This appeal was not successful at this stage
The AAO dismissed the appeal because the petitioner's degree requirement — a general bachelor's in business, economics, or a related field — lacked the required specialization to qualify the position as a specialty occupation. Additionally, the beneficiary's academic credential (Fashion Management) was not shown to relate to the stated degree requirements.
A consumer goods and retail company petitioned for an H-1B visa to employ a beneficiary as a Customer Success Manager I, but SCOPS denied the petition. On appeal, the AAO confirmed denial on the independent ground that the petitioner's stated degree requirement — a bachelor's in business, economics, or a related field — was too general to satisfy the specialty occupation standard. The AAO also found that the beneficiary's academic evaluation (equating a foreign Fashion Management degree to a U.S. BA in Fashion Management) failed to establish a connection to the petitioner's required fields. Because the degree requirement was general and unspecialized, the position could not qualify as a specialty occupation under any of the four regulatory criteria, and the appeal was dismissed.
What failed: 1. The petitioner's degree requirement of a 'bachelor's in business, economics, or a related field' was too general and lacked required specialization, preventing the position from qualifying as a specialty occupation. 2. The expert opinion letter failed to explain how a general business degree without further specialization was directly related to the position's duties. 3. The beneficiary's academic credential evaluation did not connect her Fashion Management degree to the petitioner's required fields of business or economics, and did not list the specific documents reviewed.
Takeaway: When petitioning for an H-1B in a business-related role, employers must specify a degree requirement with a particular concentration, major, or specialization directly tied to the job duties — a general 'business degree' requirement will almost always fail. Employers should also ensure that any beneficiary's foreign credential evaluation explicitly links that credential to the position's specific required degree fields.
Cases like this are frequently used by attorneys when responding to RFEs or building initial petitions. The evidence patterns that worked (or failed) here directly reflect what USCIS officers look for when evaluating H-1B criteria.
● Evidence that moved the needle
- See summary above for details.
● Evidence that wasn't enough alone
- The petitioner's degree requirement of a 'bachelor's in business, economics, or a related field' was too general and lacked required specialization, preventing the position from qualifying as a specialty occupation
- The expert opinion letter failed to explain how a general business degree without further specialization was directly related to the position's duties
- The beneficiary's academic credential evaluation did not connect her Fashion Management degree to the petitioner's required fields of business or economics, and did not list the specific documents reviewed.
Completed
I-129 filed
Customer Success Manager in the consumer goods and retail industry
Completed
SCOPS — Denied
Initial decision: Denied.
Completed
Appeal to the AAO
Petitioner appealed to the Administrative Appeals Office for de novo review.
2026-04-24
AAO decision — Dismissed
The AAO dismissed the appeal because the petitioner's degree requirement — a general bachelor's in business, economics, or a related field — lacked the required specialization to qualify the position as a specialty occupation. Additionally, the beneficiary's academic credential (Fashion Management) was not shown to relate to the stated degree requirements.
If you're appealing a similar decision, I-290B must be filed within 30 days of personal service of the denial, or 33 days if mailed.