EB-2 NIWComputer science and AIIndividualDecided January 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
JAN292026_05B5203
Merit and national importanceNot metWell positionedNot metBalance favors a waiverNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
Information security specialist with master's degree sought NIW for cybersecurity consulting startup. Appeal dismissed because petitioner failed to establish national importance of proposed endeavor beyond personal employment and failed to demonstrate being well positioned to advance it.
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 cybersecurity consulting services lacked national importance beyond petitioner's future employment
- Well positioned · Education and experience insufficient to advance personalized cybersecurity consulting endeavor
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Merit and national importance | Not met | Proposed cybersecurity consulting services lacked national importance beyond petitioner's future employment |
 Well positioned | Not met | Education and experience insufficient to advance personalized cybersecurity consulting endeavor |
 Balance favors a waiver | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached; failure on first two prongs makes third prong unnecessary |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.