Published AAO appeal decisions

A mathematician with a Ph.D. sought an EB-2 national interest waiver for mathematical research with government initiative alignment. The AAO agreed the proposed endeavor meets the first Dhanasar prong but found the petitioner is not well-positioned to advance it due to unclear employment status, unclear research duties, and insufficient evidence of available funding and institutional support.

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.

Applied mathematician with doctorate proposed algorithm optimization for medical devices. Possessed substantial merit but failed to establish national importance of specific endeavor. Evidence about medical devices industry and general STEM field importance insufficient without showing direct national impact. Appeal dismissed.

Quantum mathematics researcher sought national interest waiver as advanced degree holder. Met EB-2 advanced degree requirement but failed first Dhanasar prong. Recommendation letters lacking specificity about proposed endeavor; insufficient evidence that research has national importance beyond field prestige.

A mathematics lecturer proposed numerical methods research projects. The AAO dismissed the appeal because the petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance of his specific proposed research endeavors under Dhanasar's first prong, despite strong citation record.