automotive manufacturing / quality…
EB-2 National Interest Waiver — Merits Decision
Underlying petition: DENIED · Texas Service Center
Legal elements discussed — Matter of Dhanasar
Prong 1 — Substantial Merit & National Importance
FAILPetitioner argued: The endeavor supports American car culture and classic vehicle restoration, which has national importance.
Evidence type: assertions about cultural significance
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finding: INSUFFICIENT
“Here, the acknowledgment of cultural touchstones does not confer national importance on the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor to operate within industries related to specific societal values.”
Decision PDF, p. 6Open source PDF
Petitioner argued: The Petitioner's experience and STEM background make his endeavor transformative for the STEM field.
Evidence type: general assertions about STEM impact
USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT
“Like the other general assertions made by the Petitioner and discussed above, the Petitioner does not elaborate on how his employment accomplishments 'will be clearly transformative' for any STEM-related field or profession.”
Decision PDF, p. 7Open source PDF
Petitioner argued: The proposed endeavor has national importance because it promotes public safety, mitigates economic costs, and supports suppliers in economically depressed areas.
Evidence type: letters of support, reports and articles about the automotive industry
USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT
“Although the Petitioner asserts that his endeavor will further certain objectives described in this documentation, such as improving roadway safety through increased quality control measures, the material itself does not specifically address the Petitioner's proposed endeavor to work in a quality control position for vehicle manufacturing companies or speak to how his work as a liaison 'in high-level leadership roles in quality departments at U.S. automotive manufacturing companies' would have a potential prospective impact of national importance.”
Decision PDF, p. 5Open source PDF
Prong 2 — Well Positioned to Advance the Endeavor
NOT_DISCUSSEDProng 3 — Balancing the Waiver's Benefits
NOT_DISCUSSEDWhat 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.
Describe your situation →Related decisions
Questions this raises for your lawyer
- On Prong 1 (substantial merit & national importance), USCIS found the petitioner's assertions about cultural significance insufficient to establish that the endeavor supports American car culture and classic vehicle restoration, which has national importance.. 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?