sustained H-1B Case: Online Marketing
Decision Summary
The Director denied the petition, concluding the proffered position did not qualify as a specialty occupation. The appeal was sustained because the AAO found that even though the Petitioner listed a range of acceptable degrees, the record established that the duties required a body of highly specialized knowledge, and attaining one of those degrees constituted a degree 'in the specific specialty' as required by law.
Criteria Discussed
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services MATTER OF E-, INC. APPEAL OF VERMONT SERVICE CENTER DECISION Non-Precedent Decision of the Administrative Appeals Office DATE: SEPT. 12, 2019 PETITION: FORM 1-129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER The Petitioner, an online marketing company, seeks to temporarily employ the Beneficiary under the H-lB nonimmigrant classification for specialty occupations. See Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), 8 U.S.C. ยง 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b). The H-lB program allows a U.S. employer to temporarily employ a qualified foreign worker in a position that requires both: (a) the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge; and (b) the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum prerequisite for entry into the position . The Director of the Vermont Service Center denied the petition, concluding that the record did not establish that the proffered position qualifies as a specialty occupation. Upon de nova review, we will sustain the appeal. Based upon our review of the entire record of proceedings, including the evidence submitted on appeal, we find that the Petitioner has overcome the reason for the Director's denial. Though the Petitioner identified a range of degrees as acceptable for the proffered position that on its face may appear broad, the record of proceedings in this particular case establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the knowledge associated with the proposed duties nonetheless constitutes a "body of highly specialized knowledge" such that attainment of one of those degrees would still constitute a degree "in the specific specialty" as contemplated by section 214(i)(l) of the Act. See Matter of Chawathe, 25 I&N Dec. 369, 376 (AAO 2010). Thus, the Petitioner has established that the proffered position qualifies for classification as a specialty occupation as defined by section 214(i)(l) of the Act and 8 C.F.R . ยง 214.2(h)(4)(ii). ORDER: The appeal is sustained. Cite as Matter of E-, Inc., ID# 4811029 (AAO Sept. 12, 2019)
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