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 10941–10950

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

AAO withdrew the Director's substantial-merit finding because the Petitioner failed to identify a specific proposed endeavor at filing, and his later-asserted endeavors constituted impermissible material changes under Izummi and Bardouille. AAO also held the Petitioner failed to show national importance, as the focus is on the specific endeavor's broader implications, not the importance of the field of weightlifting itself.

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AAO withdrew the Director's substantial-merit finding because the Petitioner failed to identify a specific proposed endeavor at filing, and his later-asserted endeavors constituted impermissible material changes under Izummi and Bardouille. AAO also held the Petitioner failed to show national importance, as the focus is on the specific endeavor's broader implications, not the importance of the field of weightlifting itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_03_B5203; source_row=28380
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner's membership in the Association of American Educators began after the petition's filing date, and eligibility must be established at the time of filing.

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Petitioner's membership in the Association of American Educators began after the petition's filing date, and eligibility must be established at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_08_B5203; source_row=28405
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record contained no documentation showing the Petitioner commanded a salary indicative of exceptional ability relative to others in the field.

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The record contained no documentation showing the Petitioner commanded a salary indicative of exceptional ability relative to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_08_B5203; source_row=28404
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that support e-mails came from personal accounts without organizational affiliation and were not probative of research implementation; reference letters did not provide examples of how her research influenced the field; publications lacked citation evidence or other indicators of significance; and a post-filing employment offer could not establish a record of success at time of filing.

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AAO found that support e-mails came from personal accounts without organizational affiliation and were not probative of research implementation; reference letters did not provide examples of how her research influenced the field; publications lacked citation evidence or other indicators of significance; and a post-filing employment offer could not establish a record of success at time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_06_B5203; source_row=28392
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the record supports substantial merit but not national importance. The evidence showed collective value of ESL teachers but did not demonstrate that this individual teacher's specific proposed endeavor has broader implications for the field beyond her particular school.…

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AAO found that the record supports substantial merit but not national importance. The evidence showed collective value of ESL teachers but did not demonstrate that this individual teacher's specific proposed endeavor has broader implications for the field beyond her particular school. A reported teacher shortage alone does not render an individual teacher's work nationally important, as the labor certification process addresses such shortages.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_02_B5203; source_row=28377
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 agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the petitioner failed to show national importance. The evidence related to the general importance of marketing rather than the prospective national impact of the petitioner's specific endeavor, and the petitioner did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or produce substantial positive economic effects at a national level.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the petitioner failed to show national importance. The evidence related to the general importance of marketing rather than the prospective national impact of the petitioner's specific endeavor, and the petitioner did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or produce substantial positive economic effects at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_04_B5203; source_row=28383
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Membership in the professions (baccalaureate minimum requirement)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner was hired as a senior manpower and recruitment officer in 2001, five years before earning his bachelor's degree, establishing that a baccalaureate degree is not the minimum entry requirement for the occupation. Additionally, the Petitioner's stated intention to work as a freelancer or for unnamed employers made it impossible to confirm the minimum educational requirement for the intended U.S. role.

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AAO found the Petitioner was hired as a senior manpower and recruitment officer in 2001, five years before earning his bachelor's degree, establishing that a baccalaureate degree is not the minimum entry requirement for the occupation. Additionally, the Petitioner's stated intention to work as a freelancer or for unnamed employers made it impossible to confirm the minimum educational requirement for the intended U.S. role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_07_B5203; source_row=28395
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 focused on national importance, finding the Petitioner's arguments relied on the collective importance of HR professionals broadly and did not show the broader implications of his specific individual work. Importance to a specific employer or client does not translate into national importance.…

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AAO focused on national importance, finding the Petitioner's arguments relied on the collective importance of HR professionals broadly and did not show the broader implications of his specific individual work. Importance to a specific employer or client does not translate into national importance. The new company registration and business plan were submitted after the denial and could not establish error in the Director's decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_07_B5203; source_row=28397
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign degree equivalency to U.S. advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director's analysis incomplete because the Petitioner did not provide a credential evaluation or other documentary evidence establishing that his foreign MBA degree is equivalent to a U.S. advanced degree.

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AAO found the Director's analysis incomplete because the Petitioner did not provide a credential evaluation or other documentary evidence establishing that his foreign MBA degree is equivalent to a U.S. advanced degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_07_B5203; source_row=28394
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 Petitioner's proposed endeavor did not sufficiently extend beyond her employer and future clientele to impact the financial management field or U.S. economy more broadly at a level commensurate with national importance. New evidence submitted on motion did not overcome this finding.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor did not sufficiently extend beyond her employer and future clientele to impact the financial management field or U.S. economy more broadly at a level commensurate with national importance. New evidence submitted on motion did not overcome this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-23_01_B5203; source_row=28374
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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