EB-2 NIW Case Study: Vietnamese Educator Approval Vietnam AI Education Professional Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer confined to research labs or technology companies. AI skills are increasingly expected across roles that were never designed to be technical. Yet access to AI training has lagged behind demand. Many programs remain tied to costly degree tracks or rigid schedules that working professionals and career changers cannot easily manage. For working professionals and career changers, those constraints often make skill development impractical, even when demand is clear. This EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) case involved a Vietnamese AI education professional whose work focuses on closing that gap. Her proposed endeavor centers on building scalable education systems that allow more people to learn AI and apply those skills directly in their existing roles. The work is designed to reach learners outside traditional computer science pipelines and to support broader adoption of AI skills across industries in the United States. The petition was prepared by Colombo & Hurd attorney Paul Messina and approved through premium processing without a Request for Evidence (RFE). CHECK YOUR EB-2 NIW ELIGIBILITY Client ProfileBuilding Practical AI Education for Non-Traditional Learners EB-2 NIW VisaThe client’s background combines instructional design and applied data science, a combination well suited to workforce-focused AI education. Her academic training was completed in the United States, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Education, and a Master of Applied Data Science. In a senior role at a leading U.S. research university, she leads curriculum development and learning infrastructure for a master’s program in computational data science. Her responsibilities extend beyond course content to include assessment of design, learner support systems, and operational processes that affect program scalability. Through this work, she improved learner engagement and completion outcomes while reducing the administrative burden typically associated with large, technically intensive programs. As Attorney Messina observed, “Most AI cases are about implementing AI in an industry. This one was about helping more people learn AI and use it in the workforce.” That same focus shapes her proposed endeavor. She plans to develop an open-source AI Learning Ecosystem Framework that universities, workforce development organizations, and employers can adapt to their own needs. The framework is designed to support practical, job-aligned AI training for non-traditional learners, including working adults and career changers, with skills that transfer directly to the roles they already hold. The Challenge Beyond a Single Institution The central challenge was demonstrating both national relevance and real-world progress. The petition needed to show that the client’s work extended beyond a single university role and addressed a broader workforce’s need. Demand for AI skills continues to grow, while many training pathways remain expensive, inflexible, and difficult to scale. These barriers disproportionately affect working professionals and career changers. The petition therefore had to demonstrate how the client’s systems-based approach could move beyond institutional boundaries and support wider adoption across the United States. As Attorney Messina explained, the case required a careful balance. Her current U.S. role had to serve as evidence of credibility and momentum, while also showing that the systems she developed could support a nationwide framework. Strategic Approach Using Current U.S. Work to Prove National-Scale Impact The legal strategy emphasized a simple distinction. Many AI petitions focus on applying AI within a specific industry. This case focused on expanding who can learn AI and bring those skills into the workforce. The petition relied on the client’s current U.S. role to show progress and capability, without limiting the endeavor to one employer. Her work was characterized as a platform for developing, testing, and refining these tools. The proposed endeavor then extended those tools for broader use across the United States. Supporting evidence reflected that approach. The record included tangible work product and documented results, showing that the learning ecosystem was already operational and positioned for expansion See If you QualifyGet your free EB-2 NIW visa profile evaluation today. EVALUATE MY PROFILE The Result A Straightforward Approval USCIS approved the EB-2 NIW petition through premium processing without issuing a RFE. The approval reflected a determination that the client’s work addressed a national workforce need and that she was already making measurable progress in the United States. The decision recognized both the value of expanding access to AI education and the documented outcomes of her work to date. Case Overview Category Details Immigration Category EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) Professional Field AI Education Country of Origin Vietnam Lead Attorney Paul Messina Processing Type Premium Processing RFE No Outcome Approved Attorney’s perspective Paul MessinaSenior AttorneyRead More “Most AI cases are about implementing AI in an industry. This one was about helping more people learn AI and use it in the workforce.” Related Resources EB-2 NIW Lawyers – Experienced Attorneys for National Interest Waivers Cybersecurity: A Key Area of National Importance and Opportunity for EB-2 NIW Professionals EB-1A for Educators: How Top Academic Leaders Meet Eligibility Criteria This case was handled by Attorney Paul Messina of Colombo & Hurd, a U.S. immigration law firm focused on extraordinary ability and national interest cases. The firm has secured over 10,000 successful visa and green card approvals for clients from more than 100 countries, including 2,000+ EB-2 NIW and EB-1A approvals since 2023.