EB-2 NIW Case Study: Approval for Evangelical Pastor from Colombia 

What USCIS Asked About: Peer Recognition and the Three NIW Prongs 

USCIS accepted two of the three exceptional ability criteria the petition relied on: the client’s degree and his years of full-time experience in the field. The RFE asked for more evidence on the third, recognition of his achievements by peers, government agencies, or professional groups. 

On the national interest waiver, the RFE asked about all three parts of the standard. USCIS wanted a fuller explanation of why his work has national importance, more detail on how he is positioned to carry it out in the United States and with whom, and a clearer showing of why waiving the usual job offer requirement would benefit the country. The response needed to answer each of those points with evidence already in the record and with new documentation. 

The response built on the foundation of the original petition and addressed each point USCIS raised. On recognition, the record showed support from elected officials, senior clergy, and presidents of large nonprofit organizations in both Colombia and the United States. These letters of recommendation described the client’s results in reducing depression, suicide, and domestic violence in the communities he served and his role in training leaders and volunteers to carry on that work. The response added new letters from leaders of similar standing in both countries, along with documentation that his books have sold steadily and that other ministries have used them in their leadership training since 2011. 

On national importance, the response showed how the client’s work aligns with federal priorities. The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services each maintain offices dedicated to partnerships with faith-based and community organizations that serve families in need. The Department of Justice’s strategic plan names overdose prevention and long-term recovery as core goals, and the American Rescue Plan directed billions of dollars toward mental health and substance use services. The record showed that our client’s training programs serve these same goals, and that he will deliver them through the nonprofit ministry he founded and leads as president, in partnership with other nonprofits. 

USCIS had already accepted our client’s doctorate and his more than ten years of full-time experience, and the response pointed back to that record. His published books, his record of training community leaders, and the courses he teaches showed that he has the skills and the track record to carry the work forward. 

The final question was the waiver itself. The response showed that the ministry was ready to employ him but could not sponsor him for permanent residency, so the usual labor certification route was impractical. And because the need for family and mental health support is urgent, the record showed the country benefits from his programs even where other qualified professionals exist. The RFE gave the team room to present this fuller picture, and the approval followed.

USCIS approved the EB-2 NIW petition on October 30, 2026, following the RFE response. The approval recognized both the client’s exceptional ability in his field and the national interest in the counseling and training work he plans to carry out. 

This approval positions the client to move toward delivering his programs through his nonprofit ministry and its partner organizations across the United States. Once permanent residency is obtained, he will be able to bring his approach to recovery and family health to English- and Spanish-speaking communities nationwide.