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 18891–18900

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO reiterates from its prior decision that the petitioner seeks employment in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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 reiterates from its prior decision that the petitioner seeks employment in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-08_03_B5203; source_row=19363
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO reiterates that the proposed benefits of the petitioner's medical research are national in scope.

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 reiterates that the proposed benefits of the petitioner's medical research are national in scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-08_03_B5203; source_row=19364
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves the national interest to a substantially greater degree than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the petitioner failed to document a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole. Conference talks and the launched payment network occurred after the 2010 filing date and could not retroactively establish eligibility, and assertions of impact were unsupported by documentary evidence.

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 concluded the petitioner failed to document a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole. Conference talks and the launched payment network occurred after the 2010 filing date and could not retroactively establish eligibility, and assertions of impact were unsupported by documentary evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-08_04_B5203; source_row=19368
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

What the decision said

AAO did not separately analyze intrinsic merit, focusing its analysis on the third NYSDOT prong.

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 did not separately analyze intrinsic merit, focusing its analysis on the third NYSDOT prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-08_04_B5203; source_row=19366
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

What the decision said

AAO did not separately analyze the national scope prong, instead focusing on the third 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 did not separately analyze the national scope prong, instead focusing on the third prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-08_04_B5203; source_row=19367
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

exceptional salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's prevailing wage comparison used a Level I (entry-level) wage, which reflects only the lower end of the pay scale, excluding more experienced and higher-paid workers. The phantom stock agreement also did not establish that the beneficiary actually commanded remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability, as conditions remained unmet and no evidence was submitted that payment was actually received.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner's prevailing wage comparison used a Level I (entry-level) wage, which reflects only the lower end of the pay scale, excluding more experienced and higher-paid workers. The phantom stock agreement also did not establish that the beneficiary actually commanded remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability, as conditions remained unmet and no evidence was submitted that payment was actually received.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-07_02_B5203; source_row=19346
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letter indicated that the petitioning company—not the beneficiary personally—held membership in the organization, which does not satisfy the plain language of the criterion requiring the alien's own membership. AAO also declined to consider the trainer role as comparable evidence because the petitioner had not established the criterion was inapplicable to the occupation.

Why this is useful

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

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The letter indicated that the petitioning company—not the beneficiary personally—held membership in the organization, which does not satisfy the plain language of the criterion requiring the alien's own membership. AAO also declined to consider the trainer role as comparable evidence because the petitioner had not established the criterion was inapplicable to the occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-07_02_B5203; source_row=19347
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets terms of labor certification and qualifies for classification

What the decision said

AAO accepted that the beneficiary meets the terms of the labor certification, but declined to reach whether the beneficiary individually qualifies as an advanced degree professional because the position itself does not require an advanced degree, rendering the individual beneficiary qualification question moot.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO accepted that the beneficiary meets the terms of the labor certification, but declined to reach whether the beneficiary individually qualifies as an advanced degree professional because the position itself does not require an advanced degree, rendering the individual beneficiary qualification question moot.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-07_03_B5203; source_row=19353
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

Position meets advanced degree professional requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded that USCIS retains independent authority to interpret the plain language of the labor certification to determine if the position meets the advanced degree professional threshold.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded that USCIS retains independent authority to interpret the plain language of the labor certification to determine if the position meets the advanced degree professional threshold. The alternate requirements (unspecified education plus 4 years experience, or bachelor's degree plus 2 years experience) fall below the required minimum of an advanced degree or a baccalaureate plus five years of progressive specialty experience, so the position fails the classification requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-07_03_B5203; source_row=19352
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded that the patents, expert letters, trade publications, and patent attorney's analysis showing citations to the beneficiary's patents established a degree of influence on the field and a high level of success relative to peers, justifying projection of future benefit greater than that of an available U.S. worker.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO concluded that the patents, expert letters, trade publications, and patent attorney's analysis showing citations to the beneficiary's patents established a degree of influence on the field and a high level of success relative to peers, justifying projection of future benefit greater than that of an available U.S. worker.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-05-07_01_B5203; source_row=19342
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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