Hi everyone,
I recently submitted my EB2-NIW packet and would love to get the community's thoughts on my profile's chances of approval, as well as what kind of timeline I should expect for my EAD. Here are my filing details:
Filing Type: I-140, I-485, and I-765 filed concurrently
Processing: Premium Processing (I-907) included for the I-140
Delivery: Delivered to the Elgin, IL lockbox on April 30, 2026
My Profile & Background: Education & Licensure: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). I completed the PAVE equivalence program (including clinical rotations at the Univ. of Missouri) to integrate into the U.S. system. I am dual-licensed in both Texas and South Korea.
Proposed Endeavor: Advancing U.S. biomedical research through expert laboratory animal medicine and regulatory compliance at apex translational research institutions (targeting environments like the Tri-Institutional matrix: MSKCC, Rockefeller, Weill Cornell).
Experience: I previously served as the Attending Veterinarian for a highly sensitive, high-capacity SPF rodent colony at Abbott Diagnostics Korea (an AAALAC-accredited facility). I was a voting member of the IACUC and managed models used for manufacturing monoclonal antibodies for emerging infectious diseases (COVID-19 and Hep B). I also have high-volume clinical emergency triage and surgical experience from a VCA hospital in Texas.
Key Evidence Submitted: Proof of dual-licensure, DVM diploma, and PAVE certification. Employment records from Abbott Diagnostics and VCA. Strong LOR from an IACUC Chair confirming my regulatory command. 2 independent LORs from the University of Missouri CVM. Documented proof of my clinical triage capabilities and management of epidemic-level infectious disease models.
My Questions for the Sub:
1. Approval Odds: How strong do you think this profile is for satisfying the three Dhanasar prongs? Is laboratory animal medicine generally well-received by USCIS?
I-140 Timeline: Since I filed with Premium Processing, how quickly are people seeing actual approval notices (not just receipts) from the Elgin lockbox these days?
EAD (I-765) Timeline: What is the realistic timeline for receiving the EAD card while the I-485 is pending? I am anxious to start working.
Any insights or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.