NIW Case Preparation: How We Prepare your NIW Case

From selecting recommenders to drafting recommendation and petition letters, preparing an NIW (National Interest Waiver) case is complex and demands patience and care. We take a systematic approach, handling every aspect efficiently and weighing all the factors unique to your case to maximize your chances of NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval.

Once an attorney-client relationship is formed, you receive immediate access to a client packet with details about our services, the process ahead, and how we propose to reach your goals. Our clients generally take 1-4 months from the time they begin working with us until we are ready to file their case.

To begin preparing your NIW case, we ask you to provide two documents: our questionnaire from the client packet and a list of potential recommenders.

1. Questionnaire: In your client packet you will find a detailed questionnaire asking for information about your work and accomplishments. Fill it out as completely as possible; it is a critical resource for drafting the recommendation letters and the petition letter. Remember that we are legal professionals and experts in immigration petition preparation, but not in your specific field. The questionnaire is your chance to help us understand your work so that we can explain its significance fully in your letters.
2. Recommendation Letters:
   1. Selecting recommenders: Before you contact anyone, we ask for a list of potential recommenders. Provide basic information for each: current position, relation to you, and which part of your work they can discuss. After reviewing it, we will discuss the appropriate selection with you. The law and USCIS regulations do not specify a required number of recommendation letters, but 3 to 7 is generally appropriate. The number and choice of recommenders will of course depend on your case.
   2. Contacting Recommenders: Once the list is final, you may contact them. We provide model request e-mails and sample phone dialogues. Most recommenders are busy professors or scholars, so you may tell them that your attorney will draft the letter for their review and revision.
   3. Drafting the recommendation letters: We draft all of your recommendation letters, ensuring that the set as a whole covers your work comprehensively and contains every necessary statement. Once the recommenders confirm their support, we begin drafting. As specified in our contract, that timeline is binding: once we have all necessary information, we will draft your letters in 10 business days.
   4. Finalizing the recommendation letters: After the letters are finished, we upload them to the Case Management System for your review. You may revise them and give your opinion. We consider all of your comments and revise until we are both satisfied with the result. You then forward the final letters to the recommenders for review, approval, and signature. Further revision may be needed if the recommenders request it or make substantial changes.
3. Petition Letter: Once all recommendation letters are finalized and signed, we draft the petition letter. We analyze your credentials and contributions within our carefully designed petition structure, preparing a legal argument and summary of your work under our winning strategy. The drafting timeline is binding per our contract: we prepare the petition letter in 10 business days. After you receive the draft, you may review it and provide revisions and comments, and we will revise until we are both satisfied with the result.
4. Preparing Documentation: Your client packet includes a document list at the very beginning of the process, so you can start gathering evidence right away. After the petition letter is finalized, we will ask you to send all of your documentary evidence, and we will compile your NIW package. Careful, organized package preparation is essential to NIW success, and our system presents your documents in an easy, accessible manner, so the USCIS officer can review your case without confusion. Please see our NIW Documents List for more information about required documents.
5. Filing Your Case: Once the petition letter is finalized and we have received all of your documentary evidence, we compile your NIW package and file your case. Our attorneys conduct a final review before mailing the package to USCIS to confirm that everything is in order.