✅ EB-1A: approval
An economist received EB-1A approval after getting an RFE, having prepared the petition and the response herself.
Case details
Filing: 14 November 2024
Decision: 28 August 2025
Criteria claimed: 4
Timeline: From filing to approval - 9 months
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✓Research publications
23 articles, 16 published in journals included on the VAK list
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✓Contribution to the field
PhD dissertation (Candidate dissertation), monograph, textbooks
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✓Critical role
Recommendation from the university rector, founder of an educational center
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✓Peer review
Reviewing articles for VAK journals and the Academy of Sciences
How it all happened
Guys, I want to share my joy — I received the long-awaited EB-1A approval! I applied in the science category; I am a Candidate of Economic Sciences (equivalent to a PhD). I satisfied the following criteria:
Research publications. 23 scientific articles, 16 of which were published in journals included on the VAK list.
Contribution to the field. As evidence I attached my Candidate dissertation (PhD thesis), a monograph, and two co-authored textbooks.
Critical role. I provided a recommendation letter from the university rector, and documents confirming that I am the founder and director of an educational center.
Peer review. I reviewed articles for VAK journals and the Academy of Sciences, and also served as a reviewer for educational publications.
Awards and recognition (not submitted as a criterion). I was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar in the USA, and was twice invited as a scholar to Columbia University (New York).
Petition filing timeline:
14 November 2024 - sent the petition (without premium processing)
16 May 2025 - upgraded to premium processing
3 June 2025 - received RFE
14 August 2025 - sent the response to the RFE
28 August 2025 - approval arrived by email.
I wrote the petition myself, without an attorney. When the RFE arrived, I thought it would be a denial — the officer hadn’t credited any criteria. But in the letter he very clearly explained what exactly was missing; it wasn’t that he didn’t believe me, he simply couldn’t find the necessary evidence. In my response I worked through every point in detail and attached as many supporting documents as possible (I resubmitted the petition and evidence reworked differently).
I want to express my huge gratitude to this group and to Egor Akimov for help, advice, and support. Special thanks to my friends Dilafruz and Avzunmehr for their support and help in writing the RFE response. Thanks to everyone who shared their experience — your information was very useful and inspiring to me! 
Main insight
“Even when you receive an RFE, it’s important to carefully study the request and provide all necessary evidence. Preparing and filing documents without an attorney is possible if you thoroughly work through all the criteria.”
Dilafruz Akhmedova
2024-11-14
Petition submitted
2025-05-16
Upgraded to premium processing
2025-06-03
RFE received
2025-08-14
Response to RFE
2025-08-28
Petition approval
Author of the story
Dilafruz Akhmedova, from the chat @talentvisahelp. Original message in the chat.
Useful resources
All information about O-1 / EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
More success and denial stories: channel @o1eb1