NIW Bearings
dismissedJAN242022_01B52032022-01-24 · 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, an IT specialist, proposed to work 'in-house' for U.S. companies of various sizes, developing, implementing, and managing information technology systems and projects.

Field: information technology · Read the decision (uscis.gov)

Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive

the record does not establish how the endeavor would have broader implications in terms of significant potential to employ U.S. workers or have substantial positive economic effects, beyond the Petitioner's employer and clients
he would "offer his services for companies as an in-house [sic]," without elaborating on how providing services for a specific employer would have broader implications to rise to the level of national importance
The letter authors' discussion of the Petitioner's prior accomplishments are material to the second Dhanasar prong...not material to the first prong
the Petitioner's "mainly past achievements" and qualifications referenced on appeal...are not material to whether the specific endeavor may have national importance

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

  • recommendation letter · discounted
    material to the second Dhanasar prong...not material to whether the specific endeavor may have national importance
    AAO decision text
  • resume experience · discounted
    do not address how the prospective "specific endeavor that the foreign national proposes to undertake" may have national importance
    AAO decision text
  • certification membership · discounted
    do not address how the prospective endeavor may have national importance
    AAO decision text
  • awards · discounted
    does not address the prospective endeavor and how it may rise to the level of national importance
    AAO decision text
  • other · discounted
    may not establish eligibility at the time of filing
    AAO decision text

Where this case turned

  • Employer-specific benefit · p1"work furthers my company's product" — value accrues to one firm
  • Endeavor too vague · p1described as a job role, not a defined undertaking
  • Field importance conflated with endeavor · p1argues the field matters, not the specific endeavor
746coded 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

The AAO clarified that the Director had not improperly limited national importance analysis to geographic scope, and separately rejected reliance on a company the petitioner founded after the filing date, citing Matter of Michelin Tire Corp. for the eligibility-at-filing rule.

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. 103.2(b)(1)
  • INA 203(b)(2)
  • Matter of L-A-C-

Cases in adjacent profiles