EB-2 NIWEnergy and climateIndividualDecided February 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
FEB262026_03B5203
Merit and national importanceNot metWell positionedNot reached / not discussedBalance favors a waiverNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
Energy policy analyst with master's degree sought EB-2 with national interest waiver to research energy policy reforms. The AAO dismissed the appeal because the petitioner failed to establish the proposed endeavor has national importance, lacking concrete evidence of economic impact, employment creation, or differentiated methodology from existing research.
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 · Proposed endeavor lacks sufficient evidence of national importance; generalized claims unsupported by objective evidence of prospective impact.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Merit and national importance | Not met | Proposed endeavor lacks sufficient evidence of national importance; generalized claims unsupported by objective evidence of prospective impact. |
 Well positioned | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached because petitioner failed first prong of Dhanasar framework. |
 Balance favors a waiver | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached because petitioner failed first prong of Dhanasar framework. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.