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

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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 that the Petitioner's evidence and arguments focused on the importance of the financial advisory field and profession generally, and on her own experience and skills, rather than on the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor.…

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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 found that the Petitioner's evidence and arguments focused on the importance of the financial advisory field and profession generally, and on her own experience and skills, rather than on the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner's projections of economic impact did not establish substantial positive economic effects on a national level, and she failed to identify specific economically distressed areas or provide supporting documentation for her claims.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_06_B5203; source_row=42119
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed its prior appeal decision that the Petitioner failed to show her endeavor would have substantial positive economic effects or broader impact on the nutrition field beyond her direct clientele. AAO rejected the argument that employing one U.S.…

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 affirmed its prior appeal decision that the Petitioner failed to show her endeavor would have substantial positive economic effects or broader impact on the nutrition field beyond her direct clientele. AAO rejected the argument that employing one U.S. worker suffices for national importance, noting Dhanasar's use of the plural 'workers.' AAO also found the business plan did not support the broader dissemination activities described by counsel on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_04_B5203; source_row=42113
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

EB-2 advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's employment letters were insufficiently detailed to establish five years of progressive experience in the specialty, and on motion the Petitioner offered nothing new to overcome that finding.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's employment letters were insufficiently detailed to establish five years of progressive experience in the specialty, and on motion the Petitioner offered nothing new to overcome that finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_03_B5203; source_row=42109
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong in the prior appeal decision because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the second prong. On the current motion, the issue remains reserved.

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 reserved this prong in the prior appeal decision because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the second prong. On the current motion, the issue remains reserved.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_06_B5203; source_row=42120
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong in the prior appeal decision because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the third prong. On the current motion, the issue remains reserved.

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 reserved this prong in the prior appeal decision because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the third prong. On the current motion, the issue remains reserved.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_06_B5203; source_row=42121
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this prong on the prior appeal because the national importance finding under the first prong was dispositive. On the motion, AAO noted the contract submitted relates to this prong but is not relevant to the issue raised on motion (national importance), so it does not constitute new facts.

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 declined to reach this prong on the prior appeal because the national importance finding under the first prong was dispositive. On the motion, AAO noted the contract submitted relates to this prong but is not relevant to the issue raised on motion (national importance), so it does not constitute new facts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_04_B5203; source_row=42114
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this prong because the national importance finding under the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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 this prong because the national importance finding under the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_04_B5203; source_row=42115
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets DOL-certified job requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that part H.14's plain language imposes a five-year experience requirement that is not linked to either the primary or alternate experience criteria. Because the text is unambiguous, extrinsic evidence of drafting intent cannot be considered, and DOL's approval does not preclude USCIS from independently assessing the Beneficiary's qualifications.

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

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AAO agreed that part H.14's plain language imposes a five-year experience requirement that is not linked to either the primary or alternate experience criteria. Because the text is unambiguous, extrinsic evidence of drafting intent cannot be considered, and DOL's approval does not preclude USCIS from independently assessing the Beneficiary's qualifications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_01_B5203; source_row=42108
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO acknowledged the 1992 education certificate and some Yoruba-language teaching experience in accounting/taxation contexts but found the bulk of the Petitioner's education and experience relates to accounting and finance, not to the Yoruba self-enrichment education endeavor, contrasting unfavorably with typical Yoruba instructors who hold advanced degrees in relevant fields.

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 acknowledged the 1992 education certificate and some Yoruba-language teaching experience in accounting/taxation contexts but found the bulk of the Petitioner's education and experience relates to accounting and finance, not to the Yoruba self-enrichment education endeavor, contrasting unfavorably with typical Yoruba instructors who hold advanced degrees in relevant fields.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-02_05_B5203; source_row=42117
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the employment letters contained incongruous and overlapping timeframes that undermined their probative value. An updated self-reported resume without independent corroborating evidence cannot resolve the discrepancies. Additionally, more recent work experience submitted in the RFE response beginning in 2020 cannot establish eligibility as of the April 2019 filing date.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the employment letters contained incongruous and overlapping timeframes that undermined their probative value. An updated self-reported resume without independent corroborating evidence cannot resolve the discrepancies. Additionally, more recent work experience submitted in the RFE response beginning in 2020 cannot establish eligibility as of the April 2019 filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-29_01_B5203; source_row=42092
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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