NIW Case Study: Geoscientist from Ghana with STEM Expertise Approved for National Interest Waiver

Our client from Ghana, with a Master’s degree in Geosciences, aimed to optimize nanomanufacturing processes using data-driven approaches, contributing to critical technologies in electronics, catalysis, and energy storage. However, without an approved EB-2 NIW, his talent and expertise were at risk of being underutilized.  

“With many US employers unwilling to deal with the time and expense of sponsoring a foreign employee through a PERM process, and with the unpredictable chance of H-1B selection, NIW provides a way for professionals and high skilled individuals to better control their own destiny,” Mr. Picataggio, Partner at Colombo & Hurd, explains why NIW is an attractive path for professionals. 

Other immigration pathways would have restricted his ability to fully leverage his expertise and pursue innovative work without employer constraints, particularly concerning given that his skills in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (officially classified as a STEM field by the Department of Homeland Security) represent precisely the talent that the United States urgently needs from STEM professionals and entrepreneurs. The challenge was to demonstrate that his work would substantially benefit the United States, aligning with USCIS policies that prioritize STEM professionals.

Our team recognized that the EB-2 NIW provided the optimal pathway for our client. The NIW strategy allowed us to demonstrate how his proposed endeavor—optimizing the nanomanufacturing of chemicals and materials useful for applications spanning electronics, catalysis, and energy storage through data-driven approaches and developing efficient methods for sustainable nanoparticle synthesis and control—aligned perfectly with U.S. national interests. 

“We look for the problems they intend to solve and the people they intend to help. The Who and What of the endeavor,” says Mr. Picataggio. 

Mr. Picataggio developed a comprehensive petition that highlighted three critical elements required for NIW approval: 

• Substantial Merit and National Importance: We demonstrated how his proposed work would build more efficient and sustainable production methods, increase the profitability of nanomaterial manufacturing in the United States, and contribute to the advancement of critical and emerging technologies. His specialized focus on developing sustainable nanoparticle synthesis methods addresses pressing environmental concerns while enhancing American competitiveness in advanced materials. 

• Well-Positioned to Advance the Proposed Endeavor: We showcased his academic credentials in a DHS-designated STEM field (Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences), along with his years of experience in nanoscience research and teaching positions at respected American institutions. His unique combination of geological expertise and nanoscience specialization provides a foundation for innovative cross-disciplinary approaches to optimizing the nanomanufacturing of chemicals and materials. 

• Prospective National Benefit: We emphasized how waiving the job offer and labor certification requirements would benefit the United States by allowing him to pursue promising research collaborations with national laboratories and contribute to American leadership in nanomaterial innovation. We detailed how his work directly supports U.S. policy objectives regarding energy initiatives, manufacturing competitiveness, and technological leadership. 

To strengthen the application, we secured substantial evidence of his standing in the field and future opportunities: 

• We documented how his educational background provided specialized training in geochemical processes that directly inform his approach to nanomaterial synthesis and optimization. 

• We highlighted his progressive professional experience, detailing specific research accomplishments and teaching contributions that demonstrate his capacity to advance his proposed endeavor. 

• We emphasized how his knowledge of geological processes provides unique insights into sustainable nanomaterial production methods that could reduce environmental impacts while improving efficiency. 

• We secured a letter of interest from a scientist at a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory expressing interest in collaborating with our client, offering research support, access to facilities, instruments, and funding for his proposed endeavor. 

• We obtained a letter of interest from a scientist at another Department of Energy national laboratory, who offered our client a position as a Post-Doctoral Researcher Associate, providing lab experience, data analytics skills, and AI expertise to advance his endeavor. 

• We demonstrated how these opportunities would enable him to apply data-driven approaches to nanomaterial synthesis challenges, potentially revolutionizing manufacturing processes for critical components in electronics, catalysis, and energy storage applications. 

Our comprehensive strategy included addressing how current immigration policies create favorable conditions for his case. We specifically referenced how his work aligns with national priorities for manufacturing competitiveness and energy innovation, connecting his proposed endeavor to broader policy objectives. By demonstrating the concrete economic and scientific benefits his work would bring to the United States, we established that waiving the labor certification requirement would serve the national interest. 

“Our extensive case volume enables us to identify and leverage current trends and policies, allowing us to prepare a solid case and lay the groundwork for future requirements,” explains Mr. Picataggio, Partner at Colombo & Hurd. 

The NIW petition was approved, opening doors to new opportunities for our client. With this approval, he is poised to participate in prestigious postdoctoral awards and fellowships, such as the NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship and the EPA Post-Doctoral Research Program. The approval also aligns with recent executive orders and policies of the new administration, which may present unique opportunities for professionals in sectors like energy and technology, highlighted in our prior articles: 

• Opportunities for NIW Under Trump’s Energy Policies

• New Green Card Pathways for Manufacturing & Trade Professionals 

With the administration’s focus on energy independence, technological advancements, and infrastructure revitalization, our client’s expertise in geochemical nanoscience positions him for potential collaborations and research opportunities. For instance, he has already received interest from scientists at national laboratories, who have offered to collaborate and a potential role as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate.  

Mr. Picataggio reflects on the significance of this approval: “Cases like these mean a lot to us. We have the best and brightest in the world who have goals and dreams to not only make a massive change in their lives, but to change the lives of all Americans who can benefit from their experience and abilities.” 

Once his priority date becomes current, our client will advance his career with the freedom to pursue his work in optimizing nanomanufacturing processes without being tied to a specific employer, maximizing his contributions to American scientific advancement and economic competitiveness in critical emerging technologies.