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 23861–23870

NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO had previously acknowledged the national scope of the petitioner's proposed work, and this was not in dispute on motion.

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The AAO had previously acknowledged the national scope of the petitioner's proposed work, and this was not in dispute on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_04_B5203; source_row=13633
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy9 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the petitioner's book project speculative as it had not yet been published as of the filing date, and noted the record lacked first-hand evidence that contributing authors had committed to the project. The separately published book post-dated the filing date and was not shown to be peer-reviewed.…

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 found the petitioner's book project speculative as it had not yet been published as of the filing date, and noted the record lacked first-hand evidence that contributing authors had committed to the project. The separately published book post-dated the filing date and was not shown to be peer-reviewed. The 2007 article's citation history was consistent with the journal's average impact factor, indicating no unusual influence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_05_B5203; source_row=13635
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy9 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the institute provided no examples of actions taken under the petitioner's direction, and that the national interest waiver is not intended to facilitate entry of an alien whose benefit to the national interest would be entirely speculative.

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 AAO found that the institute provided no examples of actions taken under the petitioner's direction, and that the national interest waiver is not intended to facilitate entry of an alien whose benefit to the national interest would be entirely speculative.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_05_B5203; source_row=13636
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy9 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's evidence fell short of establishing that he would serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than a U.S. worker, finding his arguments speculative and new evidence inapplicable due to the filing-date rule.

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 agreed with the director that the petitioner's evidence fell short of establishing that he would serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than a U.S. worker, finding his arguments speculative and new evidence inapplicable due to the filing-date rule.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_05_B5203; source_row=13637
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because counsel never submitted the promised brief or evidence and did not specifically address the grounds for denial, the appeal was summarily dismissed and the director's ability-to-pay determination stood.

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Because counsel never submitted the promised brief or evidence and did not specifically address the grounds for denial, the appeal was summarily dismissed and the director's ability-to-pay determination stood.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_08_B5203; source_row=13638
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not dispute the second prong, consistent with the director's concession.

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 did not dispute the second prong, consistent with the director's concession.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-09_03_B5203; source_row=13612
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner's claims were unsupported by documentary evidence and constituted unproven speculation. The witness letters went beyond opinion into testable factual claims without corroboration; the award evidence was ambiguous and partial; the petition's reliance on the invention did not demonstrate actual documented impact; and the petitioner failed to show that the problems his invention purportedly addresses e…

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AAO found the petitioner's claims were unsupported by documentary evidence and constituted unproven speculation. The witness letters went beyond opinion into testable factual claims without corroboration; the award evidence was ambiguous and partial; the petition's reliance on the invention did not demonstrate actual documented impact; and the petitioner failed to show that the problems his invention purportedly addresses exist at a national level in the United States or that its use would be legally permitted there.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-09_03_B5203; source_row=13613
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not dispute the first prong, consistent with the director's concession. Because the director did not dispute the first two prongs, AAO focused its analysis solely on the third prong.

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 did not dispute the first prong, consistent with the director's concession. Because the director did not dispute the first two prongs, AAO focused its analysis solely on the third prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-09_03_B5203; source_row=13611
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner established only her involvement in projects without documenting the impact of her specific contributions. Witness letters were vague, no federal agency confirmed her claims, and the record did not show why it would be in the national interest for the petitioner specifically—rather than another qualified worker—to continue this work.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the petitioner established only her involvement in projects without documenting the impact of her specific contributions. Witness letters were vague, no federal agency confirmed her claims, and the record did not show why it would be in the national interest for the petitioner specifically—rather than another qualified worker—to continue this work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-09_02_B5203; source_row=13610
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that work involving national networks to share medical information meets the national scope prong.

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 agreed that work involving national networks to share medical information meets the national scope prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-09_02_B5203; source_row=13609
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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