EB-2 NIWEducation and academiaIndividualDecided May 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
MAY192026_01B5203
Merit and national importanceNot metWell positionedNot metBalance favors a waiverNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
Educational technology researcher claimed NIW for health literacy research advancing competency-based learning. AAO held proposed endeavor lacks demonstrated national importance despite university adoption at one institution, and applicant failed to show recent productivity or sustained research continuation warranting waiver.
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 · Educational technology research on health literacy lacks evidence of broad adoption or field-level impact; statistics on health costs do not demonstrate petitioner's specific work impact
- Well positioned · No published work produced between return to institution in 2022 and petition filing in October 2023; insufficient recent productivity
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Merit and national importance | Not met | Educational technology research on health literacy lacks evidence of broad adoption or field-level impact; statistics on health costs do not demonstrate petitioner's specific work impact |
 Well positioned | Not met | No published work produced between return to institution in 2022 and petition filing in October 2023; insufficient recent productivity |
 Balance favors a waiver | Not reached / not discussed | Not reached because first two prongs failed |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.