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.
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
Why the evidence was persuasive
The contracts, tax forms, employer letter, and BLS wage data showing the petitioner's earnings above the 90th percentile for Independent Artists collectively establish that the petitioner commanded a high salary in relation to others 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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The contracts, tax forms, employer letter, and BLS wage data showing the petitioner's earnings above the 90th percentile for Independent Artists collectively establish that the petitioner commanded a high salary in relation to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_01_B2203; source_row=17790 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mathematics / Statistics
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
national in scope
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found that the petitioner's impact was confined to one school and one district. Her claims about long-term influence on students were speculative and unsupported, and a wider migrant summer school catchment area did not translate into national 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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The AAO found that the petitioner's impact was confined to one school and one district. Her claims about long-term influence on students were speculative and unsupported, and a wider migrant summer school catchment area did not translate into national scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_02_B5203; source_row=17799 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mathematics / Statistics
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found that improved test scores at one school do not show national influence on the field of elementary education. The petitioner's evidence addressed only her impact at one school, and her adoption of a commercially developed technology tool did not constitute an innovation attributable to her. Her potential future publications remained entirely speculative.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
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The AAO found that improved test scores at one school do not show national influence on the field of elementary education. The petitioner's evidence addressed only her impact at one school, and her adoption of a commercially developed technology tool did not constitute an innovation attributable to her. Her potential future publications remained entirely speculative.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_02_B5203; source_row=17800 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial intrinsic merit
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO acknowledged that general statements about education and educational reform address the intrinsic merit of education, implying this prong could be met, but found it insufficient to satisfy the other prongs.
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 that general statements about education and educational reform address the intrinsic merit of education, implying this prong could be met, but found it insufficient to satisfy the other prongs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_03_B5203; source_row=17801 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
national in scope
Why AAO was not persuaded
The petitioner's impact was local, confined to her own school or district. Her co-authored book was published in the Philippines and had no demonstrated impact on U.S. education, and general assertions about the importance of education do not lend national scope to one individual teacher's classroom efforts.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
View full reasoning +
The petitioner's impact was local, confined to her own school or district. Her co-authored book was published in the Philippines and had no demonstrated impact on U.S. education, and general assertions about the importance of education do not lend national scope to one individual teacher's classroom efforts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_03_B5203; source_row=17802 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO affirmed that the petitioner's evidence did not establish that her influence on the field is national in scope, and that her past record does not justify projections of future benefit to the national interest at the level required for a waiver.
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 affirmed that the petitioner's evidence did not establish that her influence on the field is national in scope, and that her past record does not justify projections of future benefit to the national interest at the level required for a waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17774 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
member of the professions holding an advanced degree
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found the director's summary conclusion unsupported by the record. The petitioner's intended occupations do not meet the regulatory definition of a profession: day care/preschool teaching requires only an associate's degree, sculpting lacks a bachelor's degree requirement, and art therapy credentials are unestablished.
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 director's summary conclusion unsupported by the record. The petitioner's intended occupations do not meet the regulatory definition of a profession: day care/preschool teaching requires only an associate's degree, sculpting lacks a bachelor's degree requirement, and art therapy credentials are unestablished.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17775 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c