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 10811–10820

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner's proposed residential construction work has substantial merit, he failed to show that the prospective impact of his endeavor rises to the level of national importance.…

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AAO found that while the Petitioner's proposed residential construction work has substantial merit, he failed to show that the prospective impact of his endeavor rises to the level of national importance. The Petitioner's activities are localized to Florida, the claimed job creation was not adequately documented (e.g., it is implausible that six residential homes required two ongoing land surveyors), and there was insufficient evidence of substantial positive economic effects for the region or nation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_01_B5203; source_row=28554
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

member of professions holding advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the credential evaluation did not analyze the Petitioner's specific foreign education and the AACRAO EDGE database indicated her degree was equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's. Additionally, her degree was awarded in January 2015 and the petition was filed in August 2018, leaving less than five years of possible post-baccalaureate experience, precluding the alternative advanced degree showing.

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AAO found the credential evaluation did not analyze the Petitioner's specific foreign education and the AACRAO EDGE database indicated her degree was equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's. Additionally, her degree was awarded in January 2015 and the petition was filed in August 2018, leaving less than five years of possible post-baccalaureate experience, precluding the alternative advanced degree showing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_05_B5203; source_row=28572
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner waived the national importance issue by not challenging it on appeal. AAO also independently agreed the endeavor lacked national importance, as it would not broadly impact U.S. healthcare interests or provide substantial positive economic effects, analogous to the teaching activities found insufficient in Dhanasar itself.

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The Petitioner waived the national importance issue by not challenging it on appeal. AAO also independently agreed the endeavor lacked national importance, as it would not broadly impact U.S. healthcare interests or provide substantial positive economic effects, analogous to the teaching activities found insufficient in Dhanasar itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_02_B5203; source_row=28563
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's expertise and training relate to the second prong but that, because the proposed endeavor itself was not sufficiently identified, it was impossible to conclude that the Petitioner is well-positioned to advance it.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's expertise and training relate to the second prong but that, because the proposed endeavor itself was not sufficiently identified, it was impossible to conclude that the Petitioner is well-positioned to advance it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_03_B5203; source_row=28567
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to clearly identify a specific proposed endeavor, noting he presented background information on a variety of distinct IT occupations without specifying whether his proposed work involves consulting, developing, engineering, managing, or some combination. Without a sufficiently identified endeavor, neither its merit nor its national importance can be assessed.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to clearly identify a specific proposed endeavor, noting he presented background information on a variety of distinct IT occupations without specifying whether his proposed work involves consulting, developing, engineering, managing, or some combination. Without a sufficiently identified endeavor, neither its merit nor its national importance can be assessed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_03_B5203; source_row=28566
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in certain media

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion and did not offer additional arguments on appeal, so the issue is considered abandoned.

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AAO noted that the Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion and did not offer additional arguments on appeal, so the issue is considered abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=28559
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved this criterion as unnecessary to reach, because the Petitioner could not satisfy the threshold requirement of meeting at least three criteria regardless of the outcome on this prong.

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AAO explicitly reserved this criterion as unnecessary to reach, because the Petitioner could not satisfy the threshold requirement of meeting at least three criteria regardless of the outcome on this prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=28561
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong three because the first prong was not satisfied, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

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AAO declined to reach prong three because the first prong was not satisfied, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_04_B5203; source_row=28571
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong two because the first prong was not satisfied, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

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AAO declined to reach prong two because the first prong was not satisfied, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_04_B5203; source_row=28570
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner proposed many vague ideas for IT work without identifying a specific endeavor. His past successes benefited individual employers and clients but did not demonstrate broader field-level or national impact. Recommendation letters and the expert opinion letter were conclusory and insufficiently corroborated.

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The Petitioner proposed many vague ideas for IT work without identifying a specific endeavor. His past successes benefited individual employers and clients but did not demonstrate broader field-level or national impact. Recommendation letters and the expert opinion letter were conclusory and insufficiently corroborated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_04_B5203; source_row=28569
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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