Published AAO appeal decisions

HR entrepreneur seeking EB-2 NIW for human resources consulting business. Claimed endeavor advances economy and SME sector through sustainable labor practices. AAO dismissed appeal, finding proposed business lacks national importance; benefits remain limited to direct clients without broader economic implications.

Business intelligence analyst seeking EB-2 with NIW claimed all three Dhanasar prongs. AAO affirmed underlying advanced degree eligibility but dismissed appeal, finding proposed business endeavor lacks national importance with no demonstrated prospective impact beyond clients.

A general and operations manager seeks NIW for EB-2 to establish a consulting business for organizational development and business optimization. AAO found substantial merit but no national importance; the generic business plans lacked specific, targeted impact beyond local customers in a large industry.

Trade marketing and ecommerce consultant with MBA sought EB-2 NIW. AAO affirmed dismissal, finding proposed endeavor lacks national importance under Dhanasar framework. Evidence of professional skills and industry reports insufficient; no demonstration of broader impact beyond petitioner's company or customers.

An administrative and human resources manager seeking EB-2 with NIW to establish a management consulting firm claimed substantial merit and national importance. The AAO found the endeavor lacked national importance, having only limited benefits to prospective clients and employees without broader economic implications.

Advanced degree professional seeks EB-2 classification with national interest waiver for business development endeavor. AAO dismissed appeal, finding proposed work extending to business associations lacks demonstrated national or global implications, does not directly employ workers, and fails to show significant positive economic effects indicative of national importance.

Sales representative for pharmaceuticals/hospital products with advanced degree sought EB-2 NIW to lead commercial endeavor in USA. AAO found proposed endeavor lacks national importance under Dhanasar despite general industry merit; no evidence of prospective impact or government interest.

A certified public accountant with ten years' experience seeks EB-2 with national interest waiver to operate a financial consulting firm in Texas. She claimed her endeavor has national importance but failed to demonstrate broader implications beyond her prospective clients and employees or substantial positive economic effects. The AAO dismissed the appeal.

Industrial engineering manager and entrepreneur seeking EB-2 with national interest waiver. Claimed proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance. AAO affirmed denial, finding endeavor lacks national importance because it does not extend beyond the applicant's company to impact the field broadly.

Lawyer in Brazil sought EB-2 NIW to establish a consulting firm for U.S. banks entering Brazilian market. AAO held the proposed endeavor lacks national importance; industry reports and business plans fail to demonstrate specific prospective impact beyond individual clients or broader field implications.

Industrial production management consultant sought EB-2 NIW for consulting company. Business plan projected up to 21 employees and substantial wages. AAO found no evidence of field-wide impact beyond client services, unsupported claims about manufacturing competitiveness, and insufficient job creation relative to industry scale.

An entrepreneur seeks NIW as EB-2 advanced degree professional to establish a company offering reputation, positioning, and brand-building consultancy to corporations. The AAO dismissed the appeal because the petitioner failed to show the endeavor has national importance, as it lacks broader implications extending beyond the company's clients to the relevant fields.

An entrepreneur seeking EB-2 classification proposes a business recruiting international STEM students for U.S. higher education. AAO held the record fails to establish the specific endeavor has national importance under Dhanasar's first prong, as recruiting students benefits only client institutions, not the field broadly.

Self-petitioner logistics and trucking manager seeking EB-2 NIW to start trucking company and driving school. AAO dismissed appeal because petitioner failed to establish national importance of proposed endeavor; business projected only modest employment and revenue with no demonstrated broader field or economic impact.

Logistics consultant seeking EB-2 with self-petitioner NIW for consulting business. Claimed endeavor in supply chain optimization and sustainable logistics practices has substantial merit and national importance. AAO held endeavor lacks national importance; benefits limited to prospective clients; no evidence of unique methodologies or field-wide impact.

Business manager specializing in supply chain management and strategic purchasing sought EB-1A classification. Director found one criterion met; AAO withdrew this finding. Petitioner failed to establish three required criteria: published materials concerned employer not petitioner; support letters for original contributions lacked detail and corroboration; record showed no sustained acclaim at top of field. Dismissed.

Project manager with advanced degree sought NIW. Proposed business providing project management services with community involvement initiatives. AAO found proposed endeavor lacks national importance; services not unique or innovative; community programs do not extend beyond participants to impact field broadly; employment projections not substantial compared to industry. Second and third prongs reserved.

CEO with advanced degree sought EB-2 NIW for self-employed consulting firm in business development and global trade. AAO held proposed endeavor, though of substantial merit, lacks national importance; petitioner failed to show broader implications or economic effects rising to national level.

Car dealership owner seeking EB-2 exceptional ability with national interest waiver. Claimed endeavor has national importance through environmental benefits and economic effects. AAO affirmed denial because proposed business lacks national importance, significant U.S. employment potential, or broader field implications.

An industrial-organizational consultant and entrepreneur sought EB-2 NIW classification, proposing a manufacturing consulting and workforce training company. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the proposed endeavor lacked sufficient specificity and consistency to establish substantial merit and national importance under Dhanasar's first prong.

A company seeks O-1A classification for its financial vice president. The AAO found the beneficiary did not satisfy three required evidentiary criteria. Award evidence was not nationally or internationally recognized, membership and judging claims lacked comparability to regulatory standards, and the appeal was dismissed.

An international supply chain specialist sought EB-1A classification as extraordinary ability. The AAO confirmed three criteria were satisfied but found the final merits analysis did not support extraordinary ability. The petitioner lacked sufficient documentation of national or international acclaim and top-tier status in the field.

Business administrator seeking EB-2 with national interest waiver to establish accounting and financial advisory services company. Claimed substantial merit and national importance based on industry significance and economic contributions. AAO held the proposed endeavor lacks demonstrated national importance; broad industry importance and projections insufficient without corroborating evidence of petitioner's specific business impact.

A business consultant and executive sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding she satisfied only two of ten criteria. Evidence relied on letters without corroboration, and prominence in the field was not demonstrated beyond an earlier period.

Healthcare consultant sought NIW to establish and operate new healthcare consulting company as CEO, proposing to optimize human capital and patient care resource allocation. AAO dismissed appeal because proposed endeavor lacks national importance; local economic benefits do not rise to national level; no broader healthcare field implications demonstrated.