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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 22112220

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhysician

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the Petitioner's descriptions of his proposed endeavor too vague and general to establish national importance. He failed to identify specific research areas, funding sources, or projected economic impacts, and the submitted articles spoke to the importance of risk management broadly rather than to the specific impact of his work.…

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 the Petitioner's descriptions of his proposed endeavor too vague and general to establish national importance. He failed to identify specific research areas, funding sources, or projected economic impacts, and the submitted articles spoke to the importance of risk management broadly rather than to the specific impact of his work. Even examining his employment-based claims, the Petitioner did not establish that his role affected the corporation as a whole or the national risk management sector.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_01_B5203; source_row=41816
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the evidence and assertions primarily focused on the Beneficiary's skills, experience, and the importance of his profession and industry, rather than the specific potential prospective impact of his proposed endeavor.…

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 +
AAO found that the evidence and assertions primarily focused on the Beneficiary's skills, experience, and the importance of his profession and industry, rather than the specific potential prospective impact of his proposed endeavor. There was no objective evidence that his MDM work was unique or novel, that it would be recognized or adopted industry-wide, or that it would have broader economic or societal implications rising to the level of national importance beyond his employer, its collaborators, and customers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_02_B5203; source_row=41822
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial success in the performing arts

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO reaffirmed that while the record showed the Petitioner worked on successful television and film projects, the record did not demonstrate that the commercial success of those projects was attributable to the Petitioner's specific contributions. AAO also rejected the argument that a totality/collective-impact analysis was required, since the Petitioner had not crossed the threshold of three criteria.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reaffirmed that while the record showed the Petitioner worked on successful television and film projects, the record did not demonstrate that the commercial success of those projects was attributable to the Petitioner's specific contributions. AAO also rejected the argument that a totality/collective-impact analysis was required, since the Petitioner had not crossed the threshold of three criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_02_B2203; source_row=41820
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the person in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the article was not about the Petitioner (it merely mentioned him in his role as dubbing director), and that the Petitioner did not establish the major media status of the website hosting the article, despite submitting SimilarWeb traffic data for the parent platform uol.com.br.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the article was not about the Petitioner (it merely mentioned him in his role as dubbing director), and that the Petitioner did not establish the major media status of the website hosting the article, despite submitting SimilarWeb traffic data for the parent platform uol.com.br.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_02_B2203; source_row=41819
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved this prong as unnecessary to reach, given that the Petitioner failed to satisfy the first prong of Dhanasar.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved this prong as unnecessary to reach, given that the Petitioner failed to satisfy the first prong of Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_06_B5203; source_row=41842
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved this prong as unnecessary to reach, given the Petitioner's failure on the first Dhanasar prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved this prong as unnecessary to reach, given the Petitioner's failure on the first Dhanasar prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_06_B5203; source_row=41843
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the Petitioner conflated importance of the field with the specific endeavor, did not adequately substantiate job-creation and revenue projections, and did not show impact beyond his prospective clients.

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 +
AAO concluded the Petitioner conflated importance of the field with the specific endeavor, did not adequately substantiate job-creation and revenue projections, and did not show impact beyond his prospective clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_08_B5203; source_row=41847
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination / totality of evidence

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits analysis because the Petitioner did not satisfy the first step (at least three criteria), making it unnecessary to reach step two.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the final merits analysis because the Petitioner did not satisfy the first step (at least three criteria), making it unnecessary to reach step two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_02_B2203; source_row=41821
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical EngineeringProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner's Ph.D. in Chemistry, extensive publication record, high citation rate relative to peers, expert letters documenting specific research impacts, and demonstrated progress in wastewater treatment research collectively showed he is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.

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 Ph.D. in Chemistry, extensive publication record, high citation rate relative to peers, expert letters documenting specific research impacts, and demonstrated progress in wastewater treatment research collectively showed he is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_11_B5203; source_row=41863
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical EngineeringProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner's documentation about PFAS, contaminated water health effects, relevant U.S. legislation and policy, and expert letters demonstrating broader implications for chemistry research sufficiently established national importance.

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 +
AAO found that the Petitioner's documentation about PFAS, contaminated water health effects, relevant U.S. legislation and policy, and expert letters demonstrating broader implications for chemistry research sufficiently established national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-18_11_B5203; source_row=41862
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment