EB-2 NIWFinance and economicsEmployerDecided February 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
FEB252026_08B5203
Merit and national importanceNot metWell positionedNot reached / not discussedBalance favors a waiverNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
A financial services professional with expertise in operational risk management sought EB-2 classification with national interest waiver. The AAO dismissed the appeal because his proposed endeavor to modernize fraud prevention and compliance infrastructure lacked demonstrated national importance. His plan would benefit limited stakeholders and offered insufficient evidence of substantial positive economic effects.
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 established substantial merit but not national importance; specific endeavor did not demonstrate broader implications beyond limited stakeholders
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Merit and national importance | Not met | Petitioner established substantial merit but not national importance; specific endeavor did not demonstrate broader implications beyond limited stakeholders |
 Well positioned | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached; first prong failed; second and third prongs reserved as serving no meaningful purpose |
 Balance favors a waiver | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached; first prong failed; second and third prongs reserved as serving no meaningful purpose |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.