NIW Bearings
dismissedAPR042025_04B52032025-04-04 · appeal · Texas Service Center

This is an AAO appeal decision — a case denied once and appealed. It shows how the framework is applied; it is not the filing population.

The Petitioner proposed to work in the United States as a motorcycle mechanic and instructor through his own business, 701 Cycles.

Field: motorcycle repair and mechanic instruction · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

EB-2 threshold — not met

Petitioner claimed exceptional ability but the AAO found he met only two of the six regulatory criteria (academic record and license/certification) and failed to establish ten years of full-time qualifying self-employment experience, a salary demonstrating exceptional ability, professional association membership, or recognition of significant industry contributions.

How the evidence was treated

  • resume experience · discounted
    the Petitioner has not provided sufficient evidence to show that he was actively engaged in business full-time during the specified period
    AAO decision text
  • recommendation letter · discounted
    the letter from the CPA merely states that they have conducted business with the Petitioner, without providing substantive details
    AAO decision text
  • certification membership · discounted
    neither document provides information on the membership requirements of the respective associations or whether their members are comprised of individuals who have earned a U.S. baccalaureate degree
    AAO decision text
  • contract revenue · discounted
    the Petitioner nonetheless has not established that his earnings exceed the typical expectation in his field
    AAO decision text

This record is one of thousands, each coded for the reasons it turned. A placement shows where your profile sits in that record, not what it predicts. See where your profile sits — 90 seconds

Notable

The AAO declined to reach the Dhanasar national-interest-waiver prongs entirely because the Petitioner failed to establish the underlying exceptional-ability EB-2 classification, citing INS v. Bagamasbad and Matter of L-A-C- for the principle that agencies need not reach unnecessary issues. The case involves a blue-collar occupation (motorcycle mechanic/instructor) rather than the typical STEM or academic profile seen in most NIW appeals.

Authorities this decision leans on

From the doctrinal survivor set — 187 authority tests across 47 distinct authorities cleared the differential-lift gates. Only those appear here.

  • 8 C.F.R. 103.3
  • 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(2)
  • 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(3)(iii)
  • Flores v. Garland
  • Matter of L-A-C-
  • USCIS Policy Manual F.5(B)(2)

Cases in adjacent profiles