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In early 2026, antimicrobial resistance remains a growing concern for U.S. public health agencies and hospital systems. Infections that once responded quickly to standard antibiotics are becoming harder to treat and continue to drive escalating public health and economic risks. For EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petitioners, this case illustrates how work that directly advances recognized U.S. public health priorities can meet the national importance standard under EB-2 NIW.
Our client, a medical microbiologist from South Africa received EB-2 NIW petition approval by showing how her research on genetic resistance mechanisms can support novel therapeutics and stronger infection prevention through education and clinical collaboration. Her successful petition was prepared by Colombo & Hurd attorney Senior Attorney Rachel Slomski, who framed the case around the national public health implications of the work and a concrete plan for continuing it in the United States.
Lab-Based Research was Essential to the Endeavor
For research-driven EB-2 NIW petitions, the strongest profiles can still face one recurring hurdle. The question in cases like this is how to demonstrate a credible path forward in the United States when the work depends on laboratory infrastructure and collaboration, but no U.S. job offer is in place.
Attorney Slomski summarized the issue succinctly: “The biggest challenge with a case like this is how do we define not only a specific endeavor based on her research, but how do we define how she’s going to carry out that research when we don’t have a job offer.” In this case, the petition had to demonstrate a practical strategy for advancing it through access to the facilities required to carry out high impact microbiology research in the United States.
Colombo & Hurd Positioned the Petition Around Research Continuity and Institutional Support
Our legal team addressed the challenge by documenting the strong demand for the client’s expertise across research, academic, and diagnostic settings, while clarifying that employer sponsorship was not aligned with how these roles are typically structured, rather than reflecting any lack of opportunity or merit. At the same time, the petition established a credible near-term plan for research continuity through institutional support and access to laboratory resources.
As Attorney Slomski explained, “There are many settings in which she is qualified to carry out her research, but those roles are not structured to provide immigration sponsorship, which is why an EB-2 National Interest Waiver is appropriate.” By pairing evidence of professional demand with a detailed research plan supported by a letter of interest from a private research organization, the petition presented a practical model for advancing the work. It demonstrated that the client could continue her lab-based research and disseminate findings through established infrastructure, even prior to securing a long-term U.S. position.
Approved in 3 Months and 13 Days
The petition was approved in 3 months and 13 days. The case progressed smoothly on the merits, and USCIS did not raise concerns about the national importance of the endeavor or the overall NIW framework under Matter of Dhanasar.
A National Public Health Priority Aligned with Federal Goals
The success of the case lies behind our client’s work which addressed antimicrobial resistance in difficult-to-treat infections, an urgent public health threat recognized by U.S. agencies. The case aligned her research and clinical leadership with federal priorities focused on strengthening surveillance, accelerating diagnostics, and supporting the development of new therapeutics. It also demonstrated practical impact through her role in clinical microbiology, research dissemination, and healthcare education, while credibly addressing the absence of a U.S. job offer by documenting realistic pathways for advancing the work through collaboration and institutional support.
With EB-2 NIW approval in place, the client can now pursue her work through the pathways that best support high impact microbiology research. Her plan is to secure a role at an academic institution or a private medical laboratory focused on research and diagnostics, allowing her to conduct rigorous investigations while also sharing knowledge with healthcare professionals, students, and clinical teams.
She also intends to work with diagnostic and pharmaceutical partners to validate testing tools and support therapeutic development, while pursuing institutional and external funding to sustain this work. Together, these efforts allow her contributions to continue strengthening diagnostic practices, treatment decisions, and infection prevention outcomes in the United States.
