sustained EB-2 Case: Neurophysiology

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PUBLICCOPY
U.S.Departmentof HomelandSecurity
U.S.Citizenshipandimmigrationsere
AdministrativeAppealsOn'ice(AAo
20 MassachusettsAve., N.W, MS 20U0
Washington,De 20529-2090
8 U.S.Citizenship
and Immigration
Services
Date: AUG2 0 2012 Office: NEBRASKA SERVICECENTER FILE:
IN RE: Petitioner:
Beneficiary:
PETITION:ImmigrantPetitionfor Alien Workeras a Memberof the ProfessionsHoldingan Advanced
Degreeor anAlien of ExceptionalAbility Pursuantto Section203(b)(2)of the Immigrationand
Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C.§ 1153(b)(2)
ON BEHALF OF PETITIONER:
INSTRUCTIONS:
Enclosedpleasefind the decision of the Administrative Appeals Office in your case. All of the documents
relatedto this matterhavebeenreturnedto theoffice that originally decidedyour case. Pleasebeadvisedthat
any further inquiry that you might have concerning your casemust be made to that office.
If you believe the AAO inappropriatelyapplied the law in reachingits decision,or you have additional
informationthat you wish to haveconsidered,you may file a motionto reconsideror a motion to reopenin
accordancewith the instructionson Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, with a fee of $630. The
specific requirementsfor filing sucha motion can be found at 8 C.F.R. § 103.5. Do not file any motion
directly with the AAO. Pleasebeawarethat8 C.F.R.§ 103.5(a)(1)(i)requiresanymotionto befiled within
30 daysof the decisionthat the motion seeksto reconsideror reopen.
Thank you.
PerryRhew
Chief,AdministrativeAppealsOffice
www.uscis.gov
Page2
DISCUSSION: The employment-basedimmigrant visa petition was deniedby the Director.
NebraskaServiceCenter,andis nowbeforetheAdministrativeAppealsOffice(AAO) onappeal The
appealwill besustained.
Thepetitioneris a medicalcenter.It seeksto employthebeneficiarypermanentlyin theUnitedStates
as a researchassociate(neurophysiology)pursuantto section203(b)(2)of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (the Act), 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(2). As requiredby statute,a labor certification
accompaniedthepetition. Thedirectordeterminedthatthebeneficiarydid not satisfytheminimum
levelof educationstatedonthelaborcertification. Thedirectordeniedthepetitionaccordingly.
TheAAO conductsappellatereviewon adenovobasis.SeeSoltanev.DOJ, 381F.3d143,145(3d
Cir.2004).
In pertinentpart, section203(b)(2)of the Immigrationand NationalityAct (the Act), 8 U.S.E §
1153(b)(2),providesimmigrant classificationto membersof the professionsholding advanced
degreesor theirequivalentandwhoseservicesaresoughtby anemployerin theUnitedStates.An
advanceddegreeis a UnitedStatesacademicor professionaldegreeor a foreignequivalentdegree
abovethe baccalaureatelevel. 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2). The regulationfurther states:"A United
States baccalaureatedegree or a foreign equivalent degree followed by at least five years of
progressiveexperiencein the specialtyshallbeconsideredtheequivalentof a master'sdegree.If a
doctoral degreeis customarilyrequiredby the specialty,the alien must have a United States
doctorateor a foreignequivalentdegree." Id.
To beeligibleforapproval,abeneficiarymusthaveall theeducation,training,andexperiencespecified
on the laborcertificationasof the petition's priority date. SeeMatter of Wing's TeaHouse, 16 l&N
158(Act. Reg.Comm.1977).Thepriority dateof thepetitionisJuly30,2008,whichis thedatethe
labor certification was acceptedfor processingby the DOL. See 8 C.F.R. §204.5(d). The
ImmigrantPetitionfor Alien Worker(FormI-140)wasfiled on May 18,2009.
Uponreviewof theentirerecord,includingevidencesubmittedonappealandin responseto a Request
for Evidenceissuedby theAAO, theAAO concludesthatthepetitionerhasestablishedthatit is more
likely thannotthatthebeneficiaryhadall theeducation,training,andexperiencespecifiedonthelabor
certificationasof July30,2008.Therefore,thebeneficiaryqualifiesfor preferencevisaclassification
undersection203(b)(2)of theAct.
The burdenof proof in theseproceedingsrestssolelywith the petitioner. Section291 of the Act
8 U.S.C.§ 1361. The petitionerhasmet thatburden.
ORDER: Theappealissustained,andthepetitionis approved.