sustained EB-2 Case: Medicine

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PUBLICCOPY
U.S.Departmentof HomelandSecurity
I LS.CitizenshipandimmigrationServices
AdministrativeAppealsOffice(AAo
20 MassachusettsAve N.W., MS2090
Washington,DC20529-2090
U.S.Citizenship
and Inunigration
Services
DATE: FEB 0 3 2012 OFFICE:TEXASSERVICECENTER FILE:
IN RE: Petitioner:
Beneficiary:
PETITION: 1mmigrantPetitionfor Alien Workerasa Memberof theProfessionsHoldinganAdvanced
Degreeor anAlien of ExceptionalAbility Pursuantto Section203(b)(2)of theImmigration
andNationalityAct, 8 U.S.C.§ 1153(b)(2)
ON BEHALFOFPETITIONER:
INSTRUCTIONS:
Enclosedpleasefind thedecisionof theAdministrativeAppealsOffice in yourcase.All of thedocuments
relatedto this matterhavebeenreturnedto the office that originally decidedyour case. Pleasebeadvisedthat
any further inquiry that you might haveconcerningyour casemust be madeto that office.
Thankyou,
PerryRhew
Chief,AdministrativeAppealsOffice
www.uscis.gov
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DISCUSSION: Theemployment-basedimmigrantvisapetitionwasdeniedby theDirector,Texas
ServiceCenter(Director). It is now on appealbeforethe Chief, AdministrativeAppealsOffice
(AAO). Theappealwill besustained,andthepetitionapproved.
Thepetitioneris a hospital. It seeksto permanentlyemploythe beneficiaryasan internistandto
classifyhim as an advanceddegreeprofessionalpursuantto section203(b)(2)of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (the Act), 8 U.S.C. § ]153(b)(2). As required by statute,the petition is
accompaniedby an ETA Form 9089, Application for PermanentEmploymentCertification.
approvedby theUnitedStatesDepartmentof Labor(DOL).
As definedin theregulationat8 C.F.R.§204.5(k)(2):
Advanceddegreemeansany United Statesacademicor professionaldegreeor a
foreignequivalentdegreeabovethatof baccalaureate.A UnitedStatesbaccalaureate
degreeor a foreign equivalentdegreefollowed by at leastfive yearsof progressive
experiencein the specialtyshallbeconsideredtheequivalentof a master'sdegree.If
a doctoraldegreeis customarilyrequiredby the specialty,the alien must havea
UnitedStatesdoctorateor a foreignequivalentdegree.
TheDirectordeniedthepetitiononthegroundthatthebeneficiarydid not havetheadvanceddegree
specifiedon the labor certification (ETA Form 9089),nor a bachelor'sdegreeand five yearsof
progressivepost-baccalaureateexperience.
Theappealis properlyfiled andtimely andmakesspecificallegationsof error in law or fact. The
AAO conductsappellatereviewon a denovobasis.SeeSohanev. DOJ,381F.3d143,145(3dCir.
2004).
Thepetitionermustdemonstratethat,onthepriority date,thebeneficiaryhadthequalificationsstated
on its ETA Form9089,ascertifiedby theDOL andsubmittedwith theinstantpetition. SeeMatterof
Wing'sTeaHouse,16I&N Dec.158(Act. Reg.Comm.1977).Thepriority dateis thedatethelabor
certificationapplicationwasacceptedfor processingby anyofficewithin theemploymentsystemof the
DOL See8 C.F.R.§ 204.5(d). In thiscasetheETA Form9089wasacceptedfor processingby the
DOLonFebruary21,2008.
Theeducationandexperiencerequiredfor theprofferedposition- internist- aresetforth in PartH
of theETA Form9089. Lines4-A, 4-B, and5 specifythata Doctorof Medicinedegree(M.D.) and
36 monthsof trainingin thejob opportunityarerequiredto qualify for thejob. Line 9 specifiesthat
a foreigneducationalequivalentis acceptable.
The documentationof recordshowsthat the beneficiarycompletedmedicalstudiesat Bangalore
Universityin Indiawith anexaminationin March1997.andwasgranteda Bachelorof Medicineand
Bachelor of Surgerydegreeon February22, 1999. Basedon the entire record- including
informationfrom the ElectronicDatabasefor Global Education(EDGE),createdby the American
Association of Collegiate Registrarsand Admissions Officers (AACRAO), indicating that a
Bachelorof Medicine/ Bachelorof Surgeryin Indiais awardeduponcompletionof 4.5to 5 yearsof
tertiary studyplusoneyearof internshipbeyondthe HigherSecondaryCertificate(equivalentto a
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U.S.high schooldiploma)andis equivalentto anM.D. (Doctorof Medicine)in theUnitedStates-
the AAO determinesthat the beneficiary's Indian degreeis comparableto a U.S. Doctor of
Medicine. Thus,the beneficiaryhasthe requisiteeducationaldegreefor the profferedposition,as
specifiedin the labor certification. Furthermore,the beneficiary'sforeign medicaldegreemay
qualify asanadvanceddegreefor purposesof section203(b)(2)of theAct.
Thedocumentationof recordalsoshowsthatthe beneficiaryservedtwo stintswith thepetitioneras
a residentin internalmedicine- from July 1,2001to June11,2002,andfrom January31, 2003to
April 30,2005. Sincethesetwo residenciestotaledmorethanthreeyears,thebeneficiarymeetsthe
labor certificationrequirementof 36 monthsof training in the job opportunity. The recordalso
indicatesthatthebeneficiarybecameboardcertifiedin internalmedicinebeforethepriority dateand
haspassedtheU.S.MedicalLicensingExamination(Steps1,2, and3).
Thus,the beneficiarymeetsthe educationalandtrainingrequirementsfor theprofferedposition,as
specifiedin the laborcertification. Accordingly,thepetitionerhasovercomethe Director'sground
for denial. TheDirector'sdecisionwill thereforebewithdrawn.
Theburdenof proofin theseproceedingsrestssolelywith thepetitioner.Seesection291of theAct,
8 U.S.C.§ 1361.Thepetitionerhasmetthatburden.
ORDER: TheDirector'sdecisionof October27, 2008is withdrawn. Theappealis sustained.
Thepetition is approved.