Published AAO appeal decisions

Marketing manager sought EB-2 NIW. AAO dismissed appeal, finding insufficient evidence of national importance under Dhanasar's first prong. Petitioner's endeavor lacked detail and specificity; benefits appeared bounded by single employer rather than demonstrating broader national implications.

Self-petitioner marketing manager proposing green marketing consulting business. Claimed national interest waiver under Dhanasar. AAO dismissed appeal finding proposed endeavor lacks national importance despite substantial merit determination; insufficient evidence of prospective impact beyond business clients.

Marketing entrepreneur sought national interest waiver claiming expertise in Brazilian advertising market beneficial to US expansion efforts. AAO found proposed endeavor lacks substantial merit and national importance, affecting only prospective employers and clients without broader impact on advertising field or economy, and no demonstrated job creation or economic effects.

Social media influencer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO dismissed appeal, finding petitioner satisfied no evidentiary criteria. Platform Platinum status is objective threshold not requiring expert judgment; income alone insufficient for commercial success; record lacks evidence of sustained national acclaim or position at field's top tier.

Fashion communication specialist seeking EB-2 advanced degree with NIW. Proposed founding communication strategy firm for small businesses across industries. AAO affirmed denial: lacks EB-2 advanced degree qualification; proposed endeavor lacks national importance despite covering multiple sectors.

Marketing specialist sought EB-2 national interest waiver classification. Petitioner had advanced degree but failed to establish proposed endeavor's substantial merit and national importance under first Dhanasar prong. AAO found personal qualifications immaterial to national importance analysis, which focuses on specific prospective endeavor, not field or profession.

Digital marketing entrepreneur seeks EB-2 with NIW based on self-petition. Claimed proposed endeavor has national importance through expanding online marketing business and economic growth. AAO held first prong unmet: business plan lacks corroborating evidence of broader industry impact, substantial job creation, or substantial positive economic effects.

A global brand and marketing communications director sought extraordinary ability classification, initially claiming nine criteria. The AAO found only the leading or critical role criterion satisfied, others unmet or waived, so the three-criterion threshold was not reached and the appeal was dismissed.

Journalist sought EB-2 classification and national interest waiver for work writing articles and teaching in Florida. AAO dismissed appeal finding the endeavor has substantial merit but lacks national importance because work would not extend beyond immediate audience to impact journalism field broadly.

An automotive journalist claimed five EB-1A criteria beyond the leading role criterion the director found met. The AAO affirmed rejections of awards, published material, and judging criteria. With only one criterion met, petitioner failed the threshold and lacked sustained international acclaim.

Marketing business CEO sought NIW for digital marketing services company targeting small business owners. AAO dismissed appeal, holding that proposed endeavor lacks national importance; petitioner provided inadequate evidence of broader field impact, job creation projections, or substantial positive economic effects commensurate with national importance.

A marketing and advertising consultant with advanced degree sought NIW for self-employment. AAO dismissed because proposed endeavor lacked national importance; petitioner did not demonstrate substantial economic effects or job creation at regional or national scale.

Marketing consultant and entrepreneur seeking NIW for EB-2 classification to open Pennsylvania consulting firm. Petitioner claimed endeavor would revolutionize marketing through research and dissemination. AAO held claimed global implications and academic work insufficient; no documentation of prospective impact at national importance level.

A marketing specialist sought NIW under EB-2. The AAO dismissed, finding her proposed endeavor—working with small and medium companies—lacked national importance, as it did not demonstrate broader prospective impact on the marketing industry or U.S. economy.

Marketing and communications specialist with equivalent bachelor's degree and five years experience seeks national interest waiver. First prong failed: petitioner confused industry importance with specific endeavor importance. Work lacks broader field impact or substantial economic effects needed for national importance standard.

Digital marketing entrepreneur sought EB-2 national interest waiver for digital marketing business. AAO dismissed, finding proposed endeavor lacked national importance; industry importance does not establish specific endeavor impact, and projected ninety-seven jobs across three locations insufficient to demonstrate national-level significance.

Public relations specialist with advanced degree sought EB-2 with national interest waiver. AAO dismissed appeal, finding no national importance in the proposed endeavor. Services would only benefit individual clients and lack broader implications for the public relations field.

A digital marketing specialist proposed partnering with universities to market courses via e-learning platform. The AAO found insufficient evidence that the endeavor would impact online higher education broadly or demonstrate national importance. Appeal dismissed under first prong of Dhanasar.

Brand manager with advanced degree sought EB-2 national interest waiver. AAO agreed petitioner qualified for EB-2 but dismissed appeal because digital marketing services lacked national importance; services beneficial only to clients, not rising to broad prospective impact.

Audiovisual production entrepreneur sought NIW for business marketing small and medium enterprises in underserved areas. AAO dismissed appeal, finding substantial merit but no national importance. Unsubstantiated projections and lack of demonstrated broader field impact failed Dhanasar first prong.

Entrepreneur in commercial photography, video, podcast and multimedia production seeks EB-2 classification with national interest waiver. AAO affirmed denial, finding proposed business has substantial merit but lacks national importance under Dhanasar; specific venture fails to demonstrate potential to impact field or economy broadly.

A public relations professional claimed extraordinary ability for EB-1A classification. AAO found she failed to meet at least three of ten required criteria. Awards were attributed to employer, not individual. Membership evidence did not establish organizations require outstanding achievements by recognized experts. Record shows successful work but not sustained national or international acclaim.

Marketing and communications manager with advanced degree sought waiver to provide branding consultancy. Qualified for underlying EB-2 but failed to establish national importance of endeavor; impact limited to clients without broader economic benefits.

Sales and marketing entrepreneur petitioned for NIW for marketing consulting firm serving nonprofits. Claimed all three Dhanasar prongs. AAO found endeavor lacks national importance despite serving nonprofit sector; lacks broader implications and substantial U.S. employment potential, and dismissed without addressing remaining prongs.

Image strategist and personal stylist entrepreneur sought EB-2 national interest waiver. AAO affirmed denial, finding the proposed fashion business had substantial merit but lacked national importance, as it would not impact the fashion field broadly and showed no nationally significant economic or social benefits.