Pilar is a cancer researcher specializing in tumor immunology. She moved to the United States to complete the research for her PhD at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and later continued her work as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School. Although she already had a visa that allowed her to remain in the U.S., she wanted the flexibility to continue building her career without depending on temporary status. After carefully preparing her profile, she successfully obtained her EB-1A Green Card with Tukki.
Q: Why did you decide to move to the U.S.?
P: As a scientist, being in Boston gave me opportunities I couldn’t find anywhere else. I could test my ideas, collaborate with experts, and access resources that allowed me to push my research much further.
“There were no limits to knowledge. There was always someone around that knew how to do something.” — Pilar
Q: How did you hear about Tukki?
P: A relative recommended Ramiro, so I reached out to learn more about the process. At first, I wasn’t sure I qualified for the EB-1A. What I appreciated most was the honesty from the beginning. Instead of encouraging me to apply immediately, the team suggested waiting until my case became stronger.
Because I wasn’t in a rush, we took the time to prepare a much stronger petition.
“They were super honest from the very beginning.” — Pilar
Q: How was your experience working with the team?
P: It was a great experience. The team was always available whenever I had questions, and Bianca was incredibly responsive throughout the process.
What stood out the most was the platform. Everything was organized, so I always knew which documents had been uploaded, who was reviewing them, and what still needed to be completed.
We even paused the process for a while because I was traveling and waiting for additional evidence to strengthen my case. When we came back, everything was exactly where we had left it.
“I'm not sure how we would have been able to do it without the platform.” — Pilar
Q: What stood out most about the platform?
P: Surprisingly, it actually made the process motivating. Checking tasks off the list and seeing my progress kept me engaged throughout what could have been a very long process.
Instead of feeling overwhelming, it became much easier to stay organized and keep moving forward.
“You see the task done and think, 'Okay, let's do more.'” — Pilar
Q: How did you feel when your EB-1A was approved?
P: It was a mix of happiness and relief. Everyone around me knew how long the process had been, so when I received the news, we all celebrated together.
“It was a really happy day.” — Pilar
Q: How did receiving your Green Card change your life?
P: It gave both my partner and me much more freedom. Instead of depending on a temporary visa, we could decide what we wanted to do next without worrying about work restrictions or future visa renewals. It opened many more possibilities for both of us.
Q: What would you tell someone evaluating different options?
P: The most important thing is trusting the people you’re working with. Sometimes I thought certain things were important when they weren’t, and other times I underestimated information that turned out to be essential. Having a team you trust makes those decisions much easier.
For me, the biggest difference was the platform. Having everything organized made the entire experience much less stressful.
“You really need to trust the person you're going to work with.” — Pilar
Final thoughts
P: One of the most memorable moments wasn’t actually receiving the approval. It was when Ramiro sent me a picture of my complete petition, nearly 1,900 pages long. I shared it with my family, and everyone was amazed to see years of work compiled into one document.
It really put into perspective everything we had accomplished throughout the process.
“Now I have everything in a book.” — Pilar