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EB-2 National Interest Waiver — Merits Decision

2025-06-27·DISMISSED·IN RE: 38281657

Underlying petition: DENIED ·

Legal elements discussed — Matter of Dhanasar

Prong 1 — Substantial Merit & National Importance

PASS

Petitioner argued: proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance

Evidence type: letters of support, NSF funding, government reports

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finding: ACCEPTED

As the Petitioner has demonstrated both the substantial merit and national importance of his proposed endeavor, he has established that he meets the first prong of the Dhanasar framework.

Decision PDF, p. 3Open source PDF

Prong 2 — Well Positioned to Advance the Endeavor

FAIL

Petitioner argued: well-positioned to advance proposed endeavor

Evidence type: education, work experience, publications, citations, funding

USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT

When viewing the totality of the record, we determine that it does not demonstrate that the Petitioner is well-positioned to advance his proposed endeavor, and he has not established that he satisfies the second prong of the Dhanasar framework.

Decision PDF, p. 5Open source PDF

Prong 3 — Balancing the Waiver's Benefits

FAIL

Petitioner argued: waiver would benefit the United States

Evidence type: assertions of urgency, citations, future plans

USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT

For the reasons discussed, the Petitioner has not shown that it would be beneficial to waive the labor certification process.

Decision PDF, p. 6Open source PDF

What this decision can’t tell you

This decision comes from a case that was denied and then appealed. Every case here is in that position — it cannot be used to estimate an overall approval rate, and it cannot predict the outcome of any individual case, including yours. USCIS officers exercise discretion on facts that are never fully captured in a written decision.

This decision turned on whether the person was well-positioned to advance the endeavor. Describe your own work and see which decisions discussed the same issue.

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Questions this raises for your lawyer

  • On Prong 2 (well positioned to advance the endeavor), USCIS found the petitioner's education, work experience, publications, citations, funding insufficient to establish that well-positioned to advance proposed endeavor. What would make comparable evidence in my own case more persuasive?
  • On Prong 3 (balancing the waiver's benefits), USCIS found the petitioner's assertions of urgency, citations, future plans insufficient to establish that waiver would benefit the United States. What would make comparable evidence in my own case more persuasive?
  • What in my own case most resembles the specific facts USCIS focused on in this decision?
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