Published AAO appeal decisions

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.

Medical device manufacturing entrepreneur with advanced degree sought NIW. Petitioner established qualifying advanced degree status but failed first Dhanasar prong by not demonstrating specific endeavor has national importance. Appeal dismissed without reaching well-positioned or balance prongs.

An administrative services and facilities manager sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner failed to meet three required evidentiary criteria. Awards were local and job-performance based; judging involved supervising subordinates, not evaluating work in the same field; no evidence of national acclaim or top-tier standing.

Service provider with advanced degree sought NIW for business in Florida. Petitioner met underlying EB-2 classification but failed first Dhanasar prong by not establishing national importance of specific proposed endeavor. Revenue projections and staffing levels insufficient to show substantial economic effects. Appeal dismissed.

A quality engineer seeks an EB-2 NIW to operate a consulting business in quality management. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the proposed business lacked evidence of national importance despite claimed economic benefits, job creation, and tax impact.

Entrepreneur in business and immigration investment sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Claimed six criteria including published material, original contributions, and scholarly articles. AAO found published material deficient due to missing metadata and post-filing dates, original contributions lacked evidence of major field significance, and petition failed to meet three-criterion threshold for final merits analysis.

An accountant and business operations manager claims extraordinary ability and seeks EB-1A classification. She claimed three criteria but failed to establish high salary requirement because comparative data did not match her actual position. The AAO dismissed without analyzing two other claimed criteria.

Market research analyst and communication specialist sought EB-1A classification. Claimed five criteria including awards, contributions, and scholarly articles. AAO found student award lacked requisite national recognition and contributions showed only prospective rather than established significance. Could not meet three-criterion minimum. Appeal dismissed.

Airline petitions for assistant director of operations and pilot as EB-2 exceptional ability with national interest waiver. AAO reversed service center's approval, finding beneficiary failed three of six evidentiary criteria, lacking relevant academic credentials, sufficient employment verification, and professional association membership.

Administrative services and facilities manager claimed three criteria for extraordinary ability. AAO found certificates of appreciation lack national or international recognition, no judging participation, and no distinguished role. Reference letters unsupported by documentary evidence; lacks required sustained acclaim.

Logistics consulting executive seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability. Petitioner claimed three criteria: awards, original contributions, and leading roles. AAO withdrew director errors on intent and benefit findings but upheld award criterion failure: personal receipt unproven; award lacked national recognition. With only two criteria potentially met, threshold of three not reached; original contributions and leading role claims reserved.