dismissedMAR312025_02B52032025-03-31 · 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 postdoctoral researcher in advanced materials engineering, proposed to develop solid-waste polymer and modified ion-exchange membrane technologies to recover metal resources (e.g., lithium) from wastewater and brine, and to remediate contaminated water.
Field: advanced materials engineering · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive
“we conclude that the Petitioner has not sufficiently demonstrated the national importance of her proposed endeavor under the first prong of the Dhanasar analytical framework.”
“merely working in an important field is insufficient to establish the national importance of the proposed endeavor.”
“The record lacks evidence from interested parties, such as the DOE or EPA, establishing they would use her research to a level that would be nationally important.”
“the Petitioner has not sufficiently demonstrated that her specific proposed endeavor has significant potential to employ U.S. workers or otherwise offers substantial positive economic effects for our nation.”
“It is insufficient to claim an endeavor has national importance or would create a broad impact without providing evidence to substantiate such claims.”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- recommendation letter · discounted
“the letters of support focuse[d] on her background instead of the proposed endeavor.”
AAO decision text - citations publications · discounted
“evidence of her past research does not by itself establish national importance.”
AAO decision text - other · discounted
“none of the articles and reports mention the proposed endeavor and the impact it would have on her field.”
AAO decision text - patents · ignored
Where this case turned
- Economic claims unsupported · p1 — job/revenue projections with no corroborating basis
- 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
AAO credited substantial merit of the endeavor but found national importance unestablished, distinguishing between field importance (STEM, water remediation, critical/emerging technologies list) and the specific endeavor's prospective impact; cited its own Dhanasar precedent regarding teaching activities lacking broader field impact.
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
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