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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 11171–11180

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 concluded the record did not establish that the endeavor has broader implications within the field or significant potential to employ U.S. workers, and that the Petitioner's focus on the general field of software development did not address the specific endeavor's national importance.

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 concluded the record did not establish that the endeavor has broader implications within the field or significant potential to employ U.S. workers, and that the Petitioner's focus on the general field of software development did not address the specific endeavor's national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_07_B5203; source_row=28094
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Economics

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the Petitioner showed her proposed employment as an economist has substantial merit, she failed to establish national importance because she did not specifically describe her proposed endeavor's prospective impact. She referenced past work and claimed models could be applied to U.S. welfare programs, but did not describe the specific model or how it would have broader implications.…

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 +
While the Petitioner showed her proposed employment as an economist has substantial merit, she failed to establish national importance because she did not specifically describe her proposed endeavor's prospective impact. She referenced past work and claimed models could be applied to U.S. welfare programs, but did not describe the specific model or how it would have broader implications. Similarly, her proposal to expand understanding of a foreign economy lacked evidence of national importance or a detailed description of future intentions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_03_B5203; source_row=28079
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the final merits standard was not met. The Petitioner's leading roles lacked descriptions of specific achievements; his published articles did not set him apart from co-authors or establish prestige of publications; his media appearances were largely geographically limited; his remuneration showed high pay only for 2018–2019 without sustained evidence; and his organizational service did not demonstrate acclaim in…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed the final merits standard was not met. The Petitioner's leading roles lacked descriptions of specific achievements; his published articles did not set him apart from co-authors or establish prestige of publications; his media appearances were largely geographically limited; his remuneration showed high pay only for 2018–2019 without sustained evidence; and his organizational service did not demonstrate acclaim in the international tax community.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_03_B2203; source_row=28078
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained acclaim and very top of field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO's aggregate review found minimal documentary support for sustained acclaim: notable absence of commercial-success evidence (criterion x) for a performing artist, sparse documentation of recordings/albums, low YouTube view counts without comparators, and uncorroborated assertions in support letters.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO's aggregate review found minimal documentary support for sustained acclaim: notable absence of commercial-success evidence (criterion x) for a performing artist, sparse documentation of recordings/albums, low YouTube view counts without comparators, and uncorroborated assertions in support letters.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_02_B2203; source_row=28071
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

The AAO agreed substantial merit was shown but found the recommendation letters focused retrospectively on past achievements, contained unsupported claims and misattributions, and did not show how the specific prospective endeavor would have national or global implications or substantial positive economic effects.

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 +
The AAO agreed substantial merit was shown but found the recommendation letters focused retrospectively on past achievements, contained unsupported claims and misattributions, and did not show how the specific prospective endeavor would have national or global implications or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_08_B5203; source_row=28097
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The tax return itemized the cited amounts as assets held (shares of stock and corporate interest), not income earned, with stock value held constant year-over-year and the corporate interest reflecting a net-zero return on a capital contribution.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The tax return itemized the cited amounts as assets held (shares of stock and corporate interest), not income earned, with stock value held constant year-over-year and the corporate interest reflecting a net-zero return on a capital contribution. Petitioner's actual declared income of R$49,828.06 was below the junior-level salary for a small organization in his own salary survey, not nearly ten times the highest master's-level salary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_05_B5203; source_row=28088
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2006 diploma does not indicate the corresponding academic level and neither the 2000 nor 2006 diploma is supported by a qualifying independent credentials evaluation. The opinion letter author had a prior working relationship with the Petitioner and thus lacks independence. The record fails to establish equivalency to a U.S. advanced degree.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The 2006 diploma does not indicate the corresponding academic level and neither the 2000 nor 2006 diploma is supported by a qualifying independent credentials evaluation. The opinion letter author had a prior working relationship with the Petitioner and thus lacks independence. The record fails to establish equivalency to a U.S. advanced degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_02_B5203; source_row=28073
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes the Petitioner did not show how working as a marketing manager would have broader implications beyond her immediate employer(s), and that focus on the importance of marketing in general does not address the specific endeavor.

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 concludes the Petitioner did not show how working as a marketing manager would have broader implications beyond her immediate employer(s), and that focus on the importance of marketing in general does not address the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_06_B5203; source_row=28091
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the second prong because the petition failed on the first prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved its opinion on the second prong because the petition failed on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_07_B5203; source_row=28095
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the third prong because the petition failed on the first prong.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved its opinion on the third prong because the petition failed on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-07-14_07_B5203; source_row=28096
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment