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How to respond to an RFE that questions the originality and impact of your academic contributions?

In an EB-2 NIW petition, respond to the RFE in a structured way: contextualize what makes your work original, prove its impact with concrete evidence, and maintain consistency with the petition.

Written by

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Updated on July 14, 2026
1 min read
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An RFE (Request for Evidence) that questions the originality and impact of your academic contributions calls for a structured, well-supported response. In an EB-2 NIW petition, the goal is to confirm that your work is genuinely innovative and has substantial relevance, so the response must demonstrate this clearly and with evidence.

Start by contextualizing your contributions: what makes them original, how they differ from existing work in the field, and how their impact manifests in practice. Then anchor each claim in concrete, organized evidence so the reviewing officer can connect the argument to the supporting document.

  • Explain the methods or approaches that make your work original.
  • Demonstrate impact through citations, notable publications, and recognitions.
  • Show the connection to the national interest by linking results to concrete advances.

Maintain consistency with what was already presented in the petition, as coherence signals credibility. Because each RFE is specific, follow the instructions in the request precisely and, if in doubt, seek specialized support to respond with accuracy.

Learn more about EB-2 NIW

Category
EB-2 NIW Green Card
Self-petition
Allowed (no sponsor needed)
PERM
Waived
Processing
12-36 months
All about EB-2 NIW

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.

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How to respond to an RFE that questions the originality and impact of your academic contributions?

In an EB-2 NIW petition, respond to the RFE in a structured way: contextualize what makes your work original, prove its impact with concrete evidence, and maintain consistency with the petition.

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