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 10781–10790

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and resolution of the second prong was unnecessary to the outcome.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO explicitly reserved opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and resolution of the second prong was unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-15_14_B5203; source_row=28659
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer and labor certification

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved opinion on the third Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and resolution of the third prong was unnecessary to the outcome.

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 explicitly reserved opinion on the third Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and resolution of the third prong was unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-15_14_B5203; source_row=28660
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

PhysicsResearcherPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the proposed endeavor lacks national importance. The Petitioner's work on internal manufacturing processes at one company and his briefly-described future research projects were not shown to have broader prospective impact, and the supporting documents did not specifically address his proposed endeavor.

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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AAO concluded the proposed endeavor lacks national importance. The Petitioner's work on internal manufacturing processes at one company and his briefly-described future research projects were not shown to have broader prospective impact, and the supporting documents did not specifically address his proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_02_B5203; source_row=28595
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that because the Petitioner started working in tourism before earning her first bachelor's degree, her positions did not require a bachelor's degree, and therefore the occupation does not qualify as a 'profession' under the regulatory definition.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found that because the Petitioner started working in tourism before earning her first bachelor's degree, her positions did not require a bachelor's degree, and therefore the occupation does not qualify as a 'profession' under the regulatory definition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_04_B5203; source_row=28601
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's vague and inconsistent descriptions of her proposed endeavor, reliance on generalizations about the tourism industry, and a business plan assembled from unidentified sources did not establish the national importance of her specific proposed work.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed that the Petitioner's vague and inconsistent descriptions of her proposed endeavor, reliance on generalizations about the tourism industry, and a business plan assembled from unidentified sources did not establish the national importance of her specific proposed work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_04_B5203; source_row=28602
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 substantial merit was established (withdrawing the Director on that point) but national importance was not. The endeavor's prospective impact does not extend beyond the Petitioner's own company and clientele, and the projected employment and economic effects are not substantial enough to meet the Dhanasar standard.

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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AAO found substantial merit was established (withdrawing the Director on that point) but national importance was not. The endeavor's prospective impact does not extend beyond the Petitioner's own company and clientele, and the projected employment and economic effects are not substantial enough to meet the Dhanasar standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_03_B5203; source_row=28598
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

exceptional salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner failed to provide salary data for her specific Ukrainian region or evidence she actually received a salary (no tax documents, pay stubs, or bank statements). Moreover, even an above-average salary alone does not demonstrate exceptional ability relative to others in the field.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The Petitioner failed to provide salary data for her specific Ukrainian region or evidence she actually received a salary (no tax documents, pay stubs, or bank statements). Moreover, even an above-average salary alone does not demonstrate exceptional ability relative to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_01_B5203; source_row=28589
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted no evidence of membership in any professional association.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The Petitioner submitted no evidence of membership in any professional association.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_01_B5203; source_row=28590
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The academic equivalency evaluation lacked sufficient analysis of course content equivalencies and had unexplained conversion of academic hours to credits. The Petitioner's ECTS credits fell below minimum requirements for both her specialist and master diplomas, and the doctoral program was insufficiently documented.…

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The academic equivalency evaluation lacked sufficient analysis of course content equivalencies and had unexplained conversion of academic hours to credits. The Petitioner's ECTS credits fell below minimum requirements for both her specialist and master diplomas, and the doctoral program was insufficiently documented. Even assuming a bachelor's degree, employer letters were insufficient to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_01_B5203; source_row=28585
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

Salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The income documents were ambiguous as to currency, frequency, and pre-filing deposits. Even if salary could be established, comparison to U.S. median wages was not appropriate since the salary appeared to be earned abroad, and evidence of above-median salary does not alone demonstrate exceptional ability.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

View full reasoning +
The income documents were ambiguous as to currency, frequency, and pre-filing deposits. Even if salary could be established, comparison to U.S. median wages was not appropriate since the salary appeared to be earned abroad, and evidence of above-median salary does not alone demonstrate exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_05_B5203; source_row=28608
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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