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, an associate professor holding a Ph.D. in computer science, proposed to work as an assistant teaching professor in computing/information science in the U.S. and conduct research applying complex network analysis to topics such as COVID-19 diffusion, dengue epidemic spread, software development team composition, and detection of covert/terrorist networks.
Field: complex networks / computer science · Read the decision (uscis.gov)
EB-2 threshold — addressed
Director already found Petitioner qualified as an advanced-degree professional; not disputed on appeal.
Prong 1 — national importanceestablished
Prong 2 — well positionedestablished
Prong 3 — balance of factorsestablished
How the evidence was treated
- recommendation letter · credited
- citations publications · credited
- degree · credited
“a degree in and of itself is not a basis to determine that a person is well positioned to advance a proposed endeavor”
AAO decision text
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Notable
Unusual remand posture: rather than affirming or reversing on the merits, the AAO found the Director failed to adequately analyze the evidence under all three Dhanasar prongs (mischaracterizing the endeavor, overlooking citation evidence and degree, and failing to address third-prong balancing factors) and remanded for a proper individualized analysis, expressly declining to opine on the ultimate outcome.
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
- Flores v. Garland
What this case teaches
Analyst reading of the decision text.
Director failed to properly identify the specific endeavor, analyze full evidentiary record under all three Dhanasar prongs, and explain the reasoning, requiring remand for individualized reconsideration.
Ensure adjudicators (and petitioners) frame the endeavor specifically and address all Dhanasar factors individually, not just economic impact or occupational title generalities.
moderate
field_advancement · public_health
mixed
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