Published AAO appeal decisions

Brazilian entrepreneur in civil engineering sought NIW for EB-2 advanced degree classification. Petitioner claimed substantial merit and national importance of endeavor to develop and expand company operations. AAO held proposed endeavor lacked clarity and demonstrated insufficient prospective impact beyond his own business clientele to establish national importance.

A topography specialist sought EB-2 NIW for infrastructure and aviation work, claiming national importance through improved infrastructure and national security contributions. The AAO dismissed, finding the proposed endeavor was routine technical services for specific projects without demonstrated broader impact on the field or industry.

Civil engineer and construction project manager sought EB-2 classification and NIW to operate project management business. AAO found substantial merit but no national importance for proposed endeavor. Business plan projecting modest revenue growth and four employees by year five did not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects or broader field impact required for national importance.

Civil engineer and construction manager sought NIW for renovation and construction business in local area. AAO affirmed dismissal, finding proposed endeavor lacked national importance; petitioner's professional experience relates to second prong, not the specific endeavor's broader impact required.

Civil engineer and entrepreneur sought NIW for business providing technical drawings for low-income and commercial projects. AAO affirmed denial; petitioner's credentials and experience cannot alone establish national importance of proposed specific endeavor.

A civil engineer proposing a clean energy consulting company seeking EB-2 with national interest waiver. The AAO affirmed the director's finding that the proposed endeavor lacks national importance. Business plan lacked sufficient detail on worker employment and economic impact. Appeal dismissed on first Dhanasar prong; second and third prongs reserved.

A civil engineer sought EB-2 advanced degree classification with national interest waiver to run his own engineering services company in Florida. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the proposed endeavor lacked national importance because it would not impact the civil engineering field broadly and petitioner was not well-positioned to advance it.

Civil engineer and entrepreneur sought NIW for affordable residential and commercial real estate development. Possessed advanced degree and proposed endeavor had substantial merit but lacked national importance; record insufficient to demonstrate impact beyond local Florida community.

Civil engineer with twenty years experience in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO dismissed appeal finding petitioner satisfied only one of ten evidentiary criteria and failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim required for EB-1A.

Architectural engineer sought EB-2 with national interest waiver, claiming high demand for expertise and infrastructure development contributions. AAO dismissed appeal, finding petitioner failed to articulate specific endeavor with national importance; past accomplishments and industry importance of field were insufficient.

Environmental manager with advanced degree sought national interest waiver for EB-2 classification. AAO dismissed appeal because petitioner failed to establish national importance of specific proposed endeavor in occupational health and safety; submitted generic evidence without connecting to broader field implications.

Civil engineer with advanced degree seeks national interest waiver for consulting work. AAO dismissed, finding the business plan contained unexplained discrepancies and the petitioner failed to show his proposed work would reach the level of national importance or substantial economic benefit.

Construction manager sought NIW for telecommunications infrastructure company. AAO dismissed because proposed endeavor's national importance was not established; applicant's work as one of 1,000+ employees at large firm and industry-wide statistics could not substitute for demonstrating the specific proposed company's prospective impact.

A civil engineer sought EB-2 advanced degree classification with NIW. The AAO accepted advanced degree eligibility but dismissed the petition because the petitioner failed to consistently articulate a single, well-defined proposed endeavor, preventing meaningful analysis of its merit, national importance, or positioning.

Construction estimator seeking EB-2 NIW claimed proposed construction firm would address infrastructure and affordable housing. AAO held the specific endeavor lacks national importance because the record does not establish substantial positive economic effects beyond the petitioner's company and clients.

Civil and mechanical engineer in transportation specialization claims national interest waiver for university research endeavor. AAO found insufficient detail regarding national importance; grant funding and projects postdated filing; no evidence of broad field implications beyond local academic work. Appeal dismissed.

Civil engineer with advanced degree proposing to develop consulting firm providing civil engineering services. AAO dismissed appeal, finding proposed endeavor, though addressing housing shortage, lacks national importance because petitioner provided no evidence of substantial economic effects or job creation directly attributable to his work.

Civil engineer with graduate business coursework seeks NIW. AAO affirmed denial, finding no demonstrated national importance for specific proposed endeavor. Articles on STEM importance and engineering shortages insufficient; analysis must focus on individual's specific endeavor, not industry importance.

A civil engineer sought a national interest waiver for an EB-2 petition to work in civil construction. The AAO affirmed the director's denial, finding the petitioner's proposed business endeavor lacked the national importance required under Dhanasar's first prong, as it would benefit only himself, his companies, and clients without broader industry impact.

Civil engineer seeking EB-2 NIW initially proposed guidance on construction projects in Brazil, then abandoned this for a business plan to form and manage her own construction company. AAO held both proposed endeavors lack national importance; neither establishes substantial positive economic effects beyond her company and clients.

Civil construction specialist with advanced degree sought national interest waiver for EB-2. AAO found proposed endeavor, though meritorious, lacks demonstrated national importance and fails to show broader impact beyond employer and clients. Appeal dismissed.

Self-petitioner health and safety engineer seeking NIW as EB-2. Claimed endeavor in occupational health and safety management has national importance. AAO held proposed endeavor lacks definitive consistent description and sufficient evidence that work would impact the field broadly or generate substantial positive economic effects nationally.