EB-2 NIWBiotech and pharmaIndividualDecided July 2025Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
JUL072025_01B5203
Merit and national importanceMetWell positionedNot metBalance favors a waiverNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
Postdoctoral fellow in biomedical research sought EB-2 NIW with advanced degree. Proposed cancer research endeavor met substantial merit and national importance, but AAO found petitioner not well positioned to advance it: lacking significant funded grant record, evidence of work adoption by others, or comprehensive future plan despite strong academic credentials.
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 · Service Center and AAO agreed research in cancer prevention and treatment has substantial merit and national importance
What was missing
- Well positioned · Doctorate degree alone insufficient; work cited but not used by others; lacks funded research projects or evidence of progress toward proposed endeavor
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Merit and national importance | Met | Service Center and AAO agreed research in cancer prevention and treatment has substantial merit and national importance |
 Well positioned | Not met | Doctorate degree alone insufficient; work cited but not used by others; lacks funded research projects or evidence of progress toward proposed endeavor |
 Balance favors a waiver | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached; dispositive issue of well-positioned prong failure makes third prong analysis unnecessary |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.