NIW Bearings
dismissedAPR212025_10B52032025-04-21 · combined

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 decision does not describe the substance of the proposed endeavor; it addresses only procedural aspects of a combined motion to reopen and reconsider a prior NIW denial.

Read the decision (uscis.gov)

Prong 3 — balance of factorsnot established · dispositive

the Petitioner did not address the third Dhanasar prong in his appeal-or his prior combined motion-thereby waiving that issue.
did not address or contest [SCOPS'] specific findings regarding the third [Dhanasar] prong," thereby waiving the issue, which is dispositive.

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

  • motion resubmission · discounted
    the motion to reopen before us does not present a new fact supported by documentary evidence material to the issue of whether we erred
    AAO decision text

Where this case turned

  • NEW issue waived procedurally · p3
1coded decisions carry the failure named in this record. A placement shows where your profile sits among them, not what it predicts.See where your profile sits — 90 seconds

Notable

This is a purely procedural motion decision: the AAO dismissed both the motion to reopen (no new facts material to the latest decision) and the motion to reconsider (Petitioner waived the dispositive third Dhanasar prong by failing to contest it in the appeal and prior motion). No substantive merits analysis of prongs 1 or 2 is undertaken in this decision; the AAO incorporates prior decisions by reference and emphasizes that new 2024 evidence could not establish eligibility because it post-dated the October 2022 filing and fell outside the motion's permissible scope.

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. 103.2(b)(1)
  • 8 C.F.R. 103.5(a)(2)
  • 8 C.F.R. 103.5(a)(3)
  • 8 C.F.R. 103.5(a)(4)
  • Matter of Izummi
  • Matter of Katigbak
  • Matter of O-R-E-
  • Matter of R-A-M-

What this case teaches

Analyst reading of the decision text.

Decisive factor

Petitioner repeatedly failed to address SCOPS' and AAO's findings on the third Dhanasar prong across appeal and prior motion, waiving the dispositive issue; new motion also lacked new facts or identified legal error.

Transferable lesson

On appeal or motion, explicitly rebut every dispositive ground cited by USCIS, including the third Dhanasar prong, or risk waiver and summary dismissal regardless of merits.

Endeavor framing

vague

Evidence targeting

mixed

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