NIW Bearings
remandedFEB082024_08B52032024-02-08 · 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 continue her career as a project manager and business strategist working with startups across different economic segments, helping them with technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Field: information technology and telecommunications / project management · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

EB-2 threshold — addressed

The Director found the Petitioner qualified as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree (U.S. MBA); this was not disputed on appeal.

How the evidence was treated

  • recommendation letter · ignored
  • business plan · ignored
  • resume experience · ignored
  • other · ignored

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Notable

The AAO remanded not because of a substantive prong failure but because the Acting Director issued two contradictory RFEs (one erroneously stating the advanced-degree requirement was unmet, the other reversing that finding), made contradictory statements about whether the second Dhanasar prong was satisfied, and issued a denial that merely listed Dhanasar factors without applying them to the record or explaining deficiencies, violating 8 C.F.R. 103.3(a)(1)(i). A footnote notes the Petitioner filed and was approved on a subsequent NIW petition after this appeal was filed.

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)
  • Poursina v. USCIS

What this case teaches

Analyst reading of the decision text.

Decisive factor

Acting Director issued contradictory RFEs and a denial listing Dhanasar factors without applying them to the evidence, violating the requirement to explain specific reasons for denial under 8 C.F.R. § 103.3(a)(1)(i).

Transferable lesson

Procedural adjudicator errors (contradictory RFEs, unexplained denials) can secure remand independent of the underlying merits strength of the NIW case.

Endeavor framing

vague

National-importance theory

critical_emerging_tech · economic_growth_generic

Evidence targeting

mixed

Cases in adjacent profiles