A nurse with a master's degree proposed to work in U.S. hospitals to familiarize herself with the healthcare system, then become a nursing professor, conduct research, and possibly pursue a doctorate in education.

Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive

“Overall, we have insufficient information concerning the proposed endeavor with which to determine whether it has national importance because the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has not been clearly defined.”

“we conclude that the lack of specificity in the proposed endeavor inhibits a proper examination of the endeavor's national importance.”

“shortages of qualified workers are directly addressed by the U.S. Department of Labor through the labor certification process.”

“the relevant question is not the importance of the industry or profession in which the individual will work; instead we focus on the "the specific endeavor that the foreign national proposes to undertake."”

“Specifically, how one nurse will improve a national shortage or will trigger substantial positive economic impacts has not been explained.”

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

• recommendation letter · discounted

  “they do not discuss her specific proposed endeavor or explain why it has national importance.”

  AAO decision text
• other · discounted

  “they are of limited value in this matter, as the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor is unclear.”

  AAO decision text
• resume experience · discounted

  “the Petitioner's knowledge, skills, education, and experience are considerations under Dhanasar's second prong”

  AAO decision text
• other · discounted

  “the Petitioner provided insufficient evidence demonstrating that she will work in one of these areas in the future”

  AAO decision text

Where this case turned

• Economic claims unsupported · p1 — job/revenue projections with no corroborating basis
• Endeavor too vague · p1 — described as a job role, not a defined undertaking
• Field importance conflated with endeavor · p1 — argues the field matters, not the specific endeavor
• Occupational shortage argument rejected · p1 — argues a labor shortage — the labor-certification question, not Dhanasar

Notable

The Petitioner's proposed endeavor combined multiple, sequential/uncertain career paths (staff nurse, professor, researcher, doctoral student) without a clear timeline, which the AAO treated as fatal vagueness rather than reaching the merits of national importance substantively; the AAO also referenced HUBZones/opportunity zones and White House workforce initiatives as unsuccessful attempts to establish national importance.

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
• Poursina v. USCIS

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