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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 20701–20710
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
national in scope
What the decision said
Neither the director nor the AAO separately analyzed national scope; the dispositive issue was 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 +
Neither the director nor the AAO separately analyzed national scope; the dispositive issue was the third prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-05_14_B5203; source_row=17380 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
serves national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO concludes the petitioner failed to establish prospective national benefit substantially greater than that of a U.S. worker. Primary evidence of publications was not submitted; new exhibits (manuscript, family affidavits) are not independent evidence of publication; the petitioner had been retired for three years with no ongoing activity; and U.S. industry interest amounts to a single phosphate consulting offer.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
View full reasoning +
AAO concludes the petitioner failed to establish prospective national benefit substantially greater than that of a U.S. worker. Primary evidence of publications was not submitted; new exhibits (manuscript, family affidavits) are not independent evidence of publication; the petitioner had been retired for three years with no ongoing activity; and U.S. industry interest amounts to a single phosphate consulting offer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-05_14_B5203; source_row=17381 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The support letters were noncompliant with translation certification requirements and, even if compliant, were vague and failed to identify original contributions or their impact. Evidence of the ballet troupe's reputation was based on unreliable Wikipedia and self-promotional materials, and performing with ballet troupes does not itself constitute an original contribution of major significance.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
The support letters were noncompliant with translation certification requirements and, even if compliant, were vague and failed to identify original contributions or their impact. Evidence of the ballet troupe's reputation was based on unreliable Wikipedia and self-promotional materials, and performing with ballet troupes does not itself constitute an original contribution of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-04_01_B2203; source_row=17334 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Wikipedia content is unreliable, and even accepting the sales figures, the record does not show the petitioner's specific role in the ensemble's commercial success, such as featured billing on promotional materials.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
Wikipedia content is unreliable, and even accepting the sales figures, the record does not show the petitioner's specific role in the ensemble's commercial success, such as featured billing on promotional materials.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-04_01_B2203; source_row=17336 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO withdrew the director's finding that this criterion was met because the criterion is limited to visual arts, as confirmed by longstanding USCIS interpretation and a federal district court. As a musician, the petitioner did not create tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO withdrew the director's finding that this criterion was met because the criterion is limited to visual arts, as confirmed by longstanding USCIS interpretation and a federal district court. As a musician, the petitioner did not create tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-04_01_B2203; source_row=17335 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
national interest served to substantially greater degree than U.S. worker
Why AAO was not persuaded
The petitioner failed to show her individual merits rise to the level required for the waiver. Strong credentials and favorable performance reviews do not demonstrate influence on the field as a whole, and counsel's school-closure argument was unsupported and amounted to a collective rather than individual claim.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
View full reasoning +
The petitioner failed to show her individual merits rise to the level required for the waiver. Strong credentials and favorable performance reviews do not demonstrate influence on the field as a whole, and counsel's school-closure argument was unsupported and amounted to a collective rather than individual claim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-03_03_B5203; source_row=17331 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found that the petitioner's local teaching accomplishments, awards, and community recognition did not rise to the level of national-scope influence required under NYSDOT. Exceptional ability, even if demonstrated, does not eliminate the job offer requirement, and the petitioner failed to show a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole.
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's local teaching accomplishments, awards, and community recognition did not rise to the level of national-scope influence required under NYSDOT. Exceptional ability, even if demonstrated, does not eliminate the job offer requirement, and the petitioner failed to show a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-03_02_B5203; source_row=17328 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
AAO found that the petitioner's impact was confined to her own classroom and local schools; federal education statutes create collective national scope for the teaching profession as a whole, not for individual teachers; and her textbook accomplishments concerned the Philippines and had not been continued in the United States.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
View full reasoning +
AAO found that the petitioner's impact was confined to her own classroom and local schools; federal education statutes create collective national scope for the teaching profession as a whole, not for individual teachers; and her textbook accomplishments concerned the Philippines and had not been continued in the United States.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-12-03_01_B5203; source_row=17324 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c