Published AAO appeal decisions

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.

An accountant seeking to establish a financial consulting company focused on IFRS compliance and strategic planning claimed a national interest waiver. The AAO found substantial merit in the endeavor but rejected national importance because the business would serve only individual clients without broader impact on the field or economy.

Financial consultant and entrepreneur seeks NIW to establish consulting business. AAO held endeavor lacks national importance; business plan, credentials, and industry reports do not demonstrate prospective impact beyond petitioner's own business and clientele. First prong failure dispositive.

An economist seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification met initial evidentiary threshold but lacked sustained national or international acclaim. AAO reversed Director's finding on leading role criterion, found petitioner failed to meet three criteria, and held evidence insufficient for final merits determination of top-tier status; appeal dismissed.

Financial manager sought EB-2 NIW. AAO held the proposed endeavor lacked national importance because it would not impact the financial field broadly and lacked significant potential for U.S. employment or substantial economic effects. Appeal dismissed.

A product administrative support coordinator in finance sought EB-2 classification with NIW for a credit union financial consulting firm. The AAO dismissed the appeal because the proposed endeavor lacked national importance; financial projections were unsupported and broader implications were not established.

An accountant in financial services sought EB-2 NIW based on proposing AI-driven credit risk assessment research for Treasury Department. The AAO found the proposed endeavor had substantial merit but lacked national importance because it would not extend beyond work with a single government entity to impact the field broadly.

An accountant with advanced degree sought EB-2 NIW to expand an accounting firm serving multilingual communities across Massachusetts, Florida, and Georgia. The AAO dismissed because serving individual clients lacks national importance; projected eighteen employees and profits insignificant relative to the 144.5-billion-dollar industry.

A financial manager consultant claimed EB-2 classification as individual of exceptional ability and sought NIW. The AAO dismissed the appeal because the petitioner failed to establish exceptional ability; she did not meet three criteria and lacked expertise significantly above ordinary levels in her field.

Entrepreneur in finance seeks EB-2 NIW to establish independent financial advisory firm. Petitioner claimed substantial merit and national importance but provided conflicting descriptions of the proposed endeavor across petition, business plan, and appeal brief. AAO dismissed appeal because inconsistencies preclude establishing that the endeavor has substantial merit and national importance.

An entrepreneur with advanced degrees in finance and business sought EB-2 classification and a national interest waiver. The AAO affirmed denial, finding the proposed financial consulting and training endeavor lacked demonstrated national importance; general alignment with government priorities was insufficient.

Finance director with advanced degree seeks NIW for employment in Florida. Petitioner claimed substantial merit and national importance of her financial services work. AAO held the specific endeavor lacked national importance because evidence showed only her individual client impact, not broader field or economy impact.

Self-petitioner actuary and insurance underwriter seeking EB-2 NIW for contingency insurance and underwriting firm targeting sports, leisure, and entertainment industries. AAO found no national importance; petitioner's experience and industry reputation do not establish that endeavor rises to level of national importance required under Dhanasar.

Personal financial advisor and entrepreneur sought EB-2 national interest waiver. AAO found petitioner failed to qualify as advanced degree professional and that proposed financial advisory business lacked demonstrated national importance because it would not generate substantial economic effects or impact the finance industry broadly.

An accountant sought a national interest waiver to operate an accounting and cryptocurrency compliance consulting business. The AAO upheld dismissal, finding substantial merit but no national importance because projected revenues and employment of a small team did not demonstrate substantial economic effects or field-wide impact.

Financial manager proposes self-funded fintech venture offering AI-driven financial guidance to economically distressed communities. Claimed national importance based on field value and target population impact. AAO affirmed denial: specific endeavor lacks demonstrated substantial economic impact, employment potential, or concrete implementation plan meeting national importance threshold.

Self-petitioner entrepreneur in tax, accounting, and financial services consulting sought EB-2 NIW. AAO held proposed endeavor lacked national importance under Dhanasar first prong, as business would impact only his clientele without broader field or economic effects.

An accountant seeks an EB-2 national interest waiver for financial management services using artificial intelligence for small businesses. The AAO dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance: claims about AI and small business importance were conclusory without specific evidence of substantial economic or societal benefit.

Tax consultant sought EB-2 national interest waiver. AAO affirmed Director's conclusion that proposed tax consulting business, though meritorious, lacks national importance because it would not extend beyond immediate clients to impact the tax consulting field or generate substantial nationwide economic effects.

A senior billing analyst sought EB-2 NIW to start a financial consulting business serving small businesses recovering from COVID-19. The AAO dismissed the appeal because the proposed endeavor, though having substantial merit, failed to demonstrate national importance: industry importance does not satisfy Dhanasar, and no evidence showed national or regional economic impact.

A financial manager with advanced degree sought EB-2 NIW classification. Director and AAO agreed substantial merit was established but national importance was not. Petitioner claimed her Brazil-focused financial business would create economic bridges, but lacked independent corroborating evidence; field importance alone was insufficient.

Financial analyst sought EB-2 with NIW for proposed endeavor in financial analysis and automated systems management for small-to-medium businesses. AAO found substantial merit but not national importance; revenue and employment projections were modest and lacked prospective impact beyond regional scope. Appeal dismissed.

Finance specialist sought EB-2 with NIW for a financial services business. The AAO held the petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance because benefits appeared limited to his employer; modest job projections and non-binding letters of intent were insufficient for national-level impact.

Business consultant sought EB-2 with NIW for a business providing financial services and courses to small enterprises and Hispanic communities. The AAO upheld dismissal, finding no error in Director's analysis and concluding petitioner failed to show national importance of the specific endeavor.

A finance and insurance manager with an advanced degree sought NIW. The AAO confirmed EB-2 eligibility but dismissed the appeal, finding the proposed endeavor of process improvement and financial management for multiple companies lacked the national importance required under the first Dhanasar prong; projections for job creation and revenue were insufficient.