dismissedAPR302025_03B52032025-04-30 · appeal
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 postdoctoral researcher with a foreign medical degree, proposed to continue research on the body's immunological reaction to transplantation in order to improve tolerance of kidney transplantation and reduce organ failure.
Field: medicine/immunology (kidney transplantation research) · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
Prong 2 — well positionednot established · dispositive
“The record does not sufficiently establish how she has the skills, knowledge, and record of success to advance research in immunological reactions to transplantation”
“the plan does not provide details regarding the specifics of how the research will be conducted, the scope of the Petitioner's role in the research”
“the record does not establish that her previous work demonstrates progress toward achieving the proposed endeavor”
“interest in her previous research is insufficient to establish interest in her proposed endeavor; to research immunological reactions to transplantation”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- resume experience · discounted
“a petitioner must support assertions with relevant, probative, and credible evidence”
AAO decision text - citations publications · discounted
“interest in her previous research is insufficient to establish interest in her proposed endeavor”
AAO decision text - recommendation letter · discounted
- business plan · discounted
“the plan does not provide details regarding the specifics of how the research will be conducted”
AAO decision text - degree · credited
Where this case turned
- Business plan speculative · p2 — projections without a documented basis or steps
- No progress evidence · p2 — no documented movement toward the endeavor since filing
- Record of success insufficient · p2 — a claimed track record the documents do not establish
1,312coded 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
The AAO explicitly disagreed with several of SCOPS' rationales (e.g., dismissing citation ranking as irrelevant, agreeing co-authorship does not undercut standing), yet still dismissed the appeal on prong two because the petitioner's prior research (dermatology, obstetrics, orthopedics) did not relate to the proposed transplant-immunology endeavor.
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)
- Flores v. Garland
- USCIS Policy Manual F.5(D)(1)
Cases in adjacent profiles
- The Petitioner, a senior principal biostatistician, proposes to develop innovative statistical and machine-learning meth
- The Petitioner proposed to use advanced deep learning and machine learning models to create efficient, safe, and well-pe
- The Petitioner proposes to advance machine learning methods for the design and optimization of advanced metamaterials an
- The Petitioner, a postdoctoral chemist, proposed to continue developing high-performance materials and novel synthetic m
- The Petitioner proposes to design novel sensor data processing methods and machine learning algorithms for smart wearabl