Interim Decision # 1904 

MATTER OF GOWANX 

In Visa Petition Proceedings 

A-17222130 

Decided by Regional Commissioner September 13, 1968 

Notwithstanding beneficiary's lack of academic education courses and actual 

experience in the teaching field, his high education in the field of Arabic 

language and journalism (Masters degree plus two years of research) and 

his many years of actual work experience in related fields qualifies him as 

a member of the teaching profession within the meaning of section 

101 (a) (32) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and he 

is eligible for preference classification under section 203(a) (3) of the Act 

as a teacher of Arabic and journalism at the college level. 

This case comes forward on appeal from the decision of the 

District Director, Los Angeles, who denied the petition on July 

16, 1968, as follows : 

Although you possess the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in Arabic translation and journalism, you do not possess the necessary specialized training 

or experience in the art of teaching which would qualify you for professional recognition as a teacher (Matter of Delis, 11 I. & N. Dec. 860). However, if you should obtain an offer of employment in the United States, your 

prospective employer may petition to classify you as a sixth preference immigrant. 

The petitioner is a 42-year-old married male, a native and citizen of the United Arab Republic where he resides with his wife 

and three minor children. He filed the present petition on February 2, 1968, for classification under section 203 (a) (3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, as a member of the 

professions to seek employment in California as a teacher of Arabic and journalism at the college level. 

The record shows that in 1949 he was awarded a B.A. degree 

in the Arabic language by Cairo University, U.A.R., and in 1957 

a diploma of Institute of Editing, Translation and Journalism 

from the same university. The Office of Education, Department of 

Health, Education and Welfare on April 30, 1968, evaluated his 

academic education as the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in the 

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Interim Decision #1904 

field of journalism with a major in editing and translation. From 

1949 to 1957 he was employed in the Secretariat of Chamber of 

Deputies. From July 1, 1957, to March 3, 1966, he was head of 

the Executory Unit of the Eastern States subjects in the Migration Passports and Nationality Administration of Ministry of Interior. His duties were supervision over activities of employees 

specialized in studying cases of aliens who applied for temporary 

residence in the U.A.R. Since 1966 he has been with the Ministry 

of National Guidance, State Information Service where he supervises a staff of employees who specialize in reading and summarizing foreign newspapers. 

The District Director denied the petition in that the petitioner 

did not have specialized training and experience in the field of 

teaching to supplement his Bachelor's degree and citing the Matter of Delis, 11 I. & N. Dec. 860, found the petitioner not qualified for recognition as a member of the professions. 

On appeal the petitioner presented additional evidence of further education, evidence that he was graduated with a Ph. D. 

degree in March 1964, from the Department of Journalism of the 

University of Cairo. This additional evidence was submitted to 

the Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and 

Welfare, together with his lesser degree previously mentioned. On 

August 9, 1968, that office advised that the petitioner's high education was the equivalent of a Master's degree in Journalism plus 

two years of research. 

On May 81, 1968, the Secretary.of Labor issued a certification 

pursuant to section 212(a) (14) of the Act. It is noted however, 

that with the equivalent of a .Master's degree the petitioner falls 

within the blanket certification of the Secretary of Labor as provided by 29 CFR 60, Schedule A, Group I. 

The Matter of Delis, 11 I. & N. Dec. 860, relates to an elementary parochial school teacher and the discussion relating to educational background, teaching experience, state certification, and 

specialized experience to teaching at the elementary and secondary levels. In the present case petitioner is seeking employment at 

the college level. 

The Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Volume II, published by 

the Department of Labor, shows that the terminal three digit 

Code of faculty member (college) and teacher, secondary is .228 

and goes on to state that for secondary school teachers state certification is necessary and that a Bachelor's degree is a minimum 

with many states requiring education courses and/or student 

teaching. However, the only requirement for teaching at the col9 
interim Decision #1904 

lege or university level is a minimum of a Master's degree. The 

Occupational Outlook Handbook, also published by the Department of Labor, states that a minimum of a Master's is required to 

teach at the college level and goes on to state "a number of states 

that maintain public junior colleges require state certification for 

teaching in the two -year schools. To obtain such a certification a 

teacher must have received a Master's degree and taken certain 

courses in Education" and goes on to state "to enter college teaching, specialization in some subject field is necessary." The petitioner has a Master's degree and has specialization in Arabic and 

journalism which he wishes to teach. 

While many college and university instructors have reached 

their positions by advancement through the ranks, prepared 

themselves academically for a teaching career and have been employed exclusively in the field of education, other college and university instructors are drawn from the men or women who have 

made a success in other professions. These men and women who 

have had no academic education courses, no student or teaching 

experience, are brought into colleges and universities to teach in 

their business specialties. They will teach from their personal 

knowledge and personal experience gained by years of personal 

involvement in their specialization and are not bound as closely to 

a fixed course of study or prepared textbooks as are teachers in 

the elementary or secondary levels. 

Considering the petitioner's high education in the field of Arabic language and journalism and many years of actual work experience in related fields, we find that the petitioner is qualified for 

the preference classification he seeks. The appeal will be sustained and the petition granted. 

ORDER: It is. ordered that the appeal be sustained. 

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