The Petitioner proposed to develop and implement data-driven strategies using machine learning and probability theory to address critical issues in supply chain management and financial markets, aiming to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance resilience.

Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive

“the record does not establish its national importance.”

“the relevant question is not the importance of the field, industry, or profession in which the individual will work; instead, we focus on 'the specific endeavor that the foreign national proposes to undertake.'”

“the Petitioner improperly relies upon the importance of the industry to further establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor.”

“the record does not contain sufficient evidence to determine her proposed endeavor will result in substantial positive economic effects.”

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

• citations publications · discounted

  “evidence of the Petitioner's past success and experience is relevant to Dhanasar's prong two analysis... It does not establish the national importance of the proposed endeavor”

  AAO decision text
• other · discounted

  “the evidence provided was in the form of the names of the referenced articles and reports; not the printed articles themselves”

  AAO decision text
• recommendation letter · discounted

  “the letter does not provide details on how the Petitioner's proposed endeavor will provide these results, nor are these assertions supported by corroborating evidence.”

  AAO decision text
• resume experience · discounted

  “evidence of the Petitioner's past success and experience is relevant to Dhanasar's prong two analysis... It does not establish the national importance of the proposed endeavor”

  AAO decision text

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
• Local, not national scope · p1 — impact confined to clients / a region

Notable

The AAO found substantial merit under prong 1 but denied on national importance alone, explicitly reserving prongs 2 and 3. The Petitioner submitted a new recommendation letter on appeal; the AAO considered it but found it conclusory and unsupported. The AAO also noted that the Petitioner submitted only article titles rather than printed copies in response to the RFE, which undermined her evidentiary burden on the national importance of supply chain resilience research.

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.

• Section 291 of the Act

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