“North America Immigration Law Group processed my petition for a O1-A visa in a time crunch and with extreme professionalism. As a result, I got an answer from USCIS prior to the 15-day timeline (premium processing). I recommend all future clients to read and understand the provided package of documents, which greatly helps expedite the process. I thank North America Immigration Law Group for their assistance with my visa petition. Thank you!”

Case Summary:

A scientist from Portugal hired North America Immigration Law Group to help her file a petition under the visa category of O1-A (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement). To help her fully, we began to evaluate her credentials in order to render a strong petition on her behalf. Our comprehensive experience in building employment-based visa petitions armed us with great legal strategies to secure our client’s O1-A petition approval. We aimed at proving our client’s clear intentions to continue her research in the United States to the USCIS by incorporating the following points in her petition packet:

• We corroborated her meticulous doctoral degree in biochemistry with extensive experience in the field of molecular biology, researching sample processing, and bioinformatic analysis to improve genome sequencing methodologies, including those used in forensic investigations. We deduced that our client’s research addresses some of our nation’s most pressing issues in DNA sequencing technologies. Therefore, she is a molecular biologist of the highest order, one who has been consistently producing an extremely impressive nature of work and the continuation of her work unimpeded is in the best interests of the United States.
• Also, we delved into a useful tool for measuring a researcher’s influence on his or her field by looking at their citation record. In this regard, our client proved herself to be a fundamentally influential molecular biologist. Since the 7 peer-reviewed journal articles, 1 peer-reviewed conference article, 1 peer-reviewed conference abstract, 2 US patents, and 2 book chapters she published garnered 264 citations from fellow researchers, this confirms that it’s a notable number that honors her as a molecular biologist who unfailingly operates at the top of her field.
• Besides, she has also conducted 15 reviews for highly acclaimed journals in the field of molecular biology to date whereas only prominent researchers in their field are invited to perform this critical evaluating of the work of others, authenticating once again that our client occupies a place of authority among other molecular biologists and the overall field.
• To bolster her case further, she obtained 4 recommendation letters from leading researchers from top universities and research groups from the United States and abroad, documenting her as a researcher of extraordinary ability in her specialized field. One of the recommenders stated:

“It is clear from her combination of background and experience that [client] is unique in her field of molecular biology. Her work benefits other researchers and those involved with criminal justice, as well. The work that she does in determining the most effective methods of analysis and providing necessary insight into DNA usage is tremendously important. She serves at the top of her field and will continue to do so. I look forward to seeing her continued success here in the United States.”

We successfully conveyed to the USCIS that our client is not only a uniquely qualified researcher but also that she is offering innovative ideas to the field at large. Thus, without any further ado, she received her O1-A approval. A special thanks to premium processing, our client’s case was adjudicated in just 7 days. PP is a paid option offered by the USCIS that allows petitioners to enjoy accelerated adjudication (the case will be processed within 15 days instead of 9-12 months). Therefore, we would like to thank him for trusting our law firm and allowing us to prepare his O1-A petition.