EB-2 NIWEducation and academiaIndividualDecided December 2025Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
DEC032025_04B5203
Merit and national importanceNot metWell positionedNot reached / not discussedBalance favors a waiverNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
A petitioner sought EB-2 NIW classification for a Russian economics graduate. The AAO dismissed her combined motion to reopen and reconsider, holding the bachelor degree was completed in less than four years and the academic evaluation did not credibly establish foreign equivalency to a U.S. four-year degree.
Official PDF
Official PDF ↗Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.
No criterion in the table was found met in this decision.
What was missing
- Merit and national importance · Petitioner failed to establish advanced degree due to unresolved deficiencies in academic credentials
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Merit and national importance | Not met | Petitioner failed to establish advanced degree due to unresolved deficiencies in academic credentials |
 Well positioned | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached because first prong of Dhanasar test failed |
 Balance favors a waiver | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached because first prong of Dhanasar test failed |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.