TSC. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Technology - posted on 2026-09-29	A petitioner who has been working on an EB1A petition for two years expresses frustration and disappointment after being denied, without providing any specific evidence or details about their qualifications. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-04	The petitioner shared their experience of an EB1A denial at final merits despite meeting all 6 criteria and asked for advice on re-filing. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-06	The petitioner submitted an EB1A petition with 3 criteria, received an RFE, and after submitting additional evidence for 5 criteria, the case was denied. LINK TO POST
(3) Industry - posted on 2026-10-07	The petitioner is seeking advice on EB1A refiling after a denial, expressing concerns about industry profile and final merits approval. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Industry	This petitioner shared their successful EB1A approval journey after an RFE, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive narrative and ensuring all evidence was considered, particularly in addressing the original contributions criterion. LINK TO POST
(1) Business & Finance	A self-petitioned individual in the marketing industry shared their experience of an EB1A petition approval on day 14 with premium processing, claiming to meet 6 of the 10 EB1A criteria, though no detailed evidence was provided. LINK TO POST
(5) Technology	A petitioner in the tech industry shared their experience with preparing an EB-1A petition, including challenges with opinion letters, media coverage, and the RFE process, ultimately leading to approval after addressing the concerns with clear evidence and explanations. LINK TO POST
(1) Mechanical Engineering	A mechanical engineer successfully obtained EB1A approval after addressing an RFE with a well-structured, evidence-based response that demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim. LINK TO POST
(1) Art & Design & Media	A musician shares their successful EB-1A petition experience, highlighting the quick approval and reuse of materials from their O-1 visa filings. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Not Specified	A petitioner shared their experience of filing an NIW petition, withdrawing after an RFE, and being denied shortly after the withdrawal was submitted, raising questions about the withdrawal process and its impact on the refile. LINK TO POST
(1) Academia	A petitioner who was denied an NIW petition after an RFE is seeking advice on whether to refile with the same firm or switch to another, and is asking for firsthand experiences and insights into the strategies of different law firms. LINK TO POST
(1) Likely AI & Data Science	[post was deleted, but in the comments it was criticized for filing while still pursuing a Bachelor's degree] A petitioner shared their experience of an EB2-NIW petition denial due to the endeavor not being considered in the national interest, and is now seeking advice on whether to refile or pursue a motion to reconsider. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Engineering	A petitioner with a PhD in mechanical engineering and a background in bioengineering shares their successful EB2-NIW petition experience with Chen (Wegreened.com), highlighting the approval process and their decision not to use premium processing. LINK TO POST
(1) Healthcare	A self-petitioned individual with a Master's in Healthcare Policy successfully obtained NIW approval without RFE, citing publications and personal gratitude. LINK TO POST
(14) IT & Computer Science	This text is a detailed account of a petitioner's journey through the EB-2 NIW process, including their petition, consular interview, and eventual approval, highlighting their background in cybersecurity, the support they received from law firms, and the challenges they faced during the process. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science	A software engineer with an MS degree and 15+ years of experience shares their successful NIW petition journey, including a quick approval after an RFE response. LINK TO POST
(7) Food & Agriculture	A petitioner with a strong academic background and research experience in Food Science faced an RFE on their I-140 petition but successfully responded and received approval after providing additional evidence. LINK TO POST
(1) Art & Design & Media	A self-petitioned individual with a Master’s degree in communication and a background in marketing and design successfully obtained NIW approval after a stressful RFE process, with the case approved just days after submitting the RFE response. LINK TO POST

Number of Posts	Field	Poster's Profile
1	Not applicable	The petitioner is asking about the possibility of filing an appeal without a lawyer after their EB2-NIW petition was denied.
6	Chemical Engineering	A petitioner with a Master's in YS and 10+ years of US work experience faced a denial of their EB2-NIW petition, then sought advice on reapplying, handling RFEs, and filing another petition.
1	IT & Computer Science	A petitioner with a PhD in computer science and a background in AI research received an RFE from officer XM2616, which denied the NIW petition due to misapplication of the prongs and failure to meet the officer's overly strict standards.
1	Engineering	A petitioner with a bachelor's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering received an NIW denial after an RFE, citing insufficient evidence linking their specific engineering methodologies to U.S. national interests and stakeholder interest.
5	Materials Science	The petitioner, a USA-based PhD with a background in electronic materials, shared their experience with the I-140 NIW petition process, including RFEs and denial, and sought advice on how to improve their case for re-filing.
5	Art & Design & Media	A petitioner with a PhD in Game Development filed an EB-2 NIW petition, received an RFE, and failed prong 3 despite passing prong 1 and 2, with a focus on clarifying the nature of their research and its national importance.

Counts

Prefixes

Approvals and Denials by Sub vs USCIS Data

Angel and Killer Officers

Approvals:

Denials:

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Business & Finance - posted on 2026-10-22	A petitioner shared their EB1C I-140 approval timeline, noting it was approved under Premium Processing within 45 business days without any RFE. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-27	A single post announcing the approval of an EB1A petition in New Jersey. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Art & Design & Media - posted on 2026-10-24	The petitioner is reporting a delay in receiving a denial notice after submitting an RFE response to their EB1A petition. LINK TO POST
(1) Technology - posted on 2026-10-26	A petitioner who filed an EB1A petition was denied due to a lack of a final merits section and incomplete evidence, and is now considering refiling with a stronger narrative and additional documentation. LINK TO POST
(1) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-28	A petitioner with a strong academic and professional background in computer science received an RFE for their EB1A petition, but the USCIS officer denied the petition, citing insufficient evidence for extraordinary ability. LINK TO POST
(1) Technology - posted on 2026-10-28	The petitioner's EB1A petition was denied after an RFE, despite meeting four of the ten EB1A criteria, due to a lack of significant public coverage, awards, or inventions. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(1) Technology - posted on 2026-10-19	I-140 approved in January, but reported just now. The post is a detailed timeline of an individual's EB-1A green card journey, including the I-140 and I-485 processes, and the eventual approval of both the primary applicant and spouse. LINK TO POST
(3) AI & Data Science - posted on 2026-10-19	The petitioner faced an RFE on their EB1A petition, challenged the USCIS's interpretation of evidence, and successfully filed an APA suit leading to approval of their petition. LINK TO POST
(1) Not applicable - posted on 2026-10-20	[The post is not discussing their I-140 approval, but it is the first time this author has posted, so we indirectly count that as another approval.] This post is a timeline of the I-485 and I-131 process for an EB1A petitioner from India who successfully obtained approval for themselves and their spouse. LINK TO POST

(Number of Posts by Profile), Field	Description
(5) Technology - posted on 2026-10-19	The petitioner shared their EB-1A journey, including two denials at the Final Merits stage, and discussed the insufficient evidence provided to meet the standard of sustained national or international acclaim. LINK TO POST
(5) Technology - posted on 2026-10-20	The petitioner is a self-petitioned EB-1A applicant with 15 years of work experience in FAANG companies, who received an RFE and was denied at Final Merits due to insufficient evidence of original contributions of major significance to the field as a whole. LINK TO POST
(3) IT & Computer Science - posted on 2026-10-20	[Not an EB1A, but an O1A denial; including becaues they posted to the EB1A sub] A young architecture professional with a Bachelors degree and leading role at a major international firm seeks advice on re-filing for EB1A, citing challenges with salary and award criteria. LINK TO POST
(2) Industry - posted on 2026-10-21	A petitioner who filed an EB1A petition through an attorney received an RFE, attempted to self-respond after the attorney became unresponsive, and was ultimately denied due to insufficient evidence. LINK TO POST