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, an AI and power/control systems researcher, proposed to continue developing novel machine learning algorithms to protect power systems and critical U.S. infrastructure from cyber threats.
Field: artificial intelligence / power systems engineering · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
Director found Petitioner qualified as an advanced degree professional; not disputed on appeal.
Prong 1 — national importanceestablished
Prong 2 — well positionedestablished
Prong 3 — balance of factorsestablished
How the evidence was treated
- recommendation letter · credited
- citations publications · credited
- degree · credited
- funding · credited
- resume experience · credited
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Notable
Rare fully sustained appeal reversing the Director on both prong 2 and prong 3, crediting DOE/NASA/AFRL-funded research and highly-cited publications as strong positive factors.
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.
- Flores v. Garland
What this case teaches
Analyst reading of the decision text.
Director's denial rested solely on prongs 2 and 3; AAO found strong STEM credentials, DOD/NASA-funded research, high citation rate, and corroborating expert letters sufficient to satisfy both prongs on de novo review.
Pair STEM PhD credentials with concrete evidence of funded government-lab projects, independent expert letters detailing specific research impact, and above-average citation metrics to satisfy prongs 2-3.
specific
critical_emerging_tech · national_security · stem_positive_factor
mixed
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