EB-2 NIW Case Study: Approval for IT Consultant from Colombia Colombia IT Consultant Colombo & Hurd secured approval of an EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition for an IT consultant from Colombia who helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) modernize their technology. USCIS approved the petition after the legal team responded to a Request for Evidence (RFE). Many smaller companies run on outdated IT systems and cannot easily find trained specialists, which slows growth, weakens data security, and makes daily operations harder to manage. Affordable, well-designed technology can help these companies operate more efficiently, protect their data, and compete without the large IT departments available to bigger businesses. The client builds custom enterprise resource planning (ERP) and IT infrastructure solutions made for exactly this kind of business. Senior Attorney Paul Messina led the initial petition, and Senior Attorney Roshn Vazhel, Director of the firm’s RFE Department, led the RFE response. Evaluate My Profile Client ProfileFrom Executive Leadership to Technology Built for Small BusinessesEB-2 NIW VisaOur client holds an advanced degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering, along with professional licensure in engineering. Over more than 27 years, his career has spanned management, engineering, IT infrastructure, and ERP implementation. Much of that career was spent in senior leadership. As a general manager, he led technology upgrades across core business functions, oversaw the development of software tools for production control and supply chain, and implemented ERP systems from the ground up. Earlier, as a support engineer in telecommunications, he helped oversee a major network redesign, supervised a team of engineers, and built a multi-week training program for technical support staff. In the United States, he plans to launch an independent IT consulting practice. Using both traditional and AI-enhanced methods, his services will help SMBs across the country to strengthen operational efficiency, data management, cybersecurity readiness, and data-driven decision-making. See If You QualifyGet Your Free EB-2 NIW Visa Profile Evaluation Evaluate My Profile The Challenge The Endeavor’s Broader Impact and Progress After the initial filing, USCIS issued an RFE asking for more evidence on the national importance of the client’s work developing specialized IT and ERP solutions. The agency also asked about his progress in advancing that work and whether his record of success showed he was well positioned to carry it forward. The legal team took this opportunity to explain the endeavor’s merits and the client’s qualifications in more detail. Strategic Response Connecting Custom Technology Solutions to National Priorities To address USCIS’s question about the national importance of the client’s work, the response tied the endeavor to specific federal priorities, including the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Made in America Manufacturing Initiative and the White House’s AI Action Plan. The response also included evidence showing that SMBs employ nearly half of the country’s private-sector workforce, placing the client’s work within a much broader part of the U.S. economy than any single consulting engagement. The response also cited the January 2025 update to the USCIS Policy Manual, which added specific guidance for entrepreneurs. The updated guidance was particularly relevant because the client plans to build an independent consulting practice rather than carry out the endeavor through a single employer. To show the client was well positioned, the response pointed to concrete results of his work: end-to-end ERP implementations, technology upgrades he led as a general manager, and an engineering team he directed through a major network redesign. Letters of interest from prospective clients confirmed real demand for the services he plans to offer. Reflecting on the success of the RFE response, Senior Attorney Roshn Vazhel noted: “What stood out to me about this case is that he’s building entirely new ERP systems for a specific kind of business. He was also a true partner in the work. When additional documentation was important to the case, he was proactive and worked closely with us to make sure we had what we needed. “ The Result EB-2 NIW Approval Following the RFE Response USCIS approved the client’s EB-2 NIW petition after reviewing the response to the Request for Evidence. The approval allows him to continue toward U.S. permanent residence and pursue his plans to establish an independent technology consulting practice serving small and medium-sized businesses. Case Overview Case Overview Category Details Visa Classification EB-2 NIW Nationality Colombia Professional Field Information Technology Education Advanced degree in business administration; Bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering Request for Evidence (RFE) Yes Attorneys Senior Attorney Paul Messina and Senior Attorney Roshn Vazhel Outcome I-140 petition approved Date of Approval August 27, 2026 Attorney Perspective Roshn VazhelRFE Department DirectorRead More “My advice to anyone pursuing this path is simple: stay committed to your endeavor. When you file, you’re showing that this work matters to you.” This case was handled by Senior Attorney Paul Messina (Initial Filing) and Senior Attorney Roshn Vazhel, Director of the firm’s RFE Department (RFE Response), of Colombo & Hurd, a U.S. immigration law firm specializing in employment-based visas including EB-2 NIW and EB-1A petitions. The firm has secured over 10,000 successful visa and green card approvals for clients from more than 100 countries, including more than 2,500 approvals in EB-2 NIW and EB-1A categories since 2023. Related resources EB-2 NIW Processing Time (2026): Realistic Timeline & How to Avoid Delays Read More EB-2 NIW Visa: Complete Guide for 2026 Read More In Depth Look at the First Prong of Dhanasar: Substantial Merit and National Importance Read More