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, an ophthalmology researcher, sought to continue research in the United States on the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases, including work on retinal tissues at a university's ophthalmology department.
Field: ophthalmology · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
AAO found she qualifies as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree based on academic credentials evaluation of her MD, PhD, and master's degrees.
Prong 1 — national importanceestablished
“the record demonstrates that the Petitioner...meets the first prong under the analytical framework set for in Matter of Dhanasar”
AAO decision text
Prong 2 — well positionedestablished
“The evidence, when considered in the aggregate, establishes that she is well positioned to advance her proposed research in the United States.”
AAO decision text
Prong 3 — balance of factorsestablished
“we find that she offers contributions of such value that, on balance, they would benefit the United States even assuming that other qualified U.S. workers are available.”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- recommendation letter · credited
- citations publications · credited
- degree · credited
- resume experience · credited
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Notable
AAO sustained the appeal, finding the Petitioner met all three Dhanasar prongs even though the Director had only addressed prongs two and three; the AAO also noted, on its own initiative, that the first prong and threshold advanced-degree requirement were satisfied though not addressed below.
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.
Prong 1 was undisputed; AAO found expert letters detailing concrete clinical research advances and their adoption/citation sufficient for prongs 2 and 3.
Pair strong credentials with detailed expert letters explaining specific research findings' real-world clinical impact to satisfy prongs 2 and 3.
moderate
field_advancement · public_health
mixed
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