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 20511–20520

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted that the petitioner's research in pediatric hematology and oncology is an area of substantial intrinsic merit, consistent with the director's finding.

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 research in pediatric hematology and oncology is an area of substantial intrinsic merit, consistent with the director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-24_02_B5203; source_row=17546
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 concluded that the benefits of the petitioner's work are national in scope based on independent expert letters showing her research influences the broader field, not just her institution.

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 concluded that the benefits of the petitioner's work are national in scope based on independent expert letters showing her research influences the broader field, not just her institution.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-24_02_B5203; source_row=17547
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO determined that independent expert testimony and citation evidence demonstrate the petitioner's specific contributions have influenced the field as a whole, satisfying the third NYSDOT prong by a preponderance of the 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 determined that independent expert testimony and citation evidence demonstrate the petitioner's specific contributions have influenced the field as a whole, satisfying the third NYSDOT prong by a preponderance of the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-24_02_B5203; source_row=17548
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

High compensation and exceptional ability do not suffice for a waiver. The petitioner must show a past history of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole, and she has not done so. Claims about future national impact are speculative, and the petitioner's salary is set by a step scale, not individual merit.

Why this is useful

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

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High compensation and exceptional ability do not suffice for a waiver. The petitioner must show a past history of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole, and she has not done so. Claims about future national impact are speculative, and the petitioner's salary is set by a step scale, not individual merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-23_02_B5203; source_row=17542
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty (alternative path to advanced degree)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Only 1,655 days of combined experience were verified—less than five years—and some experience predated the beneficiary's April 2003 bachelor's degree completion (she began work at one employer in January 2003). Pre-baccalaureate experience cannot count. Additionally, the progressiveness of the experience was questionable because the beneficiary worked as an intern after working as a full-time software engineer.

Why this is useful

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

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Only 1,655 days of combined experience were verified—less than five years—and some experience predated the beneficiary's April 2003 bachelor's degree completion (she began work at one employer in January 2003). Pre-baccalaureate experience cannot count. Additionally, the progressiveness of the experience was questionable because the beneficiary worked as an intern after working as a full-time software engineer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=17537
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent of a U.S. advanced degree above baccalaureate

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Diploma Supplement from the issuing university itself stated that secondary school—not a bachelor's degree—was the entry requirement, and that the program required 160 credit points (four years), matching U.S. undergraduate programs. EDGE confirmed the Swedish Magisterexamen is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree.…

Why this is useful

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

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The Diploma Supplement from the issuing university itself stated that secondary school—not a bachelor's degree—was the entry requirement, and that the program required 160 credit points (four years), matching U.S. undergraduate programs. EDGE confirmed the Swedish Magisterexamen is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The three evaluations all failed to address entry-level requirements and were inconsistent with the Diploma Supplement and EDGE; no independent objective evidence resolved these inconsistencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=17536
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 did not dispute that autism education has substantial intrinsic merit, consistent with the director's finding.

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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The AAO did not dispute that autism education has substantial intrinsic merit, consistent with the director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-23_02_B5203; source_row=17540
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 petitioner's decade of work in Massachusetts showed only local and regional impact. Claims that her programs would be implemented nationally were unsupported speculation, and the background evidence on autism's national importance did not translate the work of one educator into national-scope benefit.

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 petitioner's decade of work in Massachusetts showed only local and regional impact. Claims that her programs would be implemented nationally were unsupported speculation, and the background evidence on autism's national importance did not translate the work of one educator into national-scope benefit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-23_02_B5203; source_row=17541
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Bachelor's degree path: 84 months JAVA/J2EE experience and special skills

Why AAO was not persuaded

The experience letters confirmed only 1,421 days (less than 47 months) of JAVA/J2EE development experience, far short of the required 84 months (2,555 days). No new evidence was submitted on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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The experience letters confirmed only 1,421 days (less than 47 months) of JAVA/J2EE development experience, far short of the required 84 months (2,555 days). No new evidence was submitted on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=17538
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Master's degree path: foreign equivalent of MS degree plus four years of experience and special skills

Why AAO was not persuaded

As established in the advanced degree analysis, the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary's Swedish degree is the foreign equivalent of a U.S. master's degree, foreclosing the master's degree alternative path under the labor certification.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
As established in the advanced degree analysis, the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary's Swedish degree is the foreign equivalent of a U.S. master's degree, foreclosing the master's degree alternative path under the labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=17539
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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