NIW Bearings
dismissedAUG262024_06B52032024-08-26 · 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, a clinical and counseling psychologist, sought to develop a business of early childhood education centers in Florida featuring a proprietary 'Early Talent Development and Improvement System' and a full-time child psychologist.

Field: clinical and counseling psychology · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

Prong 2 — well positionednot established · dispositive

the record did not establish she is licensed as a psychologist in the United States or that she has met the educational requirements to pursue her proposed endeavor
In its totality, the record does not demonstrate that the Petitioner is well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor to work as a clinical psychologist and counselor.
she does not address the Director's concerns regarding the lack of evidence demonstrating she obtained the appropriate licensing and completed the educational requirements to work as a clinical psychologist and counselor in Florida

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

  • business plan · ignored
  • recommendation letter · ignored
  • resume experience · discounted
    she does not address the Director's concerns regarding the lack of evidence demonstrating she obtained the appropriate licensing
    AAO decision text
  • certification membership · discounted
    she does not address the Director's concerns regarding the lack of evidence demonstrating she obtained the appropriate licensing and completed the educational requirements
    AAO decision text
  • degree · discounted
    the record did not establish...that she has met the educational requirements to pursue her proposed endeavor
    AAO decision text

Where this case turned

  • Education alone insufficient · p2degrees offered as positioning — credentials are not a track record
  • Record of success insufficient · p2a claimed track record the documents do not establish
181coded 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 Director found prong 1 (substantial merit and national importance) satisfied but denied on prong 2 due to lack of evidence of U.S. psychology licensure/educational credentialing in Florida; AAO affirmed solely on prong 2 and expressly declined to reach prongs 1 and 3.

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
  • Flores v. Garland
  • Matter of E-M-
  • Matter of L-A-C-

Cases in adjacent profiles