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 journalist, proposed to research and write on social equity issues affecting underserved Latino immigrant communities, monetize this content, and also teach/mentor emerging journalists.
Field: journalism · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
The Director found the Petitioner qualified as an advanced-degree professional; this was not disputed on appeal.
Prong 1 — national importancenot established · dispositive
“The Petitioner has not demonstrated that his proposed endeavor has national importance.”
“the Petitioner does not explain how his particular endeavor will specifically monetize the economy, employ U.S. citizens, or advance the field of journalism.”
“the impact of publication is speculative.”
“the significance of journalism in shaping the national identity and promoting informed citizenship in the United States cannot be overstated.”
AAO decision text
How the evidence was treated
- business plan · discounted
“The Petitioner's professional plan states vaguely that he plans to monetize his journalistic endeavor but offers no projections”
AAO decision text - recommendation letter · discounted
“the submission of letters from experts supporting a petition is not presumptive evidence of eligibility”
AAO decision text
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
The Director found substantial merit but not national importance and never reached prongs two or three; the Petitioner incorrectly argued that the Director's silence on those prongs meant they were conceded, and the AAO expressly rejected that argument as it deemed the first-prong failure dispositive.
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
- Matter of Caron Int'l
- Matter of L-A-C-
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