EB-2 NIW Approval for Industrial Engineer from Colombia Colombia Industrial EngineerColombo & Hurd secured approval of an EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition for an industrial engineer from Colombia who specializes in water treatment and conservation for industry. USCIS approved the petition after the legal team responded to a Request for Evidence (RFE). Clean, reliable water is under growing pressure across the United States. Federal agencies report that droughts are becoming more frequent and that aging infrastructure loses about 2.1 trillion gallons of treated drinking water each year. Agriculture, manufacturing, and public health all depend on water systems that work. Professionals who can improve water quality and reduce waste help protect that supply. Our client proposes to help industries, farms, and public entities monitor contaminants, treat wastewater, and conserve water by establishing a specialized company in the United States, beginning in Florida. Senior Attorney Paul Messina led the initial filing, and the firm’s RFE team responded to USCIS’s request. Evaluate my Profile Client ProfileNearly Two Decades Improving Water Treatment in Industrial Plants EB-2 NIW VisaOur client holds a Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, along with technical diplomas in soil and water management and in instrumentation and control of industrial processes. Her career began in quality and metrology roles at paper and packaging manufacturers, where she calibrated plant equipment, tested raw materials, and trained operators. Since 2008, she has worked for a chemical products company that serves industrial, drinking, and wastewater treatment operations, rising from commercial assistant to sales executive. In that role, she works frequently in her clients’ water plants. She runs laboratory and in-plant trials to identify the right chemical treatments, tests water quality, maintains dosing equipment, and advises plant teams on process improvements. In the United States, she will lead her company as its Technical Leader. Each engagement will start with an evaluation of the client’s water processes, followed by a written plan of corrective measures and conservation strategies. She will then support implementation on site, train the personnel involved, and monitor results. The Challenge Showing Why a Water Specialist’s Work Matters at a National Scale The petition needed to show that improving water quality and conservation across industries is a matter of national importance, and that our client’s record in industrial plants prepared her to deliver that work in the United States. Her experience sits in a technical, hands-on field, so the record had to connect plant-level results, like lower chemical use and higher water recovery, to the broader national need for safe and reliable water. USCIS issued a Request for Evidence asking for a more detailed description of the proposed endeavor, documentary evidence that the work addresses a matter the government treats as a national priority, and further evidence that the client is well positioned to carry it out. The response needed to address USCIS’ concerns by providing additional context and evidence so the petition could be evaluated in full. Strategic Response Connecting Plant-Level Results to Federal Water Priorities The response included a detailed proposed endeavor plan and documented how it aligns with federal programs already in place. The Clean Water Act and the Source Water Protection Program set the national framework for controlling pollutants and protecting drinking water. Newer initiatives, including the EPA’s Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 and the USDA’s WaterSMART Initiative, fund the same conservation, reuse, and infrastructure work our client plans to deliver. The legal team pointed to public health data from the CDC Foundation to show that water insecurity costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars each year. To show our client is well positioned, the response relied on evidence readily available in the client’s record. Three letters of recommendation from engineers who worked with her described specific results: lower chemical use, reduced energy costs, and fewer production stoppages. Her plan for future activities set out the services, team, and financial model for the U.S. company, and a letter of interest from a U.S. business confirmed demand for her proposed work. And because she will run her own company and hire U.S. workers, a labor certification would add little benefit. The RFE team responded to each point USCIS raised, giving the officer a complete picture of the client’s work and the national need it serves. Read More The Result EB-2 NIW Approval Following the RFE Response USCIS approved the EB-2 NIW petition after reviewing the RFE response. The approval recognized that improving water quality and conservation across U.S. industries is work of national importance, and that our client’s record in industrial water treatment prepares her to carry it out. This approval lays the foundation for our client to pursue her water management company in the United States. Once permanent residency is obtained, she will be able to begin serving industries, farms, and public entities that need safer and more efficient water systems. Case Overview Category Details Visa Classification EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) Nationality Colombia Professional Field Industrial Engineering, Water Treatment and Conservation Education Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering Request for Evidence (RFE) Yes Outcome I-140 petition approved Date of Approval October 21, 2026 Attorney Senior Attorney Paul Messina Read More Attorney’s Perspective Paul MessinaSenior AttorneyRead More “This case was especially meaningful because it involved showing how one professional’s work in industrial water treatment and conservation can support a much larger national need. Our client’s background in improving water quality, reducing waste, and increasing operational efficiency helped illustrate the kind of practical, results-driven expertise that can make a lasting contribution in the United States.”