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 sought to work as a manager and travel advisor for her own tourism business.
Field: tourism/travel advisory · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — not met
Petitioner failed to establish at least three of the six exceptional-ability criteria; her economics degree was not related to travel advising, and her association membership did not qualify as a professional association.
How the evidence was treated
- degree · discounted
“The Petitioner has not indicated which of these courses relate to tourism, her claimed area of exceptional ability.”
AAO decision text - certification membership · discounted
“the record does not show Global Business Travel Association requires that its membership body be comprised of individuals who have earned a U.S. baccalaureate degree”
AAO decision text
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Notable
The AAO dismissed the appeal solely on the threshold exceptional-ability classification (finding the degree unrelated to the endeavor and the claimed professional association not qualifying), and expressly reserved judgment on all three Dhanasar prongs, declining to reach the NIW analysis at all.
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
- Kazarian v. USCIS
- Matter of L-A-C-
- Matter of O-R-E-
- Matter of R-A-M-
- Poursina v. USCIS
- USCIS Policy Manual F.5(B)(2)
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