The Petitioner, an energy policy researcher, proposed to continue research on the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and on the fiscal systems underlying the oil and gas industry, while also seeking research-analyst or consulting positions with energy companies.

Prong 1 — national importanceestablished

Prong 2 — well positionednot established · dispositive

“he does not explain how the Petitioner's findings have affected the oil industry, have impacted the development of renewable energy resources, or otherwise constitute a record of success in his field.”

“the Petitioner has not demonstrated that the number of citations received by his articles reflects a level of interest in his work from relevant parties sufficient to meet Dhanasar's second prong.”

“the record does not show that he has published or presented any research in his field from 2014 until he filed the petition in May 2018, so as to demonstrate continued progress towards achieving his proposed endeavor.”

“the record does not show that the Petitioner (rather than one of the aforementioned professors) was mainly responsible for obtaining fonding for the research project.”

“he has not sufficiently demonstrated that his published and presented work has served as an impetus for progress in the energy policy field or that it has generated substantial positive discourse in the petroleum industry.”

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

• recommendation letter · discounted

  “he does not explain how the Petitioner's findings have affected the oil industry, have impacted the development of renewable energy resources, or otherwise constitute a record of success in his field.”

  AAO decision text
• citations publications · discounted

  “the Petitioner has not demonstrated that the number of citations received by his articles reflects a level of interest in his work from relevant parties sufficient to meet Dhanasar's second prong.”

  AAO decision text
• resume experience · discounted

  “he did not provide examples how the Petitioner's energy policy research has influenced the petroleum industry, has served as an impetus for progress or generated positive discourse in his field.”

  AAO decision text
• funding · discounted

  “the record does not show that the Petitioner (rather than one of the aforementioned professors) was mainly responsible for obtaining fonding for the research project.”

  AAO decision text
• degree · credited

Where this case turned

• Citations insufficient · p2 — citation counts without qualitative account of impact
• Funding absent · p2 — no documented funding or resources behind the plan
• Letters conclusory · p2 — letters praise skills in general terms without tracing specific impact
• No progress evidence · p2 — no documented movement toward the endeavor since filing
• Record of success insufficient · p2 — a claimed track record the documents do not establish

Notable

Although the AAO ultimately found the Petitioner's proposed energy policy research met prong one's national importance requirement, it separately found in a footnote that his proposed consulting and project management work for specific companies did NOT meet national importance because its benefit would be limited to his employer or clients, illustrating cross-prong/component-level failure reasoning (employer_specific_benefit) that did not affect the overall prong-one outcome. The AAO also questioned the reliability of Google Scholar citation data and a Scientometrics article the Petitioner submitted to support his citation record, finding the sources did not fit his field or actually support his claims.

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)
• Poursina v. USCIS

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