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 20421–20430

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted without dispute that work as a middle school science teacher is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO accepted without dispute that work as a middle school science teacher is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-26_04_B5203; source_row=17642
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The reference letters, certificates, and other evidence demonstrate only local or institutional impact. General importance of education as a field and the aggregate efforts of many teachers do not give national scope to the work of each individual teacher. The NCLBA does not create or imply a blanket waiver for highly qualified foreign teachers.

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 reference letters, certificates, and other evidence demonstrate only local or institutional impact. General importance of education as a field and the aggregate efforts of many teachers do not give national scope to the work of each individual teacher. The NCLBA does not create or imply a blanket waiver for highly qualified foreign teachers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-26_04_B5203; source_row=17643
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's impact was limited to students at her school. A local-scale contribution to a national effort does not meet the NYSDOT threshold, and the aggregate national effect of thousands of teachers does not give national scope to the work of each individual teacher.

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 found that the petitioner's impact was limited to students at her school. A local-scale contribution to a national effort does not meet the NYSDOT threshold, and the aggregate national effect of thousands of teachers does not give national scope to the work of each individual teacher.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-26_02_B5203; source_row=17637
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted that the petitioner's work as an elementary school special education teacher is 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 accepted that the petitioner's work as an elementary school special education teacher is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-26_02_B5203; source_row=17636
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest to a substantially greater degree than U.S. workers with same minimum qualifications

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the petitioner's evidence of local achievements, awards of at most institutional or regional significance, and professional development did not establish that she would serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than similarly qualified U.S. workers.…

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 the petitioner's evidence of local achievements, awards of at most institutional or regional significance, and professional development did not establish that she would serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than similarly qualified U.S. workers. The NYSDOT guidelines do not require an item-by-item comparison, but the petitioner must establish a record of influence on the field as a whole, which the petitioner failed to do.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-26_01_B5203; source_row=17635
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 AAO found that the reference letters addressed only the petitioner's local effectiveness and personal qualities without demonstrating national-level influence. General arguments about the importance of education or legislative materials addressing education policy addressed only the 'substantial intrinsic merit' prong and did not demonstrate that the petitioner's specific work had a national-scope impact.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the reference letters addressed only the petitioner's local effectiveness and personal qualities without demonstrating national-level influence. General arguments about the importance of education or legislative materials addressing education policy addressed only the 'substantial intrinsic merit' prong and did not demonstrate that the petitioner's specific work had a national-scope impact. NYSDOT itself cited individual school teachers as an example of a profession where individual workers do not produce nationally scoped benefits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-26_01_B5203; source_row=17634
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that the petitioner established her work is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit, leaving the remaining two prongs at issue.

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 +
The AAO found that the petitioner established her work is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit, leaving the remaining two prongs at issue.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-26_01_B5203; source_row=17633
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets educational requirements of labor certification

Why the evidence was persuasive

Upon de novo review, the AAO found that the beneficiary may be deemed to possess a Master's degree in a related major field of study as required by the ETA Form 9089.

Why this is useful

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

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Upon de novo review, the AAO found that the beneficiary may be deemed to possess a Master's degree in a related major field of study as required by the ETA Form 9089.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-25_01_B5203; source_row=17632
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the petitioner failed to establish influence on the field as a whole. The witness letters were uncorroborated, potentially co-authored (sharing idiosyncratic language and formatting), and established only internal influence within his employers. The petitioner's bare assertions and counsel's unsupported claims did not constitute evidence. Self-employment provides no special exemption.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the petitioner failed to establish influence on the field as a whole. The witness letters were uncorroborated, potentially co-authored (sharing idiosyncratic language and formatting), and established only internal influence within his employers. The petitioner's bare assertions and counsel's unsupported claims did not constitute evidence. Self-employment provides no special exemption. A claimed professional shortage does not ground the waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-21_01_B5203; source_row=17630
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found wages paid were below the proffered wage in 2012 and 2013, net current assets were negative, and although 2012 net income exceeded one proffered wage, the petitioner failed to produce the proffered-wage and salary data for its other sponsored beneficiaries despite a specific RFE. Sonegawa totality factors did not save the petition.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found wages paid were below the proffered wage in 2012 and 2013, net current assets were negative, and although 2012 net income exceeded one proffered wage, the petitioner failed to produce the proffered-wage and salary data for its other sponsored beneficiaries despite a specific RFE. Sonegawa totality factors did not save the petition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-02-21_03_B5203; source_row=17631
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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