NIW Bearings
remandedAUG122021_01B52032021-08-12 · 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 sought to work in the U.S. for a top IT company as a Sales Manager/Customer Experience Representative performing B2B sales and support services.

Field: sales / IT business · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

EB-2 threshold — addressed

AAO found the Director never determined whether the Petitioner's occupation qualifies as a member of the professions, whether his Brazilian 'Lato Sensu' MBA is a foreign equivalent degree above baccalaureate, or whether his 'Technologist in Data Processing' credential meets the baccalaureate-equivalent-plus-five-years standard; remanded for these determinations, noting unresolved discrepancies between the petitioner's credential evaluation and AACRAO EDGE.

Prong 2 — well positionedestablished

we must also withdraw the Director's conclusion that the Petitioner is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

AAO decision text

Prong 3 — balance of factorsestablished

the Director did not sufficiently conduct an analysis of the third prong
further discussion of the balancing factors under this prong will serve no meaningful purpose

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

  • degree · discounted
    The Petitioner must resolve the above inconsistencies with independent, objective evidence pointing to where the truth lies.
    AAO decision text
  • certification membership · discounted
    the evaluator claims to be a member of AACRAO, he fails to address the discrepancies between EDGE's conclusions and his own
    AAO decision text

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Notable

This is a remand decision rather than a merits win/loss: the AAO withdrew the Director's decision for failing to resolve the underlying EB-2 classification (profession/advanced-degree equivalency and exceptional-ability criteria) and for withdrawing an unsupported positive finding on Dhanasar prong 2 (based on unresolved education issues) and an inadequate prong 3 analysis; ordered that any new adverse decision be certified back to AAO rather than requiring a new appeal fee.

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. 204.5(k)(2)
  • 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(3)(ii)
  • Matter of Ho
  • Poursina v. USCIS

What this case teaches

Analyst reading of the decision text.

Decisive factor

The Director failed to first resolve underlying EB-2 eligibility (advanced degree/exceptional ability) and did not properly conduct all three Dhanasar prongs, especially prong three, before denying.

Transferable lesson

Establish underlying EB-2 classification eligibility clearly and ensure adjudicators fully analyze all three Dhanasar prongs, including third-prong balancing, before any NIW denial.

Endeavor framing

vague

Evidence targeting

person_focused

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