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.
A trauma surgeon and cancer researcher from South Korea proposed to continue research into breast cancer development and treatment using cancer genome analysis and bioinformatics tools in the United States.
Field: breast cancer surgery and research · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
Not addressed by Director, but AAO found record demonstrates the Petitioner qualifies as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree based on a PhD equivalency evaluation.
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
- certification membership · credited
- resume experience · credited
This record is one of thousands, each coded for the reasons it turned. A placement shows where your profile sits in that record, not what it predicts. See where your profile sits — 90 seconds →
Notable
All three prongs were found satisfied and the appeal sustained; a rare fully favorable decision where the Petitioner prevailed on every prong of the Dhanasar framework.
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.
- INA 203(b)(2)
What this case teaches
Analyst reading of the decision text.
Strong documented citation record and expert letters showing his research's dissemination and influence established both national importance and positioning, satisfying all three Dhanasar prongs.
Support impact claims with concrete evidence of citation frequency, dissemination, and expert corroboration linking specific research to broader field/public health benefits.
moderate
public_health · field_advancement
mixed
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