Details:
RD: 06/29/2007 (cocurrent filing with I485)
AD: 01/24/2008
No RFE
Background:
A. PhD in Neuroscience from US University 3.5 years ago. Working as a Research Associate with 3 years of working experience when application submitted (My institution stated it is a PERMANENT job position).
B. 6 published papers and 1 book chapter when application was submitted (all first author English journals). Cited about 15 times total. Many meeting abstracts.
C. Reviewed manus several times. Mostly via faculty members at my institution (editors ask professors to review papers and the professors will then refer me to them).
D. 1 international award in 2006 (best scholar-in-training from a medium sized society).
E. Many media reports (television, internet, newspaper etc.) related to my award in 2006 because my school did a report on me and distributed it.
F. Recommendation letters: I had 11 letters, 2 from my institution, 4 from professors from other intitutions (mostly big names), 5 from professors and researchers overseas (not so big names).
I was surprised that it is approved in 7 months from NSC, I thought I had to wait until the summer for approval. Good luck to everyone who is still waiting there. Now I hope my I485 can be smooth as well.