NIW Bearings
dismissedJAN212025_04B52032025-01-21 · 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, who worked as a marketing and commercial manager in business administration, sought EB-2 classification and a national interest waiver, but the decision does not reach the substance of his proposed endeavor because it turned on threshold eligibility.

Field: business administration / marketing and commercial management · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

EB-2 threshold — not met

Petitioner failed to establish either an advanced degree (foreign bachelor's plus five years of progressive experience supported by employer letters) or exceptional ability (at least three of six regulatory criteria), largely because supporting letters came from coworkers/colleagues rather than current or former employers and other evidence (salary data, recognition letters) was found insufficient.

How the evidence was treated

  • degree · discounted
    the new academic evaluation did not constitute a new fact or evidence with respect to this EB-2 classification requirement
    AAO decision text
  • resume experience · discounted
    the letters the Petitioner submitted on motion (with one exception) were from his colleagues or coworkers, and not from his current or former employers
    AAO decision text
  • recommendation letter · discounted
    they did not show how the impact of his work, achievements and recognitions went beyond the private employer he had worked for
    AAO decision text
  • motion resubmission · discounted
    Resubmission of essentially the same evidence on motion did not establish any new facts that might warrant a different conclusion
    AAO decision text

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Notable

The AAO expressly declined to reach the Dhanasar national interest waiver analysis because the Petitioner failed to establish threshold EB-2 eligibility (advanced degree or exceptional ability); the case was resolved entirely on procedural motion-to-reopen/reconsider grounds under 8 C.F.R. 103.5, with the underlying I-140 denial itself not under appeal.

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)(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)
  • Matter of Coelho
  • USCIS Policy Manual F.5(B)(2)

Cases in adjacent profiles