ATLANTA, GA – July 25, 2025

QPWB is proud to announce a significant immigration victory, securing the approval of a National Interest Waiver (NIW) I-140 self-petition for a highly accomplished Network Architect Engineer. This win paves the way for the client to obtain permanent residency without the lengthy labor certification process, recognizing their vital contributions to critical, next-generation infrastructure projects impacting the nation's 911 emergency system.

Overview of the Case

The National Interest Waiver (NIW), a pathway within the EB-2 visa category, allows individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities to secure permanent residency if their work demonstrably benefits the United States. Recognizing the rigorous requirements of this category, QPWB's expertise was sought by a leading expert in network architecture, who qualified for this pathway through their essential work on projects of substantial national importance

Key Difference-Maker

• Ashik Jahan – Partner, Atlanta Hub

Administrative Support:

• Nidhi Shelat-Dave – Paralegal, Atlanta Hub

Navigating Complexities

Despite a strong initial filing, USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) that presented a unique and perplexing challenge. The RFE was notably inaccurate, containing details and exhibit references that clearly belonged to another petitioner's case, rather than our client's. This significant oversight by the USCIS adjudicator required our team to address irrelevant queries while meticulously re-affirming the validity of our client's petition.

Legal Strategy

Our team worked closely and diligently with the client to demonstrate how their contributions met the high standards required for an NIW. The strategy centered on:

• Highlighting the client’s specialized work of substantial national importance, supported by expert opinions and letters recognizing their contributions.
• Presenting an in-depth portfolio of completed projects and professional achievements to prove the client is well-positioned to advance the national endeavor.
• Methodically addressing each of the three key USCIS criteria for NIW petitions.
• Carefully and respectfully responding to every item in the inaccurate RFE, meticulously correcting the record.

Impact on Final Outcome

The NIW petition's approval confirms the value of our client’s contributions to the U.S. national interest. Beyond permanent residency without a labor certification, this outcome enables the client to extend their H-1B visa status beyond its six-year limit, and their H-4 dependent spouse becomes eligible to file for an employment authorization document.

Unique Aspect of the Case

The most unique aspect of this case was successfully securing the NIW approval despite an entirely inaccurate and misdirected Request for Evidence from USCIS, demonstrating QPWB's ability to navigate and overcome significant regulatory hurdles in immigration processes.

Predicting The Future

This victory reinforces QPWB's standing as a full-service business immigration practice. It showcases our firm's capability to successfully navigate complex immigration pathways, including challenging NIW petitions, ensuring clients with impactful contributions can achieve their residency goals. This result will undoubtedly benefit future clients seeking to leverage their specialized expertise for U.S. permanent residency.

Key Actions in This Case

• Diligently demonstrating client's work of substantial national importance
• Providing an in-depth portfolio of professional achievements
• Methodically addressing all three USCIS NIW criteria
• Expertly responding to an inaccurate Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS
• Securing I-140 approval for a National Interest Waiver

About QPWB

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. is one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States providing a different focus on what it means to provide responsive service to clients and team members. With a national presence of 50 offices and a comprehensive scope of over 130 practice areas, QPWB delivers legal representation in litigation, regulatory, and corporate matters to a diverse range of industries. This scope and rapid expansion has attracted unique legal talent from all different backgrounds and experiences which has made them the largest minority-owned law firm in the country.