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 cardiology fellow completing an Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship, intended to continue clinical practice as a cardiologist while pursuing clinical outcomes research in non-invasive cardiology, advanced heart failure, and cardiac imaging.
Field: cardiology / advanced cardiac imaging · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
Director found, and AAO agreed, that the Petitioner qualifies as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree; this was undisputed on appeal.
Prong 1 — national importancenot established
“the record does not establish that her clinical work would impact the field of cardiology or the U.S. healthcare industry more broadly”
AAO decision text
Prong 2 — well positionedestablished
How the evidence was treated
- citations publications · discounted
“her research has been frequently cited . . . or otherwise served as an impetus for progress in the field”
AAO decision text - recommendation letter · credited
- other · credited
Where this case turned
- Local, not national scope · p1 — impact confined to clients / a region
Notable
The AAO faults the Director for conflating the national-importance analysis (prong 1) with the well-positioned analysis (prong 2), noting that citation/publication record is a prong 2 consideration, not prong 1, and remands with instructions to separately evaluate prospective impact under prong 1 and the petitioner's positioning under prong 2 before reaching prong 3.
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. 204.5(k)(2)
- INA 203(b)(2)
- INA 291
- Poursina v. USCIS
What this case teaches
Analyst reading of the decision text.
Director's decision failed to properly separate Dhanasar prongs 1 and 2, applying a retrospective 'well positioned' citation analysis to the prospective national-importance inquiry, requiring remand for correct application.
Distinguish prospective national importance (prong 1) from personal track record (prong 2); support prong 1 with forward-looking impact evidence, not just citation counts.
vague
public_health · field_advancement
mixed
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