NIW Bearings
dismissedFEB262024_01B52032024-02-26 · combined · 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 self-employed electrician and entrepreneur, sought EB-2 classification as an individual of exceptional ability with a national interest waiver, though the specific proposed U.S. endeavor was never reached in this decision.

Field: electrical trade / entrepreneurship · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

EB-2 threshold — not met

AAO previously found petitioner met only two of six exceptional-ability criteria (academic record and license), failing to establish 10 years full-time experience (B), a qualifying salary (D), or professional association membership (E); motion did not provide new facts or legal error to disturb this finding.

How the evidence was treated

  • resume experience · discounted
    the letter from ... does not indicate that this was full-time employment
    AAO decision text
  • motion resubmission · discounted
    the Petitioner does not present new facts supported by affidavits or other documentary evidence
    AAO decision text

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Notable

The AAO never reached the Dhanasar national-interest-waiver prongs because it had previously found the petitioner ineligible at the threshold exceptional-ability stage (failing to meet 3 of 6 criteria under 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(3)(ii)); this decision is limited to dismissing combined motions to reopen and reconsider that threshold finding, citing heavy burden standards from INS v. Abudu and Matter of Coelho for reopening, and Matter of O-S-G- for reconsideration, finding the petitioner merely restated prior arguments without new facts or legal error.

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. 103.5(a)(1)(ii)
  • 8 C.F.R. 103.5(a)(2)
  • 8 C.F.R. 103.5(a)(3)
  • 8 C.F.R. 103.5(a)(4)
  • 8 C.F.R. 204.5(g)(1)
  • 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(2)
  • 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(3)(ii)
  • Matter of Coelho
  • Matter of L-A-C-
  • Matter of O-S-G-
  • Poursina v. USCIS
  • USCIS Policy Manual F.5(B)(2)

What this case teaches

Analyst reading of the decision text.

Decisive factor

Petitioner failed to submit qualifying employer letters proving 10 years full-time experience (relying instead on self-attested ETA 750), and motion raised no new facts or legal error, so only 2 of 6 exceptional-ability criteria were met, barring EB-2 eligibility before any NIW analysis.

Transferable lesson

Secure compliant third-party employer letters specifying full-time hours/duties for all experience periods; motions must cite specific legal/factual errors, not merely restate prior arguments.

Endeavor framing

vague

Evidence targeting

person_focused

Cases in adjacent profiles