Sociologist
Across the United States, child welfare professionals are working to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary separation. These initiatives depend on collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and organizations that understand how social systems shape children’s outcomes.
That is where one Nigerian sociologist found her calling. Represented by Colombo & Hurd Immigration Attorney Hugo Rojas, our client proposed to establish a U.S.-based platform connecting impact investors and child welfare agencies. The platform aims to expand evidence-based programs that strengthen families nationwide.
Her EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition was approved on September 24, 2025.The approval followed a strong RFE response that reframed her endeavor as a measurable, policy-aligned contribution to U.S. child welfare.
A Lifelong Commitment to Protecting Children
With a Ph.D. in Sociology and more than 20 years of experience leading child protection initiatives in Africa, our client has built a career dedicated to preventing child abandonment and improving institutional care. Her research, paired with hands-on intervention, earned recognition from both the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of State for advancing trauma-informed care and shaping child welfare policy.
She has written books, produced educational media, and implemented trauma-informed training programs in hospitals and community organizations. “Our client is a Ph.D., a researcher, and her work has revolved around preventing child abandonment and strengthening families,” says Attorney Hugo Rojas. Building on this record, her proposed U.S. initiative transforms research into real-world partnerships that advance national child welfare goals.
Proving the National Importance of a Social Endeavor
Despite her extensive record, USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) questioning whether her work was truly of national importance.
“Obviously childhood welfare is important,” says Mr. Rojas. “But to convince USCIS that this kind of ‘soft’ endeavor actually helps the U.S. is not easy. It is not a business or a hard science case. It is social service, with a much more nebulous goal of improving lives.
Transforming Research into Real-World Impact
Mr. Rojas and our dedicated RFE team reframed the petition. They demonstrated how the client’s experience in systemic reform, direct intervention, and policy advocacy positioned her to advance U.S. child welfare priorities.
“We spent a lot of time working with her to bring out things that were already there but needed more highlighting,” explains Mr. Rojas. “She is a researcher who also did direct interventions and service to clients. That dual role made her profile unique.”
The RFE response included updated documentation, new collaboration letters from U.S. agencies, and evidence of financial capacity to support her initiative.
“When this case was first filed in 2023, USCIS was not really pushing for financial evidence. By 2025, that had changed. So, we included proof of her readiness and highlighted that she had already been recognized by the U.S. government for her work abroad.”
“Our goal was to show that she is significant in her field, that she will keep doing this work no matter what, and that it is in the national interest for her to do it here,” Mr. Rojas adds.
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A Life’s Work Finds a New Home in the United States
USCIS ultimately approved the petition, recognizing the significance of her work and her capacity to drive meaningful progress for child welfare in the U.S.
“This client was not pitching a business plan,” says Mr. Rojas. “She was describing her life’s work. What she is really doing is inviting the United States to benefit from it. Her endeavor does not depend on an approval. She is going to keep doing this because this is what she has devoted her life to. Even if she had not been approved, she would still be working to improve the lives of children in Africa. The difference now is that she can also do it here, where the United States stands to benefit from her commitment, her knowledge, and her compassion.”
Her approval allows her to continue developing research partnerships and child protection programs that align with federal child welfare goals. It also demonstrates how the EB-2 NIW category can empower professionals in non-STEM fields to make measurable contributions to U.S. communities.
For Attorney Hugo Rojas, the case was a reminder of how persistence and purpose can turn a complex petition into a success.
“What stood out to me was her resilience,” he says. “Even when the RFE came, she stayed focused on her mission. Our job was to translate that passion into evidence so USCIS could see that this was more than a petition. It was her life’s work.”
A well-structured narrative, supported by clear documentation and strategic storytelling, transformed a challenging social science EB-2 National Interest Waiver into a compelling case for national benefit.
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Colombo & Hurd is an award-winning U.S. immigration law firm founded by immigrants. We are dedicated to assisting clients, from the world's leading multinational corporations to entrepreneurs, investors and their families, who seek to live and work in the United States.
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