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 proposed an endeavor involving online education technology, including work related to STEM education, e-learning, and digital tools for student learning.
Field: online/STEM education technology · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive
“The determination of national importance does not focus on the importance of one's field or educational trends in general, but "focuses on the specific endeavor that the foreign national proposes to undertake."”
“none of the articles mention the Petitioner or her planned projects, or otherwise speak to the potential prospective impact of her specific proposed endeavor.”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- other · discounted
“none of the articles mention the Petitioner or her planned projects”
AAO decision text
Where this case turned
- Endeavor too vague · p1 — described as a job role, not a defined undertaking
- Field importance conflated with endeavor · p1 — argues the field matters, not the specific endeavor
Notable
This is the Petitioner's fourth attempt at review (appeal plus three prior motions), all dismissed; the AAO limited its review strictly to the latest decision under 8 C.F.R. 103.5(a)(1) and found the newly submitted general STEM/online-education articles did not constitute new facts specific to the petitioner's endeavor.
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
What this case teaches
Analyst reading of the decision text.
Petitioner submitted only general articles on STEM/online education importance, none mentioning her or her specific proposed endeavor, failing Dhanasar's specific-endeavor focus requirement; no new facts presented for a motion to reopen.
On motion to reopen, submit evidence specifically tied to your named endeavor and its prospective impact—generic field-importance articles cannot substitute for endeavor-specific proof.
vague
stem_positive_factor · field_advancement · economic_job_creation
person_focused
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