EB-2 NIW Approval Recognizes Structural Engineer Advancing Earthquake Resilient Design 

Earthquakes are one of the most destructive natural forces affecting urban areas. In rapidly growing cities, seismic events cause disproportionate damage to vulnerable communities.  

Dedicated to strengthening buildings and making retrofits more efficient and affordable, our client’s work focuses on equipping engineers with practical tools. His challenge has been to bridge the gap between safety and cost efficiency, ensuring that practicing engineers can design safer new structures and retrofit older ones without driving up costs. 

Our legal team demonstrated how our client’s research and software directly address the United States’ need for earthquake-ready infrastructure. His technical expertise, combined with his talent for turning advanced methodologies into practical tools, has made his work valuable to engineers and the communities they serve. 

Independent experts recognized his leadership in developing advanced software for reinforced concrete analysis, noting that his contributions simplify complex processes and make them more accessible to engineers and students. Throughout his career, he has strengthened vulnerable buildings overseas, published impactful research, and been recognized with awards for both his academic and professional work. 

Senior Immigration Attorney Paul Messina reflected that “what made this petition especially rewarding was the intersection of innovation and public service.” He explained that it was never only about technical achievement. The focus was on giving practicing engineers tools that can help save lives and improve resilience where it matters most. 

Mr. Messina also emphasized that the client “isn’t working in isolation. He is raising the standard of practice for the entire profession.” This framing showed how his work goes beyond individual accomplishments, connecting research, teaching, and innovation to a broader mission of public safety. 

We placed his achievements in the context of national programs like the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) ongoing priorities, showing how his expertise supports U.S. goals for safer infrastructure. 

The petition highlighted how his career advances U.S. priorities in public safety and disaster resilience. 

USCIS approved the client’s EB-2 NIW petition without issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE). Attorney Paul Messina explained, “this was a strong petition built on years of meaningful work, and the fact that no RFE was issued speaks volumes.” 

He noted that USCIS recognized the national importance of the client’s contributions without asking for further clarification. “That outcome is a testament to both the clarity of his impact and the quality of the evidence we presented,” Mr. Messina added. 

With his immigration pathway secured, he is now prepared to continue developing computational tools for seismic analysis, collaborate with U.S. engineers, and contribute to building codes and design practices that protect infrastructure across the country. His ongoing work will help protect lives and communities in earthquake-prone regions while also reducing the financial and cultural toll of disasters that damage important buildings. 

Every EB-2 NIW journey is different. For this client, his academic expertise, engineering leadership, and innovative software development made his petition stand out. His journey from Mexico to the United States reflects both professional excellence and a commitment to public safety, and his contributions will help ensure that communities across the nation are better prepared when earthquakes strike.  

If you would like to explore whether an EB-2 NIW could support your own path to the United States, we offer a free evaluation here.