Check that every degree and transcript cited in the cover letter is actually in the exhibit set.
Profile
Engineer with a bachelor's degree from a foreign university and a US master's degree, claimed as an advanced-degree professional.
What was claimed
- Advanced degree (US master's, or bachelor's plus five years of progressive experience)
- National interest waiver under the three Dhanasar prongs
What happened
Counsel cited exhibits that supposedly showed the degrees, but the officer found no evidence of the bachelor's or the US master's.
The officer also asked for five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience letters, a detailed credential evaluation for foreign education, and evidence the foreign institution was accredited when the degree was issued.
Experience letters had to be on letterhead with the writer's name, address and title, start and end dates, full- or part-time status, position title and a description of duties.
On the merits, the officer stated that the evidence established substantial merit and national importance, that the applicant was well positioned, and that waiving the job offer was beneficial.
Lessons for evaluating your own case
Every notice is a list of what to fix. Use these as a checklist for your own evidence.
- Check that every degree and transcript cited in the cover letter is actually in the exhibit set.
- Foreign education needs an evaluation, and the institution's accreditation at the time of the degree.
- Experience letters need the full details the officer lists. Use a template.
- Do the boring checks first. A strong endeavor does not rescue missing degree evidence.
See how your evidence maps to the criteria
Meritocrat's free assessment maps your evidence to EB-1A, EB-2 NIW and O-1 criteria and shows the gaps, using patterns from cases like this one.
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