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 mechanical engineer, proposed to continue contributing to the design and development of advanced building intelligence and energy-smart building technologies, analyzing environmental data to improve energy efficiency and reliability.
Field: mechanical engineering / energy-smart building systems · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
Director found Petitioner qualified for EB-2 classification as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree; this was not disputed.
Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive
“the Petitioner's description of his proposed endeavor was vague”
“Simply showing that he is working in an important field is insufficient to establish his proposed endeavor's national importance.”
“The record lacks detailed evidence regarding the Petitioner's planned projects or any other meaningful information about his endeavor.”
AAO decision text
Prong 2 — well positionednot established
“Nor has he demonstrated that he is well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor”
AAO decision text
Prong 3 — balance of factorsnot established
“on balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the requirements of a job offer, particularly where, as here, he has not adequately articulated what his endeavor actually is”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- other · discounted
“does not reference the Petitioner, his work, or his proposed endeavor”
AAO decision text - motion resubmission · discounted
“submits a lengthy brief reiterating the same arguments and evidence already on record”
AAO decision text
Where this case turned
- 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
- Endeavor too vague · p2 — described as a job role, not a defined undertaking
- Derivative of Prong 1/2 failure · p3 — prong three fails only because prongs one or two did — no independent ground
Notable
AAO explicitly adopts and affirms the Director's decision under the Burbano doctrine rather than conducting independent analysis, citing multiple circuit court cases supporting that practice; Petitioner failed to specifically rebut Director's grounds for denial on appeal.
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
- Chen v. INS
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