dismissedJUN022021_01B52032021-06-02 · appeal · Nebraska 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 mechanical engineer with a Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering, proposed to continue her research on developing theoretical, experimental, and numerical methods to simulate, optimize, and design mechanical products, with claimed relevance to fluid dynamics applications in aviation and underwater vehicles.
Field: mechanical engineering · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive
“the Petitioner did not specifically describe her endeavor”
“Instead, the Petitioner broadly claimed to continue her research in unidentified methods and for unspecified mechanical products.”
“the job letter reflects a general overview of the job position of a mechanical engineer”
“the omicsonline.org screenshot relates to a broad overview of the mechanical engineering field and occupation rather establishing how her proposed endeavor possesses substantial merit”
“The Petitioner did not differentiate her past research from her prospective endeavor, and she did not demonstrate the nexus between her proposed endeavor and the possible effect on the business aviation market or underwater drones.”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- recommendation letter · discounted
“her advisory opinion letters discuss her prior work without indicating the value of her proposed endeavor”
AAO decision text - media · discounted
“relates to a broad overview of the mechanical engineering field and occupation rather establishing how her proposed endeavor possesses substantial merit”
AAO decision text - resume experience · discounted
“the job letter reflects a general overview of the job position of a mechanical engineer ... rather than adequately identifying her exact endeavor”
AAO decision text - degree · credited
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
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Notable
The Director had found Dhanasar's first prong satisfied 'without explaining his conclusion'; the AAO explicitly withdrew that finding and reached the opposite result, dismissing on prong one alone while declining to reach prongs two and three.
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.
- INA 203(b)(2)
- INA 291
- Poursina v. USCIS
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