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 26812690

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's cybersecurity endeavor is substantially meritorious but not nationally important. The industry articles and reports do not discuss her specific endeavor, the claimed economic effects do not rise to national importance, and the alleged protocol adoption was not shown to produce broader implications to her field.

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 found the Petitioner's cybersecurity endeavor is substantially meritorious but not nationally important. The industry articles and reports do not discuss her specific endeavor, the claimed economic effects do not rise to national importance, and the alleged protocol adoption was not shown to produce broader implications to her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_04_B5203; source_row=41004
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO did not reach a substantive conclusion on prong one but found that the Director's analysis was inadequate and remanded for a new analysis.

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 reach a substantive conclusion on prong one but found that the Director's analysis was inadequate and remanded for a new analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_03_B5203; source_row=41001
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 observed that the Director failed to address prong two at all and noted that the Petitioner mistakenly believed the Director had found prong two met.

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 observed that the Director failed to address prong two at all and noted that the Petitioner mistakenly believed the Director had found prong two met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_03_B5203; source_row=41002
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 the United States

What the decision said

AAO did not substantively decide prong three, finding the Director's conclusory analysis insufficient for meaningful appellate review.

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 did not substantively decide prong three, finding the Director's conclusory analysis insufficient for meaningful appellate review.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_03_B5203; source_row=41003
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Member of the Professions

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record does not sufficiently establish what profession the Petitioner holds. 'Entrepreneur' does not qualify as a profession under the regulatory definition because there is no established educational requirement to become an entrepreneur, and the proposed endeavor does not clarify the Petitioner's specific professional role.

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AAO found the record does not sufficiently establish what profession the Petitioner holds. 'Entrepreneur' does not qualify as a profession under the regulatory definition because there is no established educational requirement to become an entrepreneur, and the proposed endeavor does not clarify the Petitioner's specific professional role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_05_B5203; source_row=41008
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

Because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the first Dhanasar prong, AAO declined to reach the second 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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Because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the first Dhanasar prong, AAO declined to reach the second prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_07_B5203; source_row=41016
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

10 years full-time experience (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(B))

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found, and AAO did not disturb, that the Petitioner provided adequate evidence of at least 10 years of full-time experience in the sought-after occupation.

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The Director found, and AAO did not disturb, that the Petitioner provided adequate evidence of at least 10 years of full-time experience in the sought-after occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_08_B5203; source_row=41019
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E))

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner failed to address whether the United States Bartender's Guild and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association require members to belong to a profession requiring a baccalaureate degree.

Why this is useful

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Petitioner failed to address whether the United States Bartender's Guild and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association require members to belong to a profession requiring a baccalaureate degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_08_B5203; source_row=41021
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

official academic record (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A))

What the decision said

The Petitioner only referred back to his RFE response and made no effort to refute the Director's findings, so AAO deemed the issue waived. Despite this, AAO ultimately concluded he satisfied this criterion.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner only referred back to his RFE response and made no effort to refute the Director's findings, so AAO deemed the issue waived. Despite this, AAO ultimately concluded he satisfied this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_08_B5203; source_row=41018
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

license or certification (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(C))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Food Handler Training Program certificate was not shown to be a license to practice a profession or certification for a particular profession or occupation.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Food Handler Training Program certificate was not shown to be a license to practice a profession or certification for a particular profession or occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-26_08_B5203; source_row=41020
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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