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 12341–12350

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

Although the Petitioner's proposed work as a food safety professional has substantial merit, the record does not show that the prospective impact of the endeavor rises to national importance, as the work would not extend beyond the Petitioner's potential employers to more broadly impact the field or U.S. food production system. The Petitioner also failed to demonstrate significant potential for U.S.…

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Although the Petitioner's proposed work as a food safety professional has substantial merit, the record does not show that the prospective impact of the endeavor rises to national importance, as the work would not extend beyond the Petitioner's potential employers to more broadly impact the field or U.S. food production system. The Petitioner also failed to demonstrate significant potential for U.S. job creation or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_04_B5203; source_row=26636
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManagerBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the totality of evidence—two very recent media articles, modest citation counts, internal employer recognition rather than industry-wide individual acclaim, and insufficiently corroborated expert letters—did not establish sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of the field.

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AAO agreed that the totality of evidence—two very recent media articles, modest citation counts, internal employer recognition rather than industry-wide individual acclaim, and insufficiently corroborated expert letters—did not establish sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_04_B2203; source_row=26634
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalFaculty

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed surgical and teaching duties have substantial merit but that she did not provide sufficient evidence that the prospective impact of her proposed endeavor rises to the level of national importance. A regional dental shortage and underrepresentation of women in the field do not demonstrate that her individual clinical and teaching work will have broader national impact.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed surgical and teaching duties have substantial merit but that she did not provide sufficient evidence that the prospective impact of her proposed endeavor rises to the level of national importance. A regional dental shortage and underrepresentation of women in the field do not demonstrate that her individual clinical and teaching work will have broader national impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_05_B5203; source_row=26643
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

AAO agreed the Petitioner's work has substantial merit but found the record insufficient to show that his competing and coaching activities would impact the sport of taekwondo more broadly at a level commensurate with national importance, and that he had not demonstrated significant potential for job creation or substantial positive economic effects.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner's work has substantial merit but found the record insufficient to show that his competing and coaching activities would impact the sport of taekwondo more broadly at a level commensurate with national importance, and that he had not demonstrated significant potential for job creation or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_03_B5203; source_row=26626
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherFounder

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's early career showed some international recognition but this was not sustained. His films' awards were at festivals of varying or lesser prestige, translations of key foreign-language articles were incomplete, and the most recent award predated filing by nine years. He was not shown to be among the small percentage at the top of the field.

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AAO found the Petitioner's early career showed some international recognition but this was not sustained. His films' awards were at festivals of varying or lesser prestige, translations of key foreign-language articles were incomplete, and the most recent award predated filing by nine years. He was not shown to be among the small percentage at the top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_06_B2203; source_row=26649
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO weighed the totality of the evidence and found that the Petitioner's recent judging, exhibitions, employment with prestigious brands, and salary did not establish sustained national or international acclaim. The acclaim evidenced was attributable to brands and games rather than to the Petitioner personally.

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AAO weighed the totality of the evidence and found that the Petitioner's recent judging, exhibitions, employment with prestigious brands, and salary did not establish sustained national or international acclaim. The acclaim evidenced was attributable to brands and games rather than to the Petitioner personally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_07_B2203; source_row=26657
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director's framing but reached the same result: the articles are not about the Petitioner but rather use her as an expert source on topics such as China's age of consent laws, a portion of an article about 13 legal experts is not fully translated, and one submission is a direct quotation or authored by the Petitioner rather than about her.…

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AAO disagreed with the Director's framing but reached the same result: the articles are not about the Petitioner but rather use her as an expert source on topics such as China's age of consent laws, a portion of an article about 13 legal experts is not fully translated, and one submission is a direct quotation or authored by the Petitioner rather than about her. AAO agreed the qualifying media requirement was also not established for at least one article.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_02_B2203; source_row=26613
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 record supports substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner's proposed consulting services would not extend sufficiently beyond her company and its future clientele to impact the broader field or economy at a national level, and she did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial positive economic effects.

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AAO found the record supports substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner's proposed consulting services would not extend sufficiently beyond her company and its future clientele to impact the broader field or economy at a national level, and she did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_06_B5203; source_row=26650
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that the comparative salary data was for sales and marketing managers rather than chief executives, which did not match the Petitioner's actual role.…

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that the comparative salary data was for sales and marketing managers rather than chief executives, which did not match the Petitioner's actual role. Even assuming the data was appropriate, the Petitioner improperly compared his total compensation (including profit share) to surveys reporting only base salary, and his base salary of $195,000 did not reach the 'high' wage threshold for the compared occupations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_01_B2203; source_row=26610
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The FVFC official's letter did not address membership requirements. The Petitioner provided only his own unsubstantiated characterization of those requirements with no corroborating evidence such as bylaws. The IFBB membership claim was abandoned on motion.

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The FVFC official's letter did not address membership requirements. The Petitioner provided only his own unsubstantiated characterization of those requirements with no corroborating evidence such as bylaws. The IFBB membership claim was abandoned on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-27_05_B2203; source_row=26640
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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