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 12941–12950

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the third prong was not met but criticized the Director's reasoning, noting Dhanasar does not require a 'substantial impact in the field' and the Director failed to address Petitioner's impracticality argument. AAO concluded the record does not show the U.S.…

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 agreed the third prong was not met but criticized the Director's reasoning, noting Dhanasar does not require a 'substantial impact in the field' and the Director failed to address Petitioner's impracticality argument. AAO concluded the record does not show the U.S. will benefit from her artistic projects, that the national interest is sufficiently urgent, or that her contributions outweigh the protections of the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_01_B5203; source_row=25916
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 acknowledged substantial merit but found the Petitioner did not show that the prospective impact of her proposed endeavor extends beyond local and off-Broadway productions to influence the field of sound design or theatre industry more broadly, and did not show significant potential to employ U.S. workers 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.

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AAO acknowledged substantial merit but found the Petitioner did not show that the prospective impact of her proposed endeavor extends beyond local and off-Broadway productions to influence the field of sound design or theatre industry more broadly, and did not show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_01_B5203; source_row=25914
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record shows substantial merit but insufficient evidence that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor would extend beyond his clientele to broadly impact the accounting field or financial services industry at a national level. The company's modest staffing projections, sales forecasts, and geographic scope did not rise to the level of substantial positive economic effects contemplated by Dhanasar.

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 the record shows substantial merit but insufficient evidence that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor would extend beyond his clientele to broadly impact the accounting field or financial services industry at a national level. The company's modest staffing projections, sales forecasts, and geographic scope did not rise to the level of substantial positive economic effects contemplated by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_02_B5203; source_row=25917
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 Petitioner's proposed fitness-products import business has substantial merit but lacks national importance because he failed to show the endeavor's prospective impact would extend beyond his company to the broader field, U.S. exports, public health, or the fitness industry at the scale required by Dhanasar.

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 found the Petitioner's proposed fitness-products import business has substantial merit but lacks national importance because he failed to show the endeavor's prospective impact would extend beyond his company to the broader field, U.S. exports, public health, or the fitness industry at the scale required by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_03_B5203; source_row=25921
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not analyze prong two, having found prongs one and three dispositive.

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 did not analyze prong two, having found prongs one and three dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_01_B5203; source_row=25915
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 the United States to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_03_B5203; source_row=25923
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 declined to reach the second prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach the second prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_03_B5203; source_row=25922
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the translation certificates were properly certified, withdrew the Director's translation-based finding, and concluded the bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience establishes the advanced degree equivalent.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the translation certificates were properly certified, withdrew the Director's translation-based finding, and concluded the bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience establishes the advanced degree equivalent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-03_03_B5203; source_row=25920
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the awards were given to the Petitioner's companies, not to him individually. The post-hoc letters from awarding entities explaining his key role did not establish individual receipt of the awards, nor did the record establish that the awards were nationally or internationally recognized for excellence 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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AAO agreed the awards were given to the Petitioner's companies, not to him individually. The post-hoc letters from awarding entities explaining his key role did not establish individual receipt of the awards, nor did the record establish that the awards were nationally or internationally recognized for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-02_03_B2203; source_row=25900
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the articles were about the companies' business activities, not about the Petitioner himself; five articles did not mention him at all; 13 articles lacked required author or date; and the Petitioner did not establish the publications qualified as professional, major trade, or major media.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the articles were about the companies' business activities, not about the Petitioner himself; five articles did not mention him at all; 13 articles lacked required author or date; and the Petitioner did not establish the publications qualified as professional, major trade, or major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-06-02_03_B2203; source_row=25902
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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