Plan or projections not corroborated

What this objection usually means

A plan explains goals, but the officer needs independent proof that the plan is realistic: funding, contracts, partners, prior progress.

What has tended to answer it

Attach evidence behind each projection: letters of intent, funding, partnerships, prior results, and a timeline tied to them.

General patterns drawn from past decisions, not legal advice for your case. Ask a licensed immigration attorney how this applies to you.

The rule

“Business plans or other similar descriptions of the person’s plans, while useful in explaining the person’s objectives, should be supported by other independent evidence.”

USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 6, Pt. F, Ch. 5(D)(3) (second prong)

Quoted from the USCIS Policy Manual current as of Sept 23, 2026. Check the online manual before filing.

Where it sank the appeal

Recent dismissed appeals raising this objection

• Dismissed2026-08-11Trades & services

  Regarding future staffing, the Petitioner's business plan anticipates that his company will employ 2 personnel in year one, 5 in year two, 9 in year three, 12 in year four, 20 in year five, and 36 in year six, but he did not elaborate on these projections or provide evidence supporting the need for these additional employees.

  Read decision AUG112026_04B5203
• Dismissed2026-07-30Law & policy

  However, the plan lacks necessary analysis and the basis for these projections, and the Petitioner has not established that, even if the projections were well supported, this level of activity would be sufficient to show a substantial positive economic effect.

  Read decision JUL302026_02B5203
• Dismissed2026-07-28Clinical & health

  But he has not provided evidence to substantiate these forecasts, and his projections are not accompanied by an explanation ofthe origins of the figures used in his calculations.

  Read decision JUL282026_04B5203
• Dismissed2026-07-27Arts, media & sports

  However, the Petitioner's claims of national importance rely on generalized discussion of the dog food industry's importance and the value of pet ownership and lacks corroborating documentation and explanation to support how her business of selling premium dog food stands to sufficiently extend beyond its customers to broadly impact the American population's mental health, welfare of dogs in the United States, or even the dog food industry. 3 In addition, the Petitioner asserted that her business will substantially impact the economy ofthe region or the United States and provided a business pl…

  Read decision JUL272026_02B5203
• Dismissed2026-07-23Business & finance

  I Also, the Petitioner's statement describes I Ias a company that "provides staffing and janitorial services to the hospitality industry" and the record includes two agreements providing for the company to deliver such services, but an undated business plan for I I also submitted with the RFE response describes it as "an established HR consulting firm," a description that is otherwise unsupported in the record.

  Read decision JUL232026_01B5203
• Dismissed2026-07-23Energy, environment & agriculture

  And while an endeavor is prospective in nature, the record does not support that the company's performance, which while not specifically required, evidences the business plan figures are realistic.

  Read decision JUL232026_02B5203

Where the petitioner still won or got a remand

Sustained or remanded decisions where this issue was discussed: read them to see what answered it

• Remanded2026-07-28Physical sciences & math

  She has sufficiently explained her research plans, but her plans regarding how she will advance her proposed endeavor are not sufficiently developed and supported in the record to demonstrate that she is well positioned to advance her endeavor.

  Read decision JUL282026_06B5203
• Remanded2026-02-06Engineering

  Further, the decision states that the Petitioner has not "offered sufficient information and evidence to illustrate the number of individuals his business plans to hire, train and support" and concludes, "[t]here is no evidence to illustrate that the rate of pay he intends to pay his current or prospective employees would have 'substantial positive economic effects' such as revenue or job creation."

  Read decision FEB062026_03B5203
• Remanded2025-02-13Computing, AI & data

  The Director's subsequent denial did not acknowledge additional evidence submitted relating to the proposed endeavor, including a business plan.

  Read decision FEB132025_12B5203
• Remanded2024-12-03Business & finance

  The Director also noted that the record lacked sufficient information regarding the number of individuals the Petitioner's business plans to hire, train, or support, and that there was no evidence showing that that the wages for current or prospective employees would have substantial positive economic effects, such as generating revenue or creating jobs.

  Read decision DEC032024_02B5203
• Remanded2024-09-09Business & finance

  The Director did not discuss the evidence weighed in balancing these considerations, including the submitted business plan, which indicates I lis currently employing individuals in the scope of its business.

  Read decision SEP092024_06B5203
• Remanded2024-06-25Business & finance

  Further, the Director did not discuss most of the evidence submitted to demonstrate the national importance of the proposed endeavor, which included, but was not limited to: the business plan for the Petitioner's Florida company; two expert opinion letters; letters of interest from other professionals in the field; articles providing background on the Petitioner's industry and occupation; and evidence intended to support the Petitioner's claim that his endeavor will have substantial positive economic effects, will enhance societal welfare, and will impact a matter that is the subject ofnationa…

  Read decision JUN252024_08B5203