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, a structural engineering researcher holding a PhD in Civil Engineering, proposed to continue researching the resistance and structural health monitoring of bridges, concrete structures, and related infrastructure, including developing new design strategies and monitoring approaches for corrosion and structural safety.
Field: structural/civil engineering · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
The Director found, and the AAO agreed, that the Petitioner qualifies as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree based on his PhD in Civil Engineering.
Prong 1 — national importanceestablished
Prong 2 — well positionedestablished
Prong 3 — balance of factorsestablished
How the evidence was treated
- citations publications · credited
- recommendation letter · credited
- resume experience · credited
- degree · credited
- contract revenue · discounted
“Petitioner had not submitted documentation to show that support”
AAO decision text
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Notable
The AAO explicitly rejected the Director's approach of evaluating the Petitioner's specific job offer/employment terms (one-year appointment contingent on external funding) rather than the underlying proposed endeavor, framing the endeavor as independent of any particular job. All three Dhanasar prongs, denied below, were reversed by the AAO on appeal, resulting in a full sustain.
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.
- INA 203(b)(2)
- Poursina v. USCIS
- Section 291 of the Act
What this case teaches
Analyst reading of the decision text.
AAO found research on structural damage resistance had broad national applicability beyond individual jobs, evidenced by extensive publications/citations, overturning Director's narrow employer-specific view.
Frame research endeavor as field-wide and employer-independent, using publication/citation record to show broad, non-localized impact on national infrastructure concerns.
moderate
field_advancement · us_competitiveness · other
mixed
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