event planning
EB-2 National Interest Waiver — Merits Decision
Underlying petition: DENIED · Service Center Operations (SCOPS)
Legal elements discussed — Matter of Dhanasar
Prong 1 — Substantial Merit & National Importance
FAILPetitioner argued: endeavor would have substantial positive economic effects
Evidence type: business plan with revenue projections
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finding: INSUFFICIENT
“the Petitioner has not demonstrated that the prospective benefits to the regional or national economy resulting from his endeavor would reach the level of "substantial positive economic effects" as contemplated by Dhanasar.”
Decision PDF, p. 3Open source PDF
Petitioner argued: endeavor is scalable and replicable
Evidence type: petitioner's argument
USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT
“the evidence in the record, however, does not establish that the Petitioner has a particular events planning service model or methodology that is replicable, different from what is currently available in the industry, and one that he intends to disseminate throughout the events planning industry on a scale that would be commensurate with national importance.”
Decision PDF, p. 2Open source PDF
Petitioner argued: endeavor has national importance
Evidence type: business plan, personal statement, letters of recommendation, industry reports
USCIS finding: INSUFFICIENT
“SCOPS determined, however, that the evidence was insufficient to show the importance of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor on a national scale”
Decision PDF, p. 2Open 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 business plan with revenue projections insufficient to establish that endeavor would have substantial positive economic effects. 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?