Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

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.

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10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 10711–10720

NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

ten years of full-time experience

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director's conclusion that the petitioner met the ten years of full-time experience criterion.

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AAO agreed with the Director's conclusion that the petitioner met the ten years of full-time experience criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-21_02_B5203; source_row=28717
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the director's finding because the petitioner did not show that Agile Alliance is a professional association within the meaning of the regulation, as there was no evidence that it requires a baccalaureate degree for membership or otherwise constitutes a professional association.

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AAO withdrew the director's finding because the petitioner did not show that Agile Alliance is a professional association within the meaning of the regulation, as there was no evidence that it requires a baccalaureate degree for membership or otherwise constitutes a professional association.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-21_02_B5203; source_row=28720
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the expert opinion letter conflated the importance of the financial services industry generally with the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The business plan projected only six employees and $600K in annual revenue by Year 5, which AAO found insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects at a national level.…

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AAO found that the expert opinion letter conflated the importance of the financial services industry generally with the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The business plan projected only six employees and $600K in annual revenue by Year 5, which AAO found insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects at a national level. The record did not establish that the Petitioner's work would impact the financial services industry or the U.S. economy more broadly beyond his employer and clientele.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_06_B5203; source_row=28694
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's transcript showed incomplete coursework, and his educational evaluation relied on a combination of experience and coursework. Under the EB-2 regulations, this yields only an 'equivalent' of a degree, not a 'foreign equivalent degree.' While some classifications permit combination-based equivalency, the advanced degree professional classification does not.

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The Petitioner's transcript showed incomplete coursework, and his educational evaluation relied on a combination of experience and coursework. Under the EB-2 regulations, this yields only an 'equivalent' of a degree, not a 'foreign equivalent degree.' While some classifications permit combination-based equivalency, the advanced degree professional classification does not.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_03_B5203; source_row=28680
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's proposed consulting work had substantial merit but not national importance. The record did not demonstrate that the prospective impact of the endeavor would extend beyond the Petitioner's own company and clients to broadly affect the field or industry.…

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AAO found the Petitioner's proposed consulting work had substantial merit but not national importance. The record did not demonstrate that the prospective impact of the endeavor would extend beyond the Petitioner's own company and clients to broadly affect the field or industry. Staffing and revenue forecasts were unsupported, and the Petitioner failed to show substantial positive economic effects at a regional or national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_05_B5203; source_row=28691
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

member of the professions holding an advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the Director failed to analyze whether the Petitioner's occupation as a martial arts instructor meets the regulatory definition of a 'profession,' specifically whether a U.S. baccalaureate degree is the minimum entry requirement.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the Director failed to analyze whether the Petitioner's occupation as a martial arts instructor meets the regulatory definition of a 'profession,' specifically whether a U.S. baccalaureate degree is the minimum entry requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_02_B5203; source_row=28675
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the evidence insufficient to show that the Petitioner's work would impact the process engineering field, his industry, or the environment more broadly, and that the economic implications of his projects were not attributable to him to a degree establishing national importance.

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AAO found the evidence insufficient to show that the Petitioner's work would impact the process engineering field, his industry, or the environment more broadly, and that the economic implications of his projects were not attributable to him to a degree establishing national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_04_B5203; source_row=28688
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

License to practice the profession or certification for a particular profession or occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the submitted documents were identification cards or certificates of participation, not licenses or certifications to practice a profession. The 'Master of Sport' titles are acknowledgements of athletic achievement rather than official permission to practice the profession. The IOC coaching certificate did not establish completion of the course or that certification is required to be a judo coach.

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AAO found that the submitted documents were identification cards or certificates of participation, not licenses or certifications to practice a profession. The 'Master of Sport' titles are acknowledgements of athletic achievement rather than official permission to practice the profession. The IOC coaching certificate did not establish completion of the course or that certification is required to be a judo coach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_07_B5203; source_row=28699
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

At least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner failed to clearly establish full-time experience in a defined occupation. The reference letters were of questionable credibility due to identical structure and phrasing, and neither the letters nor the record established that the Petitioner performed as a paid full-time professional athlete.

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AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner failed to clearly establish full-time experience in a defined occupation. The reference letters were of questionable credibility due to identical structure and phrasing, and neither the letters nor the record established that the Petitioner performed as a paid full-time professional athlete.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_07_B5203; source_row=28698
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Commanded a salary or other remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not submit any evidence of salary or other remuneration for services.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner did not submit any evidence of salary or other remuneration for services.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-20_07_B5203; source_row=28700
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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