Background
Our client, Celine, a highly accomplished French magnetic design engineer, had spent years pushing the boundaries of electromagnetics. If you have ever wondered who worked on ensuring that electric cars, X-rays, radios, cell phone signals, or even elevators work, magnetic engineers have played a major role. The sound that plays from your phone relies on magnets to convert the sound into electrical signals. With a PhD in the field and also serving as the Dean of a leading school of electrical engineering, Celine has made significant contributions to magnetic materials, electrical machines, and mechatronic systems. Her research led to innovations in MRI technology, specifically targeting energy efficiency and portability, which were all important for modern and accessible healthcare.
Celine’s work had received global recognition. She regularly presented at top international conferences, published extensively, and influenced the scientific community’s understanding of magnetism. At the time of the application, she had been invited to join a U.S.-based biotech company. This company had developed one of the world’s first portable MRI scanners and was operating under a prestigious life sciences incubator. The company had offered her a key position as a Magnet Engineer to continue developing next-generation MRI systems for brain imaging.
Case
The company needed her to remain in the U.S. to lead innovation in their flagship project, which involved MRI technology to be more compact, energy-efficient, and accessible. She had already proven herself in the field, but to continue this work, she required an extension of her O-1A visa, which is reserved for individuals of extraordinary ability in the sciences.
The challenge was demonstrating that her expertise was not only exceptional but also critical to the success of a project with major public health implications. The ability to have portable MRIs may appear groundbreaking to anyone, however, when having to explain why a French resident is needed for this over an American, it is an entirely different argument for a USCIS officer. With tight timelines and technical documentation needed, the extension case had to be compelling without any room for error. If the extension wasn’t approved, then we risked Celine’s immigration going out of status and having to return to France.
However, our team put together a comprehensive package including her current research in the U.S., the company’s work structure, job responsibilities, letters of recommendation, and enough information that justified why she needed to stay to finish her project in the U.S. We explained how the existing research on brain MRI’s in the U.S. was very limited, and how Celine would contribute towards more research. It frankly wasn’t every day you ran into a brain MRI specialist in the U.S.
Verdict
Typically, O-1a extensions take around 4-6 months to hear a decision from. As we approached the sixth month from when we had filed, USCIS approved the O-1A extension. This extension granted Celine, her husband, and child another year to continue her work in the U.S.
How VisaNation Can Help
Our team quickly identified the core strengths of the client’s background and tailored a strategy that aligned her achievements with the strict criteria for an O-1A extension for an engineer. We worked closely with her employer to demonstrate her direct impact on high-priority innovation in MRI technology. We structured the petition to emphasize Celine’s scientific leadership, peer-reviewed contributions, and the national interest of her ongoing work. From drafting expert letters to highlighting the urgency of the healthcare project, our team presented a powerful, clear case that positioned her as indispensable to the U.S. medical landscape, particularly in the field of electromagnetism.
It’s important to note that if you want a shorter turnaround on an extension notice, you can file with premium processing, and it only takes up to 15 days to hear a decision. If you are curious about your visa extension and have questions, you should speak to one of our attorneys about your case!