u/SnooPears357

“Here, in reviewing the petitioner's education and experience, although due to the lack of an equivalency evaluation for her foreign degree, it does not renders her eligible for the requested classification, she has not nor has she adequately demonstrated that her academic accomplishments are sufficient in and of itself to demonstrate she is well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor.”
—> I have submitted a foreign degree equivalency in the original petition

“The articles were published in 2019, 2019, 2022, and 2023 receiving 103, 97, 26, and 16 citations (respectively). The remaining article received a few and some received no citations.”
—> I submitted 6 papers at time of filing, all with citations. Granted the latest one in 2025 was not cited many times at the time of filing but the rest had more than “a few citations”.

“The petitioner has not established that her co-authorship of a few "highly cited" paper with other researchers demonstrates a record of research success or otherwise renders her well-positioned”
—> not sure what the officer is looking for. All the papers are first-author except one that was co-authored.

“Lastly, the record does not indicate whether the petitioner's level of participation in the widespread peer review process represents a record of success in the field, is an indication that she is well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor or reflects a level of interest in her work from relevant parties sufficient to meet Dhanasar's second prong. The petitioner also did not submit any evidence to establish the requirements for serving in such positions.”
—> I literally submitted 10 thank you emails from peer review services and the officer mentioned “did not submit any evidence”.

“The petitioner, however, has not sufficiently demonstrated that her published and presented work has served as an impetus for progress in the field or that it has generated substantial positive discourse in the industry. Nor does the evidence otherwise show that her work constitutes a record of success or progress in advancing her research.”
—> this is main reasonable one, which is probably asking me to get recommendation letters from dependent and independent sources.

Any advice? My case was eventually adjudicated at TSC instead of NSC that is the service center at initial filing.

Recently I got an RFE for EB2 NIW and I was told that maybe I have a case for EB1a if the former doesn’t work out. Link to my EB2-NIW profile at time of filing below.

https://www.reddit.com/r/EB2\_NIW/s/xlkpKfywJ5

Profile:
Tenure track assistant professor @ R1 institution
302 citations
7 papers, 6 first authors. All top journals and top 10% cited. 2 more forthcoming
>10 peer reviews

Just exploring my options because I really can’t believe I get an RFE for NIW with this profile.

Service center: NSC

Profile:

Postdoc in US (PhD from top 20 institutions outside US)
255 citations
6 papers, 5 first authors. All top journals and top 10% cited
>10 peer reviews

In the meantime, I got a job offer as a tenure-track assistant professor at US R1 institution that I accepted.

PE: sustainable food production through reducing agricultural waste

Lawyer: EP (approve or refund)

I’m shell shocked that I got an RFE considering I think I have a good profile. I’m just so frustrated; it feels like they are just trying to catch the deadline and just send an RFE. Any tips? My job offer came after submitting my NIW, can I include as new evidence?

I am from ROW not from any banned countries.

Lately, I’ve been getting a little bothered by the fact that my boyfriend earns good money but still lives at home. Mainly because of the lack of privacy and when I visit him, I end up having to spend up to an hour or two talking to his parents. They are nice people don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I just want to spend time with my boyfriend, period.

He pays rent and contributes to some utilities but other things are mainly paid for by his parents. I, on the other hand, having moved to the US from my home country at a young age, have lived without my parents. I find that he takes for granted that he doesn’t have to pay for a lot of things or go to the stores to get basic necessities such as toilet rolls and all. When I visit him, I will sometime bring my own food and drinks because I feel so bad for eating the food that my boyfriend did not purchase. He does visit me at my accommodation but only occasionally because I have roommates. But when he does visit, I always make sure to prepare a meal, drinks and snacks for him.

It makes me wonder if he’s capable of being independent, to take care of me and our future family financially, physically, and emotionally. He a wonderful person, very loyal, down-to-earth, and cares deeply about me. But, I want my man to be able to lead the household. Is my expectation too high?

Previously I shared that I’m a new immigrant who came to the US to do a postdoc. I’ve recently secured a teaching job at a university in a HCOL city. My base pay is $80k, with up to 2 months summer salary that I can get paid through teaching extra classes. Total annual compensation will be around 93k - 97k after including summer pay.

As summer pay is slightly unpredictable, I plan to just assume that I’m making $80k for 12 months and whatever extra, I will put to savings & investment!

I would like yall to roast and provide feedback on ways to further optimize my budget! Also, any suggestions on whether to put my summer pay to HYSA or into my investment accounts? Context is that I plan to buy a house in 3-5 years.

Take-home: $4,958 monthly

Fixed cost (~$3,338)
Rent - $1,850 (including base rent, utilities, internet & cable)
Phone plan - $28 (it’s a T-mobile family plan that I’m sharing with my friends)
Family expenses (home country) - $545
Grocery - $350
Car (Payment, mortgage & gas) - $565

Fun money ($500)

Savings ($1,120 post tax; $2,453 total)
Post tax - $1,120 (to HYSA; planning for a house in 3-5 years)
401(a), Pre tax- $1,333 (8% my contribution, 12% employer)

Man…. It’s starting to get me super annoyed. I know I still have 2 more calendar weeks to go, but I wonder if there’s any correlation with length of adjudication and RFE?

I’m not from any of the banned/paused country, from ROW.

I submitted PP on my own online, I received the receipt number via email. I believe I filed premium processing correctly.

Where’s everyone at right now?

Hi all! I’m moving to CSU from out of state to start a new job.

Realistically, I can only be in FoCo in the week of 07/15 for apartment viewing. With an expected move-in date of 08/10. Wondering if that’s too late and if the inventory will still be available.

I’m planning to stay along in a 1B1B or studio apartment. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Hi all! I accepted a new job in CO and I’ll be ~1h from DIA so it’ll be my new hub. However, my family is in Pennsylvania, PHL as my nearest airport.

I plan to take frequent trips, say once a month, back to Philly. Usually from Friday to Sunday/Monday. I work as a lecturer so I have strict schedule to follow. This context is important because I’m interested in GoWild but the lack of predictability in available flights could mean that I might miss my class or meetings on Monday.

On that note, how reliable are GoWild for PHL > DEN? Would you think the reliability from Discount Den is better than risking my work schedule with GoWild?

I have to caveat that I didn’t my BS or PhD in the US, but I’m from an English-speaking country.

After 2 years of postdoc, I’m starting as a TT faculty in an R1 school this fall. My teaching load is 40%, research is 50%, and the rest is service. This will realistically come up to 2-1 teaching load.

Is it common for a new faculty to start teaching in the first semester? I mean, by the time I start I only have 1 week before the semester starts to prepare my course materials, design the course curriculum, and etc. This sounds a short period of time to get all things ready! Should I start working on the materials before I officially start?

Reposting as this might be a a better subreddit for my question!

I’ll be starting a tenure track job in August 2026.

My J1 is currently active till 06/06. I’m not subject to 2 years home residency based what’s written on DS-2019 and visa stamp. I’m from ROW and not from any of the 75 banned countries.

Would I be able to successfully get a change in status from J1 to H1B before the end of my J1 (including 30-day grace)? Or should I request for J1 extension from my current institution for another 3 to 6 months?

Anybody has successfully done the change of status to H1b recently? What are potential issues?