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MotionNational Interest Waiver · Motion to reopen

Financial analyst

Business & finance · decided 2024-10-10 · TSC · OCT102024_01B5203

Official PDF on uscis.gov

How each part of the test was decided

Read from the appeals office's own sentences by fixed rules, not from the Director's findings or the petitioner's arguments. Each result shows the sentence it came from. The official PDF controls.

  • Step 0Eligible for EB-2Not met
    Why
    As discussed above, we have considered all additional materials and assertions the Petitioner submitted on motion and conclude that they are insufficient to establish her eligibility for the EB-2 classification or the discretionary national interest waiver. p. 4
  • Prong 1Merit and national importanceNot met
    Why
    Petitioner's submissions on motion to reopen have not demonstrated that her proposed endeavor will likely reach the level of national importance. 3 For the reasons outlined above, the Petitioner has not provided new facts to establish that we erred in dismissing the prior motion. p. 4
  • Prong 2Well positioned to advance itNot decided

    No finding on this in the appeals office's own words.

  • Prong 3Worth waiving the job offerNot decided

    No finding on this in the appeals office's own words.

The decision in brief

Sentences picked out of the text automatically. Read them in context below; the official PDF controls.

Summary sentence

The Director of the Texas Service Center denied the petition, concluding that the Petitioner did not establish eligibility for the discretionary national interest waiver. See in text

What the AAO decided

  • Therefore, the combined motions will be dismissed. See in text
  • ORDER: The motion to reopen is dismissed. See in text
  • FURTHER ORDER: The motion to reconsider is dismissed. See in text

Main reasons given

  • The submitted evidence, therefore, does not establish that she "commanded a salary, or other remuneration for services, which demonstrates exceptional ability" as set forth at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D) as of petition's filing date. See in text
  • Because the Petitioner did not show that she had at least five years of post-baccalaureate experience after she completed her baccalaureate studies, we concluded that she had not established that she was a member ofthe professions holding an advanced degree at the time she filed the petition. See in text
  • We determined that the evidence submitted in support of the previous motion did not demonstrate that the Petitioner met three of the six initial evidentiary criteria; as such, we did not conduct a final merits analysis to determine whether she has a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in business. See in text
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  • As noted previously, the record does not demonstrate that the Petitioner has 10 years of full-time work experience in her specialty because the Petitioner's professional history began in 2014 and the instant petition was filed in 2021, seven years later. See in text
  • On motion, the Petitioner has not provided new facts or documentary evidence to show that she was an individual of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business at the time she filed the petition. See in text
  • We determined that the evidence submitted on motion, including her business plan, did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's work as a financial analyst would likely impact the field of finance or that its potential prospective impact has national implications within the field. See in text
Read the full decision (5 pages)

Objections found (6)

Automated tags. Each shows the sentence that triggered it.

  • We explained that her attainment of a master's degree subsequent to the petition's filing did not support a finding that at the time she filed the petition, she had "a United States advanced degree or a foreign equivalent degree," as required under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A). See in text (p. 2)
  • We also noted that the evidence the Petitioner submitted on motion did not support a finding that at the time she filed the petition, she had "a United States baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent degree followed by at least five years of progressive experience in the specialty." See in text (p. 2)
  • Regarding her assertion that she alternatively qualifies as an individual of exceptional ability, we concluded in our previous decision that the evidence submitted on motion was insufficient to demonstrate that she submitted the requisite initial evidence required for this classification.2 While we affirmed our previous determination that she met the evidentiary criteria pertaining to official academic records and licensure, we determined that the evidence she submitted on motion did not 2 The Petitioner must initially submit evidence that meets at least three of the six evidentiary criteria a… See in text (p. 2)
  • We further determined that the Petitioner failed to show that the level of the purported impact of her proposed endeavor would likely reach the level national importance or that the economic effects, including the possible creation of 25 positions, constitute "substantial positive economic effects" discussed in Matter ofDhanasar. See in text (p. 3)
  • Regarding the Petitioner's claim of eligibility as an advanced degree professional, we considered her submission of evidence demonstrating that she earned a master's degree in business administration in December 2021 but advised that she must demonstrate eligibility at the time of filing her petition, which in this case was in January 2021. See in text (p. 2)
  • Simply disagreeing with our conclusions, without showing how we misapplied law or pointing to policy that contradicts our analysis of the evidence, is not sufficient to reconsider our decision. See in text (p. 4)

Full decision

OCR text from the official PDF, reformatted for reading. Scan errors carry over; the PDF controls.

Highlighted: Outcome (5) AAO finding (6) Tagged objection (6)Matter of X citation
Decision header
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · Non-Precedent Decision of the Administrative Appeals Office · Date: OCT. 10, 2024 · In Re: 34684231 · Motion on Administrative Appeals Office Decision · Form 1-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers (National Interest Waiver)

The Petitioner, a financial analyst, seeks second preference immigrant classification (EB-2) as an individual of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, or a member of the professions holding an advanced degree. Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) section 203(b)(2), 8 U.S.C. § 1 l 53(b )(2). The Petitioner also seeks a national interest waiver of the job offer requirement attached to this EB-2 classification. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant this discretionary waiver of the required job offer, and thus a labor certification, when it is in the national interest to do so. Section 203(b )(2)(B)(i) of the Act.

The Director of the Texas Service Center denied the petition, concluding that the Petitioner did not establish eligibility for the discretionary national interest waiver. We dismissed the Petitioner's appeal, concluding that in addition to not establishing eligibility for the discretionary national interest waiver, she had not established eligibility for the underlying EB-2 classification because she did not demonstrate that she qualified as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree or as an individual of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.

A. Motion to Reopen

A motion to reopen must state new facts and be supported by documentary evidence. 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2). Our review on motion is limited to reviewing our latest decision. 8 C.F.R. § 103.S(a)(l)(ii). We may grant motions that satisfy these requirements and demonstrate eligibility for the requested benefit. See Matter of Coelho, 20 I&N Dec. 464, 473 (BIA 1992) (requiring that new evidence have the potential to change the outcome).

In the previous motion to reopen, the Petitioner asserted eligibility for the underlying EB-2 classification as both an advanced degree professional and as an individual of exceptional ability. Regarding the Petitioner's claim of eligibility as an advanced degree professional, we considered her submission of evidence demonstrating that she earned a master's degree in business administration in December 2021 but advised that she must demonstrate eligibility at the time of filing her petition, which in this case was in January 2021.Not eligible at the time of filing See 8 C.F.R. § 103 .2(b)(1 ). We explained that her attainment of a master's degree subsequent to the petition's filing did not support a finding that at the time she filed the petition, she had "a United States advanced degree or a foreign equivalent degree," as required under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A).Degree not shown to be a U.S. advanced degree equivalent We further advised the Petitioner that a visa petition may not be approved at a future date after a petitioner becomes eligible under a new set of facts. Matter of Katigbak, 14 I&N Dec. 45, 49 (Reg'! Comm'r 1971).

We also noted that the evidence the Petitioner submitted on motion did not support a finding that at the time she filed the petition, she had "a United States baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent degree followed by at least five years of progressive experience in the specialty."Five years of progressive experience not documented See 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(B). We observed deficiencies in the experience letters she provided, noting that some of her claimed qualifying employment experience commenced prior to the completion of her bachelor's degree whereas other employment experience had commenced as recently as 2020.

Because the Petitioner did not show that she had at least five years of post-baccalaureate experience after she completed her baccalaureate studies, we concluded that she had not established that she was a member ofthe professions holding an advanced degree at the time she filed the petition. See 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(l); see also Matter ofKatigbak, 14 I&N Dec. at 49.

On motion, the Petitioner asserts that the documentation previously submitted establishes her eligibility as an advanced degree professional. She does not, however, submit any new evidence and does not assert any new facts supported by documentary evidence that establish her eligibility as an advanced degree professional or otherwise refute our determination to the contrary.

Regarding her assertion that she alternatively qualifies as an individual of exceptional ability, we concluded in our previous decision that the evidence submitted on motion was insufficient to demonstrate that she submitted the requisite initial evidence required for this classification.2 While we affirmed our previous determination that she met the evidentiary criteria pertaining to official academic records and licensure, we determined that the evidence she submitted on motion did not 2 The Petitioner must initially submit evidence that meets at least three of the six evidentiary criteria at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A)-(F) to show qualification as an individual of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.Exceptional ability not established We determined that the evidence submitted in support of the previous motion did not demonstrate that the Petitioner met three of the six initial evidentiary criteria; as such, we did not conduct a final merits analysis to determine whether she has a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in business. See 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2). p. 3 establish that she met any additional evidentiary criteria. On motion, the Petitioner maintains that she satisfies two additional criteria relating to relating to ten years of full-time experience at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(B) and high salary at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D).

Regarding her employment history, the Petitioner reasserts that the employer letters previously submitted demonstrate that she has at least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(B). As noted previously, the record does not demonstrate that the Petitioner has 10 years of full-time work experience in her specialty because the Petitioner's professional history began in 2014 and the instant petition was filed in 2021, seven years later. On motion, the Petitioner does not submit any new evidence and does not assert any new facts supported by documentary evidence to refute this determination or otherwise establish that she meets this criterion.

Regarding her claim that she satisfies the evidentiary criterion related to high salary, the Petitioner submits a letter on motion from her current employer stating that she received a raise to her annual salary as well as a cash bonus in 2023, thereby demonstrating that her current remuneration totals $230,000. The Petitioner asserts that this letter, coupled with a webpage printout indicating that the median annual wage of financial analysts in New York is $92,557, demonstrates that she satisfies this criterion.

While we acknowledge the documentation submitted on motion, these materials relate to career achievements occurring after she filed the petition in January 2021. As explained previously, the Petitioner must demonstrate eligibility at the time she filed the petition and cannot rely on facts not yet in existence at the time of filing to establish her eligibility. See 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(l); Matter of Katigbak, 14 T&N Dec. at 49. The submitted evidence, therefore, does not establish that she "commanded a salary, or other remuneration for services, which demonstrates exceptional ability" as set forth at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D) as of petition's filing date. On motion, the Petitioner has not provided new facts or documentary evidence to show that she was an individual of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business at the time she filed the petition.

In our previous decision, we also affirmed our prior determination that the Petitioner did not sufficiently document her proposed endeavor in the United States to demonstrate that it will likely have national importance. See Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884, 889 (AAO 2016). We determined that the evidence submitted on motion, including her business plan, did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's work as a financial analyst would likely impact the field of finance or that its potential prospective impact has national implications within the field. We further determined that the Petitioner failed to show that the level of the purported impact of her proposed endeavor would likely reach the level national importance or that the economic effects, including the possible creation of 25 positions, constitute "substantial positive economic effects" discussed in Matter ofDhanasar.Job creation or economic claims unsupported Finally, we noted that merely working in an important field is insufficient to establish the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor.

On motion, the Petitioner does not present any new facts and does not submit any new evidence with regard to our determination that her proposed endeavor did not have national importance. The Petitioner rather highlights previously submitted evidence and asserts that she has demonstrated that a waiver of the required job offer, and thus of the labor certification, would be in the national interest. The p. 4 Petitioner's submissions on motion to reopen have not demonstrated that her proposed endeavor will likely reach the level of national importance. 3

For the reasons outlined above, the Petitioner has not provided new facts to establish that we erred in dismissing the prior motion. Because the Petitioner has not established new facts that would warrant reopening of the proceeding, we have no basis to reopen our prior decision.

B. Motion to Reconsider

A motion to reconsider must establish that our prior decision was based on an incorrect application of law or policy and that the decision was incorrect based on the evidence in the record of proceedings at the time of the decision. 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(3). Our review on motion is limited to reviewing our latest decision. 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(l)(ii). We may grant motions that satisfy these requirements and demonstrate eligibility for the requested benefit.

We dismissed the Petitioner's previous motion to reconsider on the basis that it did not provide reasons for reconsideration that were supported by citations to appropriate statutes, regulations, or precedent decisions, and it did not show that our decision dismissing the appeal was incorrect based on the evidence of record at the time of the decision. On motion, the Petitioner does not claim that our previous decision dismissing the motion to reconsider was based on an incorrect application of law or policy or that it was incorrect based on the evidence in the record at the time of our decision. Her statement in support of the motion does not point to any factual, legal or policy error in our prior decision. In fact, her statement is fundamentally identical to the statement supporting her previous motion to reconsider our dismissal of her appeal.

Here, the Petitioner disagrees with our conclusions without demonstrating how we erred as a matter of law or policy. See Matter of O-S-G-, 24 I&N Dec. 56, 58 (BIA 2006) (finding that a motion to reconsider is not a process by which the party may submit in essence, the same brief and seek reconsideration by generally alleging error in the prior decision). Simply disagreeing with our conclusions, without showing how we misapplied law or pointing to policy that contradicts our analysis of the evidence, is not sufficient to reconsider our decision.Inconsistencies in the record As discussed above, we have considered all additional materials and assertions the Petitioner submitted on motion and conclude that they are insufficient to establish her eligibility for the EB-2 classification or the discretionary national interest waiver.

The scope of a motion is limited to "the prior decision" and "the latest decision in the proceeding." 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(l )(i), (ii). The Petitioner's contentions in her current motion merely reargue facts and issues we have already considered in our previous decision. See, e.g., Matter ofO-S-G-, 24 I&N Dec. at 58. The Petitioner may disagree with our previous decision, but she has not shown that we erred in our decision. See 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(3).

In conclusion, although the Petitioner has submitted additional evidence in support of her motion to reopen, she has not established new facts relevant to our previous decision that would warrant reopening of the proceedings. Additionally, on motion to reconsider, she has not demonstrated that our previous decision was based on an incorrect application of law or policy or that our previous decision was incorrect based on evidence in the record at the time we issued the decision. Therefore, the combined motions will be dismissed. See 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(4).

ORDER: The motion to reopen is dismissed.

FURTHER ORDER: The motion to reconsider is dismissed.