Software and systems architect in autonomous vehicle technology sought NIW. AAO dismissed because although the field has national importance, the petitioner failed to show his specific proposed work would impact the industry broadly; benefits to employer and business partners alone do not satisfy national importance.

Medical device manufacturing entrepreneur with advanced degree sought NIW. Petitioner established qualifying advanced degree status but failed first Dhanasar prong by not demonstrating specific endeavor has national importance. Appeal dismissed without reaching well-positioned or balance prongs.

Applied and computational mathematician self-petitioned for EB-2 NIW to research guaranteed algorithms for large-scale systems, claiming prospective applications in cancer research, energy, and artificial intelligence. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding substantial merit but insufficient evidence of national importance because the connection between the proposed research and asserted national-level impacts was too attenuated.

A dentist with an advanced degree proposed opening three dental clinics to serve underserved populations and teach geriatric dentistry. The AAO held the endeavor, while substantially meritorious, lacks national importance because it fails to demonstrate broader implications beyond direct patient benefit or meaningful impact on the dental industry.