Orhan Aykan entered medical school in 2016, graduated in July 2023 and began working as a general practitioner at an Emergency Medical Services Station in October 2023.
He had been interested in building a future in the United States from an early stage. After visiting the country and later researching the opportunities available to doctors and academics, he began considering how he could develop his medical career there over the longer term.
The central challenge was timing. Orhan was only 26 and had relatively little post-graduation work experience when the EB-2 NIW strategy was developed. From the outset, the case therefore required a realistic assessment of both its strengths and its limitations.
Rather than focusing simply on the number of years he had worked, the application documented what he had actually done during that period. His practical experience as a general practitioner, the intensity of his emergency medical work, the range of cases and patients he had encountered and the responsibilities he had undertaken were presented in detail.
Recommendation letters from professors who knew his work also formed an important part of the evidence. The case was developed around his clinical ability, work ethic, medical training and future potential, together with a clear explanation of how his background and experience could contribute to healthcare in the United States.
Orhan also had a clear forward plan. He intended to prepare for the US medical licensing examinations, gain further US clinical exposure through observerships, participate in research where possible and continue strengthening his profile with the long-term aim of practising medicine in the United States.
The petition was filed using premium processing. Within the first month, a detailed Request for Evidence was issued. Orhan described the request as extensive, running to around nine or ten pages. We reviewed the issues raised, gathered further supporting documents and additional evidence, and prepared the response.
The EB-2 NIW petition was subsequently approved.
Orhan’s experience shows why an early-career profile should not be assessed only by years of experience. Where the underlying work is substantial, it is important to document it carefully, explain the applicant’s future contribution clearly and respond strategically when further evidence is requested.