NIW Bearings
dismissedJAN112024_08B52032024-01-11 · 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 sought to create a virtual reality education tool/product for use in schools, including a student portal and VR-based lesson content for students.

Field: virtual reality education technology · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive

the record did not establish the national importance of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor, as required by the first prong of the Dhanasar framework
the record contains very little specifics about the proposed product, such as what it will look like, what capabilities it will have, and any details about the hardware, software, or content
this is not probative, credible evidence that helps show that the use of this product has the potential to have a broad impact on education
These lesson plans do not provide support for the claims...that the proposed...product will be "unique and innovative,"

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

  • business plan · discounted
    the business plan states that the product has not yet been created
    AAO decision text
  • funding · discounted
    they have not yet provided any money nor that they have provided only nonbinding statements of intent
    AAO decision text
  • recommendation letter · discounted
    the letter is unsigned, undated, lacks details about the letter writer's qualifications as an expert on this topic
    AAO decision text
  • motion resubmission · discounted
    the Petitioner copies and resubmits large sections of text from her initial filing, the response to the request for evidence
    AAO decision text
  • other · discounted
    they relate to a different educational program and do not establish any relevant facts related to the proposed project
    AAO decision text

Where this case turned

  • Economic claims unsupported · p1job/revenue projections with no corroborating basis
  • Endeavor too vague · p1described as a job role, not a defined undertaking
2,501coded 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 declined to reach prongs 2 and 3 both on the underlying appeal and again on motion, citing Bagamasbad for not making advisory findings on unnecessary issues. The petitioner's own initial filing had mischaracterized her relationship to the company she founded (it was initially presented as a prior employer owned by another individual), though this was not dispositive.

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)(i)
  • 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)
  • Matter of Coelho

Cases in adjacent profiles