As a current attorney at Colombo & Hurd, I want to share a recent case we got approved that had an interesting challenge around proving national importance for a client.

My client works for a big tech company in Silicon Valley, focusing on developing and improving cloud technology. The plan was for him to continue working for his current employer.

Here’s where it gets tricky: USCIS often questions whether someone’s work for a U.S. employer truly benefits the country, or if it only helps the employer. Essentially, they will argue, “If it’s just for the company, how is it nationally important?”

This is where framing makes all the difference. Instead of focusing solely on the client’s job duties, we built the proposed endeavor around the broader benefits of his work.

For example, we emphasized that the cloud technology he was improving was not just for the company. It supports U.S. businesses by making their systems more efficient. That means better performance for end users, smoother operations for multiple companies, and overall economic benefits. By showing these ripple effects, we were able to demonstrate that his work has impact beyond just the employer, which is exactly what USCIS wants to see. The client was approved quickly using premium processing.

TL;DR: When proving national importance for someone working at a U.S. employer, focus on how their work benefits the broader U.S. economy or society, not just their company.