Dear All,
My NIW I-140 was filed to VSC in March 03 and DENIED in Feb. 05. I decided to give up but I received an RFE on May 10 (3 months later). Their comments are the same but just the conclusions are different.
As many usual RFEs, it said my initial evidence "did not persuasively demonstrate that the contributions were/are beyond the capabilities of any number of the trained engineers in his field." Further, "it has not been shown that the research findings have impacted the field to a degree where the past record justifies projections of future benefit to the nation to a degree where the granting an NIW would be warranted." Therefore, I need to provide evidences to show my significance of my efforts in my field, and my findings "have enjoyed widespread implementation and acceptance by the scientific community." The evidence should include but is not limited:
1 Patent and copyrights
2 grant proposals
3 peer reviewed articles and citation history demonstrating their impact
4 performance evaluation for the last 5 to 10 years
5 work that has been evaluated in independent journals, and
6 awards in the field.
Since my research is on energy efficiency and emission control, the first 2 items (prongs) are okay. Please help in figuring out what I should do. Based on my background provided below, should I be strong enough to continue?
My background:
-- USA Ph.D. with 3.5-year research experience after graduation
-- Full time research engineer in a university currently (Research associate in another university when the case was filed)
-- 7 Journal articles, 10 peer reviewed conference papers (1st author for 6 of 7, and 8 of 10)
-- 2 proposals granted last year by industry and state government.
Shameful to say, but
-- Only 2 times as a reviewer (plus 10 times for my boss--no use)
-- One time conference session co-chair
-- One invention technology disclosure but not patent yet
-- 8 citations
-- No award
Compared to those I know who got their NIWs, I feel at least I could be okay. But some guys in this forum have really much stronger background (30~40 papers with 50~60 citations) than me. So please, please show you mercy and advise me.
I am handling my application without lawyer. There is no problem for me to find some good reference letters (5~10) from USA and other countries such as UK and Japan. They will come from the people (university or big company) who "know my work but not me". If I try to submit these evidences, should I present item by item as their list? Some items will be empty.
Any opinion or suggestion is welcome. Thank you so much for your help.
ManyManyThanks