Please help, how to answer RFE?

Lucydeng

Registered Users (C)
Dear all, my credentials are: 7 letters; 15 papers and 3 international proceedings (My name is on the first place on only 2 of papers); review 30 articles for one journal. So my lawyer claimed (1) original contributions; (2) authorship and (3) judge of other work. Now i got RFE from TSC.

The points of RFE are like these:

(1) in 7 letters, the writers didn't say my contributions are rated as top 1 or top2. So they asked me to submit further evidence or the major contributions i have made to my field. Also they asked these questions: Have others emulated your style and techniques? Have others gained national or international renown in this field based on skills you taught them? Have you made major contributions to this field in any other ways? Please explain and provide clear documentary proof in support of your response.

(2) about my authorship
Evidence was submitted that you have published, or contributed to the publication of, several scientific articles in major trade publications. Publication is part of the education process for a PhD. The number of articles published was considered extraordinary by the individuals who wrote your letters of recommendation. However, the evidence shows you are the first author on only 2 articles. Normally, aliens of extraordinary ability will be the first author on many ariticles with major significance. Please submit further evidence of your authorship (first author) of scientific publications in major trade publications.

(3) Evidence was submitted that the alien has been requested to review 29 different documents for suitability for publication. No evidence was submitted that the alien actually reviewed the documents.

Please submit further evidence that you have judged or critiqued the work of others in your field. Explain how this work was outside the scope of your usual duties, describe the significance of the work you judged or critiqued, the significance of the contributions mad eby those whose work you judged or critiqued, and describe your own experience in judging or critiquing the work of others in your field. Please submit coumentary evidence in support of your response.

Any suggestions? Thank you very much.
 
1) Letters should mention that you are moon among the stars and a face in the crowed. If they do not say that, dump those letters and get new/rewrite the letters again.
2) Papers you have authored (first) are more imp rather then the other coauthored papers. As the quantity seems to be low, I would stress on quality aspect of the papers. Impact factors and such that...
3) You need to have a invitation form the editor, that you have been asked to review papers for this journal.If possible spread it to other journals and not limit to one journal only.
things I can think right now...
Rama
 
Thank you very much, dear Rama. Maybe i need to get 4 or more letters that indicate clearly i am the moon among stars, right?

Any more suggestions? Thanks for everyone.
 
Lucydeng,

15 papers and 3 international proceedings (My name is on the first place on only 2 of papers)
What about the number of citations for the two papers with your name coming first? And for the total?

review 30 articles for one journal
Indeed, as rama wrote, you need a very strong letter from the editor, especially because you worked for just one journal.

The RFE is relatively self-explanatory. I am surprised to see that even original contributions is contested. I agree with rama that your letters are probably not clear enough. Were the referees really asked what they should evidence through their letter? It could be worth looking at them carefully one by one, and see which ones are clear and to the point and which ones are not. Try to get new ones, hopefully better argumented in favor of your original contributions to your fields.

Chris
 
Rfe

Hi,
Which category did you claim? Is it EA. As my knowlege concerned, they expect major awards. Alternatively, you shud provide stong evidence for claiming as you are a potetial reviewer. In addition to invitation, try to get letter from the editor. In addition, your first author publications are not sufficient, if you are applying thr EA.
 
goviks,

Major awards are only one of the possible criteria you can claim in the EB1-EA petition. In lucydeng's case, this criterion was not claimed, and that's ok.

The problem is that you need to have at least three criteria well evidenced for EB1-EA. If you claim three, you have to make sure they are indeed really convincingly evidenced. So far, USCIS was not convinced by the evidence given for any of them, which means some good ground work to be done. Lucydeng, you said you had a lawyer? Hmm...

Chris
 
Eb1-ea

Dear Chris,
That`s true that we need to satisfy 3 criterions for EA. However, I feel we need to meet 3 criterion with strong evidences, With large number of papers as first author, as a reviewer for more than one journal with strong letter from the editor in addition to invitations, and strong letters from experts. Looks like he lacks most of them. Any one can expect RFE and it is not srprising.
 
goviks, we agree... As I wrote, you have to make sure they are indeed really convincingly evidenced..

You know, I am still puzzled that the petition was filed with not enough evidence for at least "original contributions". A lawyer should not let a file go with at least that one well covered. And if it cannot be properly evidenced in the first place, why petition?

lucydeng, what was your lawyer's feeling about your petition? What about your own feeling?

Just trying to help make the answer to the RFE convincing, if at all possible...

Chris
 
Eb1-ea

Thanks Chris. Deng, please try to get some strong letters from experts to claim original contribution of your research. You have reviewed 29 papers, that`s really great. Provide invitation letters. If possible, get letter from the journal editor.
Indeed, I have 14 papers in major neuroscience journals (9 first author), 1 international award, over 70 citations, reviewed 3 papers for 3 journals, member of 2 prof societies. Still many attorneys were not sure about EB1A. Now I got another international award. My case is pending.
Good luck.
 
goviks,

- Indeed, in your case, you can claim (i), (v) and (vi)... as long as (i) is good enough and the reference letters are strong to support (v) ;)
- Your three paper reviews could not help much for (iv) and the 2 prof. societies memberships are not likely to be good enough for (ii).

Which criteria did you claim? (just curious)...

Chris
 
thanks all.

Dear Chris, the total number of citation is 48. The two papers with my name first were kind of new, published in 2005 to 2006, i am not sure the number of citation with them. For all other papers, my name is the second place, which means i did everything for my papers. Just because we had very stupid rules in our group and we argued a lot with our advisors but couldn't change that rule. Now my idea is to ask my advisor to write a letter that indicate clearly that i did major contributions for all my papers.

For my judge of others work, i already asked the editor to write a letter for me, also i have "thank you for reviewing" emails from editor and journal, this should be no problem.

So, for the second one, i will ask my advisor and other experts to write that it's the tradition in some lines that the student's name is not on the first, is that OK?

For the third one, i will print "thank you for reviewing" emails and editor's letter, is that enough?

How can i ask their questions?

For orignial contribution, i want to submit two letter from previous writer, asking them to indicate clearly that my contributions are rated as top 1 or top2, and ask two new writers, is that enough?

Thank you all very much.
 
Eb1-ea

Chris,
I have submitted for EB1A-EA. My credentials are 1) 1 Young investigator award, 1 travel award( both are posted in website) 2) 14 publications with 9 first author (5 of them are in 2005-06) 3) 80+ citations, 1 positive published comment by expert on my original work 4) 11 reco letters from international and govt experts 5) Reviewer for 3 journals 6) Member of APS (membership is peer-reviewed, they have issued letter and certificate)
Experience is also important for this category.

Please do advice. I have provided all evidences.
 
goviks,

I would be happy to comment, but could you please let us know which criteria you claimed first?

Thanks!
Chris
 
Eb1-ea

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your advice.
I claimed 6 critrias but I do not think, they consider my memberships in societies. They may ask for my contributions to the society. I have filed thr experienced attorney, she did not advice me not to claim this.
Now the question is, do you think we can ignore them and claim other 5 if I get RFE for that?
Among other 5,
1. Original contribution (Evidenced by 11 reco letters including 1 from NIH)
2. Published material about the alien ( 80 Citations, 0ver 40 from 1st aut papers+ published positive comment on my work)
3. Authorship (14 papers in int journals, 9 fist auth), 14 int conference presentations
4. 2 awards (1 international travel award from top society in neuroscience in 2006, 1 young investigator award from leading non-profit organization in 2007)
5. Reviewer (reviewed 3 papers for 3 int journals, supported by letters from the editor)
I think I shud not have claimed 6th one (memberships)
So, what do you think. I am sure you have better experience than my attorney.I appreciate your advice in advance.
 
cliam strong one, leave out weak

Now the question is, do you think we can ignore them and claim other 5 if I get RFE for that? Among other 5,
1. Original contribution (Evidenced by 11 reco letters including 1 from NIH)

This looks strong but the RECO letters must say that you made significant contributions and you are in top 2%

2. Published material about the alien ( 80 Citations, 0ver 40 from 1st aut papers+ published positive comment on my work)

This can not be claimed as crtiteria. Published material about alien does not mean CITATIONS but it is news clippings from national/local news papers..etc.. You should cite CITATIONS under contributions


3. Authorship (14 papers in int journals, 9 fist auth), 14 int conference presentations.

This is strong but you should get a strong letter from your supervisor stating that u have made significant contributions.


4. 2 awards (1 international travel award from top society in neuroscience in 2006, 1 young investigator award from leading non-profit organization in 2007)

weak crtiteria

5. Reviewer (reviewed 3 papers for 3 int journals, supported by letters from the editor)

This is OK but few papers, again get letters from editors saying you are in top 2%


I think I shud not have claimed 6th one (memberships)- weak criteriaSo, what do you think. I am sure you have better experience than my attorney.I appreciate your advice in advance.[/QUOTE]
 
Not much to add to what lakksh wrote.

Again, it is a case where (v) and (vi) are going to work if correctly presented and well evidenced, but where the others are going to be really tough.

I strongly think that there is no need to claim a criterion which is weak. It is better to state "Though I have reviewed a few papers for a couple of journals, it is not that different from what many other scientists do. Therefore I am not claiming criterion (iv)". It states that you reviewed papers, but that you also know what the criterion is asking for. It makes the reader look at your memorandum with a more favorable eye, a good thing because what he/she is going to look at next is what you really claim!

You can make the same statement for (ii) (membership) because you know yourself that it is not going to work.

It is already tough sometimes to really evidence what you can legitimately claim. Why bother giving evidence for useless claims? You lose time and money on your side, and your upset the officer.

Chris
 
Lucydeng,
If you are first author in 2 papers and are in high profile journals, you can convince them. What`s the impact factor of those journals? For other second author papers, you can claim as a major contributor with letters.
Good luck
 
goviks,

When you look at the first web site you sent, you find that there are tens (one to two hundred I think) of awardees for that year given by the Mental Health Research Association. That is the scary part, in the sense that it is very different from a prize like those also listed on the web site where you have just one or a very few recipients. I hope it will work, but it is in my opinion borderline.

For the second one, there ar 25 recipients, but the title "Postdoctoral Trainee Travel Award" points to the fact that you are a postdoctoral trainee and you have been selected among that group, not in comparison with all others in your field (remember that you claim to be at the top of your field when you apply for EB1-EA). It can make the Officer frown and not accept that one either...

Chris
 
Lucydeng,

Make sure your advisor clearly states in his/her letter that "it is a policy NOT to have a student as first author even if their contribution is major". As an aside note, I find this policy hard to swallow. I have had quite a few PhD students during my carreer, and I know that, actually like most of my colleageus, we tend to put our students first as soon as they play a good role in the research. Sigh... For the officer, it will difficult to accept too, but it could work if your advisor is clear.

It would be really better to get an external "highly considered" person not directly related to your team testifying that indeed you played that key role.

Among the 15 papers you have authored, how many citations garnered your three most cited ones?

Chris
 
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