EB-2 NIWCivil and environmental engineeringIndividualDecided April 2021Sustained
Outcome: Sustained
APR152021_01B5203
Merit and national importanceMetWell positionedMetBalance favors a waiverMet
Our summary
Civil engineer with doctoral degree seeking EB-2 NIW for infrastructure management research. Petitioner claimed all three Dhanasar prongs. AAO held all three met: research addresses national infrastructure concerns, petitioner is well-positioned through credentials and position, and national benefit from waiver outweighs certification interests.
Official PDF
Official PDF ↗Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.
What the AAO accepted
- Merit and national importance · Infrastructure integrity and bridge protection are national importance; petitioner's research advances these goals
- Well positioned · Doctoral qualification and current postdoctoral research position demonstrate capacity to advance proposed endeavor
- Balance favors a waiver · Research productivity and influence outweigh labor certification interests; national benefit from waiver established
What was missing
Every criterion in the table was found met.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Merit and national importance | Met | Infrastructure integrity and bridge protection are national importance; petitioner's research advances these goals |
 Well positioned | Met | Doctoral qualification and current postdoctoral research position demonstrate capacity to advance proposed endeavor |
 Balance favors a waiver | Met | Research productivity and influence outweigh labor certification interests; national benefit from waiver established |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.