The Petitioner sought to continue research and doctoral studies developing AI-driven precipitation forecasting models, with a focus on flood and river management, while working on NASA- and DOD-funded projects.

Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive

“SCOPS determined the Petitioner did not establish that the proposed endeavor would have any implications beyond the university or employer for which the Petitioner would work”

“The Petitioner has not submitted evidence documenting or supporting these claims.”

“Without more, the Petitioner has not shown that her role testing a model developed by another investigator or team rises to a level of national importance”

“the Petitioner has not demonstrated that her proposed endeavor wi 11 benefit the entities beyond where the Petitioner is employed and/or their collaborators”

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

• degree · credited
• funding · discounted

  “The Petitioner has not submitted evidence documenting or supporting these claims.”

  AAO decision text
• resume experience · discounted

  “the Petitioner has not shown that her role testing a model developed by another investigator or team rises to a level of national importance”

  AAO decision text
• awards · discounted

Where this case turned

• Economic claims unsupported · p1 — job/revenue projections with no corroborating basis
• Employer-specific benefit · p1 — "work furthers my company's product" — value accrues to one firm
• Endeavor too vague · p1 — described as a job role, not a defined undertaking
• Local, not national scope · p1 — impact confined to clients / a region

Notable

AAO flagged an unresolved inconsistency about whether Petitioner had actually earned her PhD (she was described alternately as a doctoral candidate/student and later claimed a postdoctoral job offer implying PhD completion), citing Matter of Ho, but this did not affect the threshold EB-2 finding since her Master's degree sufficed. The case also invokes Matter of Chawathe, Christo's, and Bagamasbad (declining to reach unnecessary issues) alongside Dhanasar.

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)(12)
• 8 C.F.R. 103.3
• Flores v. Garland
• INA 203(b)(2)
• Matter of Ho

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