The Petitioner, an executive in nonprofit management, proposed to continue managing and holding executive/board positions with several nonprofit organizations promoting Korean culture and diversity in the United States.

Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive

“we concluded that the Petitioner's description of his proposed endeavor lacked detail, such that we were unable to determine that his work will have substantial merit and national importance”

“he provides no information about how his proposed activities and roles with these organizations would advance his proposed endeavor of promoting Korean culture and diversity”

“it is the Petitioner's burden to show that his proposed activities with the and other organizations will have broader implications in the field of the management of nonprofit organizations”

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

• certification membership · discounted

  “they do not establish that he has been recognized for achievements and significant contributions to the field of nonprofit management”

  AAO decision text
• recommendation letter · discounted

  “letters such as these are less probative evidence of recognition than contemporaneous recognition honoring a specific achievement”

  AAO decision text
• resume experience · discounted

  “he provides no information about how his proposed activities and roles with these organizations would advance his proposed endeavor”

  AAO decision text
• business plan · ignored

  “this evidence is not relevant to our analysis under the first prong of the Dhanasar framework”

  AAO decision text

Where this case turned

• 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

This is a second AAO decision in the same case following a prior remand; the AAO explicitly withdrew the Director's finding that Petitioner met prong one and instead found it dispositive against him, while noting the exceptional-ability and NIW grounds were each independent and alternate bases for dismissal.

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)
• 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(3)(ii)
• INA 203(b)(2)

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