dismissedFEB182025_08B52032025-02-18 · 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 public policy advocate and project manager, proposed developing food security and nutrition policies, including launching Mobile Food Pharmacy Nutrition Pharmacies offering healthy food access, nutrition education, healthcare services, and recycling food waste into clean energy.
Field: public policy / food security and nutrition · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
Record shows Petitioner qualifies for EB-2 classification as an advanced degree professional; not disputed.
Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive
“Dr. J-N- does not specify the scope of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor or indicate that it would have global or national implications, or broader implications in her field indicative of national importance.”
“A-J- does not indicate that the Petitioner's project has been replicated in other areas or has otherwise had broader implications in her field.”
“our assessment of national importance does not focus on the importance of a field or national issues in general, but instead "focuses on the specific endeavor that the foreign national proposes to undertake."”
“the relevant evidence does not indicate that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has broader implications for her field commensurate with national importance.”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- recommendation letter · discounted
“does not discuss in detail how the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor would have broader implications in her field.”
AAO decision text - media · discounted
“our assessment of national importance does not focus on the importance of a field or national issues in general”
AAO decision text - certification membership · ignored
- awards · ignored
- degree · credited
Where this case turned
- Field importance conflated with endeavor · p1 — argues the field matters, not the specific endeavor
- Letters conclusory · p1 — letters praise skills in general terms without tracing specific impact
- Local, not national scope · p1 — impact confined to clients / a region
2,179coded 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
AAO noted that one support letter (B-O-A-O-'s) repeated verbatim portions of another letter (A-M-'s), which the AAO said detracted from its credibility.
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 L-A-C-
Cases in adjacent profiles
- The Petitioner, an aircraft mechanic and instructor, proposed to enhance aviation maintenance training programs, support
- The Petitioner seeks EB-2 classification as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree with a national inter
- The petitioner sought an EB-2 national interest waiver of the job offer requirement, but the substance of the proposed e
- The Beneficiary, sponsored by a private airline, sought EB-2 classification as an individual of exceptional ability in a
- The petitioner sought an EB-2 national interest waiver as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree; the sp