dismissedJUL172024_02B52032024-07-17 · 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, a soccer coach, planned to work as a sports manager and create a business offering a children's soccer training program using a methodology she developed, partnering with sports brands and healthcare industry professionals.
Field: sports management / soccer coaching · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
Director found she qualified for EB-2 classification as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree; AAO agreed and this was not contested on appeal.
Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive
“neither J-M-Cnor B-S- indicate that the "little kickers" program was adopted by other institutions or otherwise made an impact on the field of soccer or sports management beyond the”
“Her business plans also contained no financial analysis or other information regarding the specific economic impact of her sports management work.”
“our assessment of national importance does not focus on the importance of issues to the field in general.”
“The Petitioner has not shown how her work as an individual sports manager would alleviate any shortage in the industry.”
“A-J-R- does not specify how the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor would impact the work of NP AP A and HHS, the broader health benefits of physical activity”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- recommendation letter · discounted
“does not specify how the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor would impact the work of NPAPA and HHS”
AAO decision text - business plan · discounted
“business plans also contained no financial analysis or other information regarding the specific economic impact”
AAO decision text - degree · credited
Where this case turned
- Economic claims unsupported · p1 — job/revenue projections with no corroborating basis
- Field importance conflated with endeavor · p1 — argues the field matters, not the specific endeavor
- Letters conclusory · p1 — letters praise skills in general terms without tracing specific impact
- Local, not national scope · p1 — impact confined to clients / a region
- Occupational shortage argument rejected · p1 — argues a labor shortage — the labor-certification question, not Dhanasar
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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. 103.3
- Flores v. Garland
- Matter of L-A-C-
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