real estate consulting

EB-2 National Interest Waiver — Merits Decision

2026-01-14·DISMISSED·IN RE: 40764788

Underlying petition: DENIED · Service Center Operations (SCOPS)

Legal elements discussed — Matter of Dhanasar

Prong 1 — Substantial Merit & National Importance

FAIL

Petitioner argued: The proposed endeavor has national importance because it will improve the commercial performance and efficiency of real estate operators, contribute to economic stability, and create jobs.

Evidence type: cover letter, expert opinion letter, business plan

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

the record does not show that, beyond the limited benefits provided to his clients or employees, the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has broader implications rising to the level of having national importance or that it would offer substantial positive economic effects.

Decision PDF, p. 4Open source PDF

Prong 2 — Well Positioned to Advance the Endeavor

NOT_DISCUSSED

Prong 3 — Balancing the Waiver's Benefits

NOT_DISCUSSED

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 national importance. Describe your own work and see which decisions discussed the same issue.

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Questions this raises for your lawyer

  • On Prong 1 (substantial merit & national importance), USCIS found the petitioner's cover letter, expert opinion letter, business plan insufficient to establish that the proposed endeavor has national importance because it will improve the commercial performance and efficiency of real estate operators, contribute to economic stability, and create jobs.. 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?
  • Would additional expert-opinion evidence have changed the outcome here, based on what USCIS said was missing?
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