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EB-2 National Interest Waiver — Merits Decision

2026-03-16·DISMISSED·IN RE: 41808046

Underlying petition: DENIED · Service Center Operations (SCOPS)

Legal elements discussed — Matter of Dhanasar

Prong 1 — Substantial Merit & National Importance

FAIL

Petitioner argued: proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance

Evidence type: professional plan, expert opinion letter, letters of support

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

the record does not establish the Petitioner's proposed endeavor is of national importance

Decision PDF, p. 2Open source PDF

Petitioner argued: proposed endeavor will lead to job creation and economic benefits

Evidence type: petitioner's assertions

USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT

the record lacks specificity and support for these assertions

Decision PDF, p. 5Open source PDF

Petitioner argued: proposed endeavor will have national or global implications

Evidence type: letters of support

USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT

the letters lack corroborating evidence and lean on the Petitioner's past experience as support for their claims

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.

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Questions this raises for your lawyer

  • On Prong 1 (substantial merit & national importance), USCIS found the petitioner's professional plan, expert opinion letter, letters of support insufficient to establish that proposed endeavor has substantial merit and 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?
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