Dr. Hao,
I know you do not have the news yet: We have been APPROVED; Please congratulate yourself for a job well done. You did it, you picked it from scratch and built a strong case. I will call you later today. Thank you Thank you.
Your Case Status: Decision
On June 23, 2014, we mailed you a denial decision notice for this case I140 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER. The notice explains why the denial decision was made and the options that may be available to you. If you have not received this notice within 15 days of June 23, 2014, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance.
幾天之後，Dr.O給我打了一個電話，吞吞吐吐的說移民官還要求了一些其它材料，我讓他把簡歷和移民局的補充材料通知發給我。他發給我后，我仔細閱讀，才知道移民官要求的並不是「小問題」，而是把所有的材料否決了一遍。EB-1B的要求是移民法規定的六條標準里符合至少兩條。對於一個在學校工作的教授來說，通常會有文章發表，並且有一些引用，基本上就有可能符合文章和原創性貢獻兩條標準。事實上因為EB-1B由僱主支持，移民局通常審理標準不像EB-1A那麼高，我們接受案件的標準也相應降低。對於有僱主支持的研究人員來說，這應該是一條獲得綠卡的快捷通道。可是Dr.O的背景非常特別。他在肯亞是一名中學數學老師，到了美國后又當了一段時間的中學老師，之後到了一所大學攻讀經濟學博士。博士畢業后他直接找到了一所私立大學給非專業學生教授經濟學原理。在這整個過程中他還沒有一篇雜誌論文發表。他自己DIY的申請材料也是非常簡單，只找了現在學校的校長和原來學校的導師寫了兩封推薦信。內容僅限於描述他在兩個學校的表現, 而根本沒有任何關於他在領域內學術地位的描述。他也沒有準備什麼過硬的證據說明他在領域內的貢獻。相反他在申請里還放進了很多完全不相關的材料。可以說Dr.O根本不知道EB-1B的要求是什麼。這樣的案子無論是從內容還是準備過程都已經不能再糟糕。我甚至有些奇怪為什麼移民官沒有直接給NOID （notice of intent to deny），那樣的話只給30天回復，批准的機會就更渺茫了。看樣子這位移民官還是動了惻隱之心，打算給Dr.O一個機會。
Thanks for the information. It is very unfortunate. I lost a good amount of cash in it. Is there a waiting period before we can launch the EB -2? I will need to recover financially before we can begin work. I will definitely take your services again. God bless you.
本來以為案子就此告一段落，幾個月後當Dr. O 精神上和經濟上調整到位后可以重新開始綠卡的征程，可以一個星期後Dr.O的來信使得事情有了新的轉機。在信里他附上了學校國際辦公室收到的正式拒絕信，只寫了一句話： Do you believe this？ 我打開附件，驚奇的發現移民官拒絕的理由並不是因為Dr.O的背景不符合EB-1B的要求，而是因為沒有及時收到回復，案子作為申請者放棄被拒絕。
美國移民法有很規範的上訴渠道。申請者如果不同意案件的審理結果可以遞交I-290B表格上訴。在I-290B表格中上訴人可以選擇Motion to Reopen，Motion for Reconsideration，或者Appeal（為了簡單起見以下統稱上訴）。前兩者案件會重新回到審理的服務中心，而第三種選擇案件會送到行政上訴辦公室（The Administrative Appeals Office， AAO）。需要指出的是，這些上訴渠道往往效果不是很好。如果研究移民局網上公開的判例，可以發現95%以上的上訴都會被駁回，維持原判。對於Dr.O案件中移民官的這種明顯錯誤，我非常相信上訴一定可以成功。但是這個過程需要3-4個月的時間，支付630美元的上訴費。而且最關鍵的是，案子一旦重新打開，回到原來審理的移民官那裡，並不表示移民官一定要批准這個案件。相反，他完全可以花時間寫一份根據案件本身的文件量身打造的拒絕信。如果是到AAO的話，AAO的審查員有權重新審理這個案件，在糾正原有錯誤的同時在新的基礎上拒絕這個案件。如果是這樣的話，Dr.O除了多花630美元外得到的還是同樣的結果。
On July 23, 2014, we mailed you a notice informing you that your I140, IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER, was reopened. If you have not received the notice within 30 days of the date above, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance. If you move, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address.
On September 30, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before receiving your card, please call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.
They finally approved all of them. The last RFE I received was two weeks ago regarding a missing signature from the civil surgeon. Once again, thank you for your very huge role that made the difference. I can now focus on my job and become more productive. I only regret that I did not go for your services at the very beginning. I will always talk about you and highly recommend you to my colleagues and friends who need similar services.