The Petitioner, a computational mathematics researcher completing a doctorate, proposed to continue developing algorithms for large-scale computational systems, asserting applications in climate modeling, cancer research, energy, and aerospace, while also indicating he might pursue a machine-learning scientist position in industry.

Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive

“the record does not establish its national importance”

“The Petitioner provided insufficient detail and documentation to substantiate that his proposed endeavor would have this wide-ranging impact on U.S. society.”

“Generalized conclusory statements that do not identify a specific impact to the field have little probative value.”

“it is not clear whether the Petitioner will continue his prior university research or work in a private sector position, or both”

“their overall significance does not establish the national importance of the Petitioner's particular proposed”

AAO decision text

How the evidence was treated

• recommendation letter · discounted

  “In each case, the Petitioner provided only one support letter from a colleague to support a national level prospective impact”

  AAO decision text
• citations publications · discounted

  “the publications of the Petitioner's work were completed in tandem with several co-authors, raising uncertainty as to how his research can be distinguished”

  AAO decision text
• degree · credited

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

Notable

AAO found the record ambiguous as to whether the Petitioner's actual future endeavor was continued academic research or a private-sector machine-learning position, and criticized him for citing a wide array of unrelated industries (climate, cancer, energy, aerospace, banking) each supported by only a single letter, rather than a specific, well-defined endeavor as in Dhanasar itself.

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
• 8 C.F.R. 204.5(k)(2)
• Flores v. Garland
• Matter of Ho
• USCIS Policy Manual F.5(D)(2)

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