Published AAO appeal decisions

Financial specialist seeking EB-2 exceptional ability with NIW. Proposed founding financial analysis and planning services firm. AAO affirmed denial: has substantial merit but lacks national importance; modest job creation and revenue projections insufficient for national-level economic impact.

A financial manager and entrepreneur sought EB-2 NIW status to establish a mining equipment sales company. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the proposed endeavor lacked national importance under Dhanasar's first prong because indirect economic effects and HUBZone status were insufficient to demonstrate substantial positive national economic impact.

A financial administrator sought NIW for EB-2 advanced degree classification. The AAO affirmed that although the proposed endeavor had substantial merit, it lacked national importance under Dhanasar because her advisory services would not impact the field or nation broadly. Appeal dismissed.

Financial manager and entrepreneur sought EB-2 NIW for business work. AAO dismissed, finding proposed endeavor lacked sufficient evidence demonstrating national importance, broader economic impact, or substantial job creation at level required by Dhanasar framework.

Accountant with advanced degree sought NIW for providing accounting and auditing services to prospective clients. AAO found substantial merit but rejected national importance claim, finding no evidence of broad field impact, realistic business viability, or substantial employment and economic benefits.

Financial manager seeking EB-2 exceptional ability with national interest waiver for technology-driven consulting firm. AAO held proposed endeavor lacks national importance; material post-filing changes to business plan made petition defective. Dhanasar prongs two and three not addressed.

Financial and investment analyst seeking EB-2 NIW claimed expertise in financial consulting. AAO held petitioner met underlying EB-2 but failed first Dhanasar prong; proposed business providing budgeting and forecasting services lacks national importance and broader field implications required.

An economist with over 100 scholarly publications claims extraordinary ability in EB-1A. Director found five criteria met but denied on final merits, claiming insufficient sustained acclaim. AAO reversed, finding the petitioner's 20-year career with continuous publications and recognition demonstrates sustained national acclaim among top economists.

Financial manager and lawyer seeks NIW. AAO found petitioner impermissibly changed proposed endeavor between initial filing and RFE response; initial endeavor lacks specific focus and does not demonstrate substantial merit or national importance.

A management and financial analyst sought EB-2 NIW for work as a financial analyst and starting a financial advisory services business. The AAO dismissed the appeal, upholding the director's decision that motion requirements were not met and that a business plan alone insufficient to establish national importance.

A risk manager with advanced degree seeking EB-2 classification with NIW to develop AI-based fraud detection algorithms. The AAO found the first prong met but dismissed because petitioner lacks entrepreneurship and algorithm development experience, failing to demonstrate she is well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor.

Fintech business executive sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Met one of ten initial criteria. AAO affirmed director's rejection of scholarly article authorship and high salary criteria due to insufficient evidence of scholarly publication and unexplained salary discrepancies.

An assistant professor and researcher in finance and economics with a PhD seeks EB-2 national interest waiver. Petitioner proposed developing machine learning techniques for finance applications. AAO found all three Dhanasar prongs satisfied: the endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, petitioner is well-positioned to advance it through his education and experience, and waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States.

A financial consultant sought NIW as EB-2 to operate a strategic advisory firm. The service center approved his advanced degree status but denied national interest waiver, finding insufficient evidence of endeavor's national importance. The AAO affirmed, holding unsupported projections of job creation and revenue insufficient to demonstrate national significance.

Certified accountant seeks EB-2 with national interest waiver to establish accounting consulting services firm in Florida. AAO dismissed appeal because proposed endeavor, though demonstrating substantial merit and business success potential, fails to show national importance; impact limited to clients without broader industry significance.

Entrepreneur in finance seeks NIW. Claimed endeavor important for U.S. competitiveness and economic benefit through small business support. AAO dismissed, finding past experience does not establish prospective national importance of the specific endeavor and that industry importance alone does not meet Dhanasar standards.

An accountant claimed EB-2 classification as advanced degree professional and sought NIW for a consultancy initiative. The AAO dismissed because the petitioner lacked qualifying advanced degree documentation and failed to establish national importance of the proposed endeavor.

Economist self-petitioner sought EB-2 NIW for economic policy work. Director approved underlying EB-2 but denied NIW on national importance. AAO agreed; petitioner failed to submit documentary evidence that specific work would impact field broadly or have national importance beyond employer.

Real estate professional with industry experience seeks EB-2 with national interest waiver for real estate development business. AAO dismissed because proposed endeavor lacks national importance; petitioner relied on general foreign direct investment benefits applicable to any real estate professional rather than demonstrating specific extraordinary impact.

A service team manager seeking an executive position in financial services sought EB-2 classification with national interest waiver. The AAO dismissed the appeal, holding that while the petitioner qualified as advanced degree professional, her proposed endeavor lacked sufficient evidence of national importance; assertions alone without corroborating evidence were insufficient.

A financial analyst sought EB-2 classification with a national interest waiver. The AAO found he did not qualify as an advanced degree professional and, alternatively, that his proposed financial analyst role lacked national importance because it would benefit only his clients and employers, not the industry or economy broadly.

An accountant sought EB-2 NIW proposing diversified accounting and consulting services to enhance U.S. company efficiency. The AAO dismissed, agreeing her endeavor has substantial merit but finding insufficient evidence demonstrating national importance because benefits to small businesses lack the requisite substantial positive economic effects.

International financial specialist with advanced degree sought NIW for specialized services in foreign exchange and fraud prevention. AAO found proposed endeavor lacks national importance; benefits do not extend beyond prospective employers or clients to impact broader industry. Appeal dismissed.

Lawyer seeks NIW for financial literacy consulting business targeting Latino community. Petitioner claimed endeavor addresses nationally important financial literacy gap. AAO dismissed, finding proposed service lacks national importance as it would only benefit individual clients without broader field implications.

Insurance sales agent and entrepreneur sought NIW under EB-2 based on exceptional ability. AAO dismissed appeal; though endeavor had substantial merit, petitioner failed to show national importance or broader implications beyond company and clientele despite field industry importance.