I recently came across a video from Tsang & Associates on YouTube. I found many of their videos, especially on NIW and EB-1A, very insightful—short but packed with valuable ideas. Throughout my DIY NIW journey, I made it a point to approach all the information I absorbed with critical thinking. I never blindly accepted what others said; instead, I always thought independently about how to interpret and apply the information, or even when not to apply it. It's crucial to understand the underlying logic, not just mimic the surface-level formats.
This particular video covered a case where an engineer was approved for NIW without receiving an RFE. The applicant had 16 years of engineering experience and worked at several large companies, specializing in optimizing automation systems. His proposed endeavor was to establish an engineering consulting firm. I find engineering and finance have a lot in common — both are highly professional fields where individual contributions are often part of larger team efforts. That's why I strongly encourage candidates in engineering, tech, law, and business to learn from each other.
Here are two key takeaways I learned from the video:
First, the importance of a business plan. Many people might hear "business plan" and immediately tune out, thinking it doesn’t apply unless they're pursuing entrepreneurship. Although I personally did not frame my proposed endeavor as launching a business (since there are many pitfalls and risks of getting denied under Prong 2 that way), I still applied the core logic of a business plan. In my PL, I structured my proposed endeavor like a detailed professional plan, borrowing heavily from business plan frameworks. The only difference was that my vehicle wasn't a startup consulting company—it was a team within an investment bank. But in essence, a high-performing team operates much like a business entity, doesn't it?
Second, quality over quantity when it comes to recommendation letters. In this case, the applicant only submitted three letters, but each was deep, rich in substance, and supported with data, specific achievements, and strong evaluations. This was far more persuasive to the USCIS officer than submitting ten vague, generic letters. For my own NIW, I submitted five recommendation letters, but each was carefully curated to match and strengthen the arguments made in my PL. They were thoughtfully selected from different stages and contexts of my career, providing comprehensive support for both Prong 1 and Prong 2.