Published AAO appeal decisions

Self-petitioner in business management seeks national interest waiver for virtual startup incubator serving vulnerable entrepreneurs. AAO affirmed denial: proposed endeavor lacks national importance; petitioner not well positioned given company nonexistence at filing and absence of investor or customer interest.

Warehouse general manager and plant safety manager sought NIW classification. AAO held proposed managerial work, though demonstrating substantial merit, lacks national importance because it does not show impact beyond prospective employer, industry-wide influence, or significant U.S. job creation or economic effects.

Entrepreneur and regulatory affairs manager with environmental engineering degree seeks NIW for EB-2 classification. Petitioner claimed endeavor consulting on medical device regulations has national importance due to field growth and job creation. AAO found substantial merit but dismissed; working in important field does not establish national importance of specific endeavor.

Entrepreneur and coach specialist with exceptional ability sought NIW for business consulting services in training and development. AAO affirmed denial, finding proposed endeavor has substantial merit but lacks national importance required under Dhanasar; declined to address second and third prongs.

Training specialist sought NIW for self-sponsored business in corporate training and development. Petitioner claimed substantial merit and national importance. AAO dismissed, finding proposed endeavor lacks national importance; revenue projections and modest employment forecasts do not demonstrate substantial economic impact.

An entrepreneur in business management and general operations management sought a national interest waiver. AAO dismissed because the consulting business lacked national importance; helping clients maximize profitability and creating local employment did not extend beyond his clientele to impact the field or economy broadly.

Project management specialist with advanced master's degree seeks EB-2 NIW for self-employment in urban infrastructure development. Director found substantial merit but no national importance. AAO affirmed, holding proposed endeavor lacks national scope or broader implications beyond applicant's own business, and lacks sufficient evidence of prospective impact or regional benefit.

Healthcare and life sciences manager with MBA seeking NIW for training company addressing life sciences talent shortage. Qualified as advanced degree professional. AAO dismissed because proposed endeavor lacks documentary evidence of impact on hiring challenges at national level; focus on specific company rather than broader field advancement.

International trade consultant without job offer seeks NIW. AAO held proposed endeavor lacked national importance; assisting with local construction permits does not demonstrate broader impact. Petitioner failed to clarify specific proposed work or how experience applies in United States, failing prongs one and two of Dhanasar.

Economist seeking EB-2 classification with national interest waiver for business venture addressing housing affordability and homelessness. Claimed substantial merit and submitted articles on housing policy. AAO dismissed, finding petitioner failed Dhanasar first prong: industry importance and government priorities do not establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor itself.

Executive assistant sought EB-2 NIW with goal of event management role. Petitioner significantly changed proposed endeavor from initial petition to RFE response, creating ambiguity. AAO found endeavor could not be analyzed under Dhanasar framework due to inconsistent articulation.

Logistics business owner sought EB-2 NIW. AAO dismissed the appeal, holding that while the endeavor has substantial merit, it fails the national importance prong because benefits to individual clients do not rise to national impact or demonstrate substantial positive economic effects.

An entrepreneur with advanced degree sought NIW to lead financial consulting and loan services business. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the proposed endeavor lacks national importance despite general importance of entrepreneurs, and petitioner not well positioned to advance it.

Entrepreneur seeking EB-2 classification with national interest waiver for spa services business. Claimed business would address industry shortage and create jobs. AAO dismissed appeal, finding petitioner failed to establish national importance of specific proposed endeavor, lacking evidence of broader industry implications or substantial economic effects required under Dhanasar first prong.

Business administrator self-petitioner with advanced degree and qualifying experience seeking national interest waiver. The AAO agreed the petitioner met underlying EB-2 requirements but dismissed the appeal, finding the proposed business training and consulting work lacked sufficient national importance beyond individual trainees.

Human resources specialist sought EB-2 advanced degree classification and national interest waiver to offer consulting services to small and medium companies. AAO held she qualified for EB-2 but failed to establish national importance; endeavor's benefits would not sufficiently extend beyond her clients to achieve broader implications commensurate with national importance.

Interpreter and translator sought EB-2 classification and national interest waiver to establish interpreting and translation company serving hospitals, clinics, insurance brokers, and schools. AAO held proposed endeavor lacked national importance; benefits would not extend beyond prospective clientele to impact field or economy more broadly.

A lawyer and entrepreneur sought EB-2 NIW to establish an LLC providing international business consulting and training between Brazil and the U.S. The AAO dismissed because the proposed endeavor lacked national importance: projected employment was modest, regional location and tax contributions insufficient, and training would not extend beyond individual participants to impact the field broadly.

Trucking industry manager with advanced degree proposed consulting and training company for trucking businesses. AAO dismissed appeal finding proposed endeavor lacks national importance despite industry's economic significance; services remain limited to individual clients without broader sectoral impact.

Business coach seeking NIW to operate coaching company in Florida. Claimed endeavor supports business development. AAO held petitioner failed to establish national importance; endeavor lacked specificity, documentation of existence uncertain, and no evidence demonstrated significant prospective impact.

Franchise business manager sought NIW for consulting company helping franchises scale. AAO dismissed appeal, finding proposed endeavor lacked national importance. Projected employment of four to thirty-one workers and profits of approximately five hundred sixty-two thousand dollars were insufficient relative to industry scale.

A chief financial and robotic process automation officer seeks EB-2 NIW. The AAO found the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but lacks national importance, as it would affect only the petitioner's direct employer and hotel-resort clients without broader industry impact or demonstrated economic ripple effects. Appeal dismissed.

Industrial and organizational psychologist with U.S. master's degree seeks NIW for EB-2. Claimed her work reducing corporate burnout and improving employee engagement has national importance. AAO held the specific endeavor lacks national importance because it would not extend beyond individual companies to impact the field broadly.

CEO seeks EB-2 NIW for stationery, visual communication, and digital printing company. Petitioner claimed exceptional ability and national interest waiver. AAO dismissed because the proposed endeavor lacked national importance; working in an important industry and general business optimization arguments were insufficient without specific evidence of U.S. economic impact.

An engineer and management consultant sought EB-2 classification with national interest waiver for a consulting business. The AAO found the petitioner qualified as advanced degree professional but held the proposed endeavor lacked national importance due to modest job creation and revenue, thus dismissing the NIW appeal.