The most straightforward approach is to have an attorney from New Weiming Law Group assess your case. Please send your CV, publication list, citation record, and peer review history to our email at info@nwmlaw.com.

Leveraging our STEM PhD backgrounds, we will free of charge analyze your strengths and determine whether you are best suited for EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability), NIW (National Interest Waiver), or EB-1B/PERM which require employer sponsorship.

You absolutely still have a strong chance. We recommend these strategies:

• Strategy 1: Prioritize NIW. It has a lower eligibility bar, requires no employer sponsorship, and can be approved through strategic highlighting of your achievements (such as emphasizing industry applications of your work).
• Strategy 2: Build your credentials and upgrade to EB-1A at a later date.
• Strategy 3: If you have employer sponsorship, consider EB-1B.

Note: If you or your spouse were born outside mainland China/India, you can file both NIW and EB-1 simultaneously to leverage the birthplace advantage for faster green card issuance.

Numbers are only a reference — the key is how you build and argue your case. We need more details: journal ranking, source of citations (whether they come from leading experts or official institutions), and whether your work has been practically implemented.

Please send us your resume. We have many approved cases for industry and humanities clients with low or even zero citations.

We recommend you first build your credentials (e.g., more publications, peer reviews, media coverage). Contact us, and we will guide you through targeted background strengthening to prepare your case, and we can start immediately once your qualifications are ready.

NIW is widely considered an ideal green card route, with key advantages including:

• Unlimited H-1B extensions: Once your I-140 is approved, you can extend your H-1B beyond the standard 6-year limit.
• Work authorization for spouses: Your H-4 spouse can apply for an EAD to legally work in the U.S.
• Career flexibility: No employer sponsorship required. Changing jobs or layoffs do not affect your green card application.
• Security lock-in: Lock in an earlier priority date, which serves as a safety net if you upgrade to EB-1A in the future.

Yes, the two applications do not conflict. Filing both is a wise strategy. NIW acts as a valuable safety net during the long PERM priority date backlog.

It typically will not affect your application. EB-1A and NIW are based on your personal achievements and are not tied to any specific employer. Whether you change jobs or relocate back to your home country, your approval is not affected as long as you remain in your field of expertise.

• Regular processing: 3 to 12 months
• Premium Processing: Decision issued within 15 calendar days for EB-1, and within 45 calendar days for NIW.

With efficient collaboration from your side, it only takes 2-3 months. We draft your recommendation letters within two weeks of receiving all your information, and complete the main application brief within two weeks after receiving signed copies.

Yes, this is one of our core services. We will prepare 4-6 high-quality, custom (non-template) recommendation letters for you. Our PhD-level team deeply understands your research and technical work.

Absolutely. We will uncover every possible strength of your profile, including media coverage, awards, patents, and commercial applications, and reframe these achievements into compelling evidence that meets USCIS criteria.

We prioritize efficient, documented communication. We recommend email for proper case documentation, and use Dropbox to securely share large files. We provide full assistance if you need help using Dropbox.

For cases we assess as having strong potential, if your application is denied (a low-probability outcome), we typically offer a free re-file service, subject to the terms of our service agreement.

There is no risk for H-1B/O-1/L-1 status holders, as these visa categories allow dual intent. For F-1/J-1 holders, filing an I-140 may create risk when applying for a new visa, but your current valid status will not be affected. Dependent family members applying for study visas are typically not impacted.

Yes, this is a common strategy called "locking in your priority date early". You can submit your application at any time as long as you can maintain legal status during the waiting period.

Yes. I-140 approval only confirms your eligibility. During the priority date backlog, applicants born in mainland China still need to hold a valid visa such as H-1B, O-1, or F-1 OPT to work in the U.S.

Only the principal applicant files the I-140. When your priority date becomes current and you file I-485 (for applicants inside the U.S.) or consular processing (for applicants outside the U.S.), you can include your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age in the application.

This is extremely favorable currently! 2025 data shows that I-485 applications filed within the U.S. can be approved in as little as 2.5 months. We recommend applying within the U.S. if you are eligible to do so.

It does not automatically disqualify you. The key is full disclosure and providing a reasonable explanation (e.g., statement of automatic withdrawal, I-601 waiver, etc.). Full disclosure and cooperation with your attorney always yields a far better outcome than hiding information.

We recommend using Google Scholar, which is the most widely accepted source of citation data for USCIS.