u/Economy_Use4194

Hello everyone,

I’m considering pursuing an EB-2 NIW and would really appreciate feedback on my profile, especially from others in a similar field, as well as suggestions to strengthen it.

Profile:

I am from one of the 75 countries ROW and currently on an H1-B visa (2 years left)

• MPH - Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• BA - Biology
• Currently working as a data analyst for the last 4 years at a high-volume Safety Net Hospital, focused on emergency medicine/patient safety research.
• 6 publications in mostly medical journals as a co-author related to my PE (Expecting about 3 papers to be accepted in the next few months)
• No first-author publication, but working on it.
• 3 conference presentations of our research at regional and national meetings
• 3 abstract reviews.
• No peer reviews, but working on it.
• 7 citations as of today
• 1 internal health equity research grant from my work related to PE
• Over 18 co-authored abstracts
• Unsure if I can get independent recommendation letters, but I can get letters from hospital leadership.
• Part of my salary is funded by 2 NIH research grants, somewhat related to my PE. I’m not the PI for the projects; I'm just the data analyst. We have papers under review for the projects.

Proposed Endeavor:

• To conduct and disseminate epidemiological evidence that identifies, quantifies, and reduces racial and socioeconomic health disparities in emergency care delivery across the United States by producing research findings that directly inform clinical protocols, hospital quality standards, and federal health equity policy. This work is particularly urgent for the tens of millions of low-income, uninsured, and minority patients who rely on safety-net emergency departments as their primary point of access to healthcare, and for whom gaps in care quality carry the most serious consequences.

Lawyers:

• Chen - 5K - Approval or Refiling (RFE at no additional cost)
• EP - 6K - Approval or Refiling (RFE at no additional cost)
• COLOMBO & HURD - 18K {stopped listening after hearing the cost}

Question:

• Should DIY the pettition or find a lawyer?
• Is my Proposed Endeavor too broad?
• Is 6-9 months a feasible time to prepare to file, or should I wait to improve my profile?
• Is a low citation count a major weakness for a profile like mine?
• Thoughts on premium processing?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!