✅ EB-2 NIW: approval
A success story of obtaining an EB-2 NIW visa for a QA specialist with ten years of experience, after a long wait for the visa bulletin.
Case details
Filing: 28.08.2023
Decision: Approved September 4, 2023
Service center: Nebraska
Category: EB-2 NIW
Criteria claimed: Not specified
Attorney: Elena Manilich
Timeline: From May 2023 to July 2025
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✓Not specified
Not specified
How it all happened
My turn has come to tell our success story. We signed a contract with an attorney in May 2023 right after the lottery results were announced. The attorney was Elena Manilich. The case was filed for my husband — he’s a QA specialist with ten years of experience. We dived deep into the case, knew all the details and basically gathered everything ourselves. The attorney helped fill out the forms and prepare the case. What we attached: - degree evaluation (masters degree) - 7 recommendation letters from colleagues and field experts - one letter of intent - certificates - payroll calculations and proof that the salary level is above average - a business plan - articles about the projects my husband participated in - articles proving the importance of the proposed project PD 28.08.2023. Processing in Nebraska. Premium processing. On September 4, 2023 we received an approval letter. NVC sent a welcome letter about two weeks later. We submitted documents at the beginning of October 2023. DQ in early November 2023. Then there was a long wait for the visa bulletin. Anger, depression, bargaining, acceptance. In May 2025 the bulletin for June was released and we became current. It was a Tuesday, and the interview invitation for Warsaw arrived already on Friday — super fast and unexpected. The interview was scheduled for July 10, 2025. We had the medical exam in Warsaw on June 23; the doctor administered the vaccinations on site and sent the results electronically to the embassy. The interview was set for 9 a.m. We arrived about half an hour early. There were almost no people outside. We went straight to the window, they checked the invitation, placed a sticker in the passport and we entered the embassy. Inside there were almost no people either. At the document check they first asked about the job offer. We gave the letter of intent. Everyone who was there that day was asked the same. It seemed to be the most important document for them. After the document check we waited for the interview itself. There were three families ahead of us. It seemed everyone was approved. During the interview they were most interested in the letter of intent, military service, where we plan to live, and what the salary level in the industry is. The interview lasted about 5–10 minutes, and we heard the cherished “your visa is approved.” We were overjoyed! Passports were taken the next day. At 4 p.m. we received an SMS that they were ready for pickup. To pick up the passport you need to make an appointment, otherwise you have to pay 30 zł per person. On July 17 we flew from Warsaw to Boston with a layover in Frankfurt. In Boston they accepted the envelopes, asked why I had an ESTA refusal, called someone about it, then stamped the passports and said that next time I would need to go to the green card holders line. Thanks to everyone! The information from the chat helped a lot! Wishing everyone approvals from the bottom of my heart!
Main insight
“It’s important to prepare the case thoroughly and be ready for a long wait for the visa bulletin.”
Katerina (@k_ostrovskaya)
28.08.2023
Petition filed
04.09.2023
Petition approved
10.07.2025
Interview in Warsaw
17.07.2025
Departure to Boston
Author of the story
Katerina (@k_ostrovskaya), from the chat @talentvisahelp. Original message in the chat.
Useful resources
All information about O-1 / EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
More success stories and denials: channel @o1eb1