Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.
This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.
advanced degree or equivalent (five years progressive post-baccalaureate experience)
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion that the Petitioner had established advanced degree professional status because the submitted employment record listed only general managerial duties as company president, which did not clearly demonstrate five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in mechanical engineering.
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The AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion that the Petitioner had established advanced degree professional status because the submitted employment record listed only general managerial duties as company president, which did not clearly demonstrate five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in mechanical engineering.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-24_01_B5203; source_row=29295 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion that prong one was met, finding the record was ambiguous as to the nature of the proposed endeavor — the RFE response introduced a new entrepreneurial business plan that may constitute a material change rather than a clarification of the originally stated endeavor as a mechanical engineer.
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
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The AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion that prong one was met, finding the record was ambiguous as to the nature of the proposed endeavor — the RFE response introduced a new entrepreneurial business plan that may constitute a material change rather than a clarification of the originally stated endeavor as a mechanical engineer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-24_01_B5203; source_row=29296 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement
What the decision said
AAO did not reach prong three, remanding for the Director to first resolve threshold EB-2 eligibility and the nature of the proposed endeavor before conducting the full Dhanasar analysis.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
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AAO did not reach prong three, remanding for the Director to first resolve threshold EB-2 eligibility and the nature of the proposed endeavor before conducting the full Dhanasar analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-24_01_B5203; source_row=29298 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the bylaws of the first association require only submission of a signed statement for athlete membership, with no outstanding achievement requirement, and that the evidence for the second association showed only a certification rather than membership, and did not address membership requirements.
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AAO found that the bylaws of the first association require only submission of a signed statement for athlete membership, with no outstanding achievement requirement, and that the evidence for the second association showed only a certification rather than membership, and did not address membership requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-23_01_B2203; source_row=29283 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
OtherFaculty
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the evidence did not establish the Petitioner founded the club (only that he served as an officer), that even if founding were established the creation of the club was not shown to be of major significance to the overall field, and that his athletic achievements were not shown to have contributed to or influenced the field.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found that the evidence did not establish the Petitioner founded the club (only that he served as an officer), that even if founding were established the creation of the club was not shown to be of major significance to the overall field, and that his athletic achievements were not shown to have contributed to or influenced the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-23_01_B2203; source_row=29285 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
official academic record showing degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award
Why AAO was not persuaded
None of the submitted documents constituted an official academic record from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning relating to the area of exceptional ability.…
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None of the submitted documents constituted an official academic record from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning relating to the area of exceptional ability. The hospital training certificate did not qualify as an official academic record, the high school certificate did not relate to exceptional ability in mental health, the bachelor's degree was in an unrelated field, and the university transcript showed no degree had been awarded.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-23_01_B5203; source_row=29288 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
salary or other remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability
Why AAO was not persuaded
While the evidence showed the Petitioner earned a salary, he failed to demonstrate that the salary was commensurate with exceptional ability. No comparative wage information was submitted to show the significance of his earnings. Simply submitting evidence of remuneration is insufficient to meet this criterion.
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While the evidence showed the Petitioner earned a salary, he failed to demonstrate that the salary was commensurate with exceptional ability. No comparative wage information was submitted to show the significance of his earnings. Simply submitting evidence of remuneration is insufficient to meet this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-23_01_B5203; source_row=29289 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
OtherFaculty
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that none of the submitted materials were 'about' the Petitioner individually — the website articles mentioned him only briefly among many athletes, and the video screenshots were unaccompanied by transcripts, making it impossible to determine their content.
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AAO found that none of the submitted materials were 'about' the Petitioner individually — the website articles mentioned him only briefly among many athletes, and the video screenshots were unaccompanied by transcripts, making it impossible to determine their content.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-23_01_B2203; source_row=29284 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO found that while some documents were incomplete or lacked identifying information, the Petitioner demonstrated placement at the top level of international competition, including third place at the World championship in 2014, which was sufficient to meet this criterion.
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AAO found that while some documents were incomplete or lacked identifying information, the Petitioner demonstrated placement at the top level of international competition, including third place at the World championship in 2014, which was sufficient to meet this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-03-23_01_B2203; source_row=29282 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c