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 13811390

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 agreed with the Director that the Beneficiary was not well-positioned, finding that the three recommendation letters contained identical language undermining their probative value, the five conference papers were insufficient to show requisite interest or a track record of success, and the Beneficiary's past experience in oil and gas was not tied to the proposed endeavor.…

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Beneficiary was not well-positioned, finding that the three recommendation letters contained identical language undermining their probative value, the five conference papers were insufficient to show requisite interest or a track record of success, and the Beneficiary's past experience in oil and gas was not tied to the proposed endeavor. Internal company awards and years of experience with the petitioner were insufficient on their own.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_02_B5203; source_row=43105
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 business plan's projection of 12 employees within five years lacked sufficient explanatory basis and did not demonstrate operations on a scale of national importance. The letters of recommendation addressed the Petitioner's skills but not the national importance of the endeavor. Evidence addressed the general field of mining and fertilizers rather than the specific proposed endeavor.

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AAO found the business plan's projection of 12 employees within five years lacked sufficient explanatory basis and did not demonstrate operations on a scale of national importance. The letters of recommendation addressed the Petitioner's skills but not the national importance of the endeavor. Evidence addressed the general field of mining and fertilizers rather than the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_06_B5203; source_row=43116
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 found substantial merit established based on industry reports and government initiatives in the EV sector, but found national importance lacking. The supporting letters focused on the Beneficiary's experience, expertise, and value to the company rather than the specific prospective impact of his proposed endeavor.…

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AAO found substantial merit established based on industry reports and government initiatives in the EV sector, but found national importance lacking. The supporting letters focused on the Beneficiary's experience, expertise, and value to the company rather than the specific prospective impact of his proposed endeavor. Relying on the broader importance of the EV industry or the Petitioner's company impact does not establish the national importance of the Beneficiary's specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_01_B5203; source_row=43095
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 endeavor has substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The recommendation letters address the Petitioner's qualifications (prong two) rather than the broader prospective impact of his work; his mentoring and training activities are not shown to extend beyond his prospective employer; and the importance of an industry or the existence of a workforce shortage is not suf…

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The recommendation letters address the Petitioner's qualifications (prong two) rather than the broader prospective impact of his work; his mentoring and training activities are not shown to extend beyond his prospective employer; and the importance of an industry or the existence of a workforce shortage is not sufficient to establish national importance under Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_04_B5203; source_row=43110
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the endeavor has substantial merit in culture and health, but the recommendation letters and articles did not establish national importance because they praised past work rather than demonstrating the specific proposed endeavor would have broader national or global implications for her field.

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AAO found the endeavor has substantial merit in culture and health, but the recommendation letters and articles did not establish national importance because they praised past work rather than demonstrating the specific proposed endeavor would have broader national or global implications for her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_08_B5203; source_row=43123
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 found the business plan submitted in response to the RFE constituted a material change to the petition and therefore reviewed only the initial petition's proposed endeavor, which did not establish substantial merit or national importance.

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AAO found the business plan submitted in response to the RFE constituted a material change to the petition and therefore reviewed only the initial petition's proposed endeavor, which did not establish substantial merit or national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_05_B5203; source_row=43113
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 found that the Petitioner did not demonstrate the national importance of her proposed endeavor and that her motion arguments did not identify any incorrect application of law or USCIS policy.

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AAO found that the Petitioner did not demonstrate the national importance of her proposed endeavor and that her motion arguments did not identify any incorrect application of law or USCIS policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_07_B5203; source_row=43120
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found the first prong satisfied; the proposed endeavor in semiconductor power performance optimization was accepted as having substantial merit and national importance.

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Both the Director and AAO found the first prong satisfied; the proposed endeavor in semiconductor power performance optimization was accepted as having substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_02_B5203; source_row=43104
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reconsider – incorrect application of law or policy

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner mischaracterized the conclusions of the November 2024 decision, argued points that were not addressed in that decision, and failed to identify specific legal or policy errors in it. The Petitioner cannot revive issues from earlier decisions on a motion limited to the most recent decision.

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The Petitioner mischaracterized the conclusions of the November 2024 decision, argued points that were not addressed in that decision, and failed to identify specific legal or policy errors in it. The Petitioner cannot revive issues from earlier decisions on a motion limited to the most recent decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_01_B2203; source_row=43094
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reopen – new facts and documentary evidence

Why AAO was not persuaded

The motion documents did not include the evidence described in the brief. General descriptions of absent evidence do not amount to identifiable new facts that would show proper cause to reopen the proceeding.

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The motion documents did not include the evidence described in the brief. General descriptions of absent evidence do not amount to identifiable new facts that would show proper cause to reopen the proceeding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-18_01_B2203; source_row=43093
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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