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

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NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

FinanceBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the record did not identify the specific endeavor with sufficient detail and did not show prospective impact rising to national importance; references to skills/experience belonged under prong two, and the CARES Act did not show government interest in the specific endeavor.

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AAO agreed the record did not identify the specific endeavor with sufficient detail and did not show prospective impact rising to national importance; references to skills/experience belonged under prong two, and the CARES Act did not show government interest in the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_04_B5203; source_row=40898
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

FinanceBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

qualifying advanced degree or bachelor's plus 5 years progressive experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found neither Colombian credential equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, and rejected combining the two degrees to reach a four-year equivalent.

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AAO found neither Colombian credential equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, and rejected combining the two degrees to reach a four-year equivalent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_04_B5203; source_row=40897
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the evidence addressed the importance of the field generally rather than the national importance of the specific endeavor; the business plan's revenue and job creation projections were unsupported and not shown to have substantial positive economic effects regionally or nationally.

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AAO concluded the evidence addressed the importance of the field generally rather than the national importance of the specific endeavor; the business plan's revenue and job creation projections were unsupported and not shown to have substantial positive economic effects regionally or nationally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_02_B5203; source_row=40887
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the evidence established the general importance of related fields but did not explain or demonstrate the potential prospective impact of the Petitioner's specific proposed innovations. Counsel's assertions on appeal did not constitute evidence, and the Petitioner failed to establish that his endeavor would have broader national implications.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the evidence established the general importance of related fields but did not explain or demonstrate the potential prospective impact of the Petitioner's specific proposed innovations. Counsel's assertions on appeal did not constitute evidence, and the Petitioner failed to establish that his endeavor would have broader national implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_06_B5203; source_row=40904
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance, distinguishing between the importance of telemedicine as an industry and the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor.…

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance, distinguishing between the importance of telemedicine as an industry and the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. AAO found that general articles, adjacent national initiatives, and modest employment projections (5 employees in year one) were insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects or government interest in the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_05_B5203; source_row=40901
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the business plan's revenue and job creation projections lacked sufficient basis and that even if they were substantiated, a 14-job, $17 million business does not operate at a nationally important scale. The Petitioner did not show broader implications beyond his immediate clients, and the labor shortage argument was unpersuasive because such shortages are addressed through the labor certification process.

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AAO found the business plan's revenue and job creation projections lacked sufficient basis and that even if they were substantiated, a 14-job, $17 million business does not operate at a nationally important scale. The Petitioner did not show broader implications beyond his immediate clients, and the labor shortage argument was unpersuasive because such shortages are addressed through the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_07_B5203; source_row=40907
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's first-prong analysis was entirely based on a mischaracterization of the Petitioner's field and remanded for proper analysis of the actual proposed endeavor.

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AAO found the Director's first-prong analysis was entirely based on a mischaracterization of the Petitioner's field and remanded for proper analysis of the actual proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_03_B5203; source_row=40894
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director failed to explain how company registration documents qualify as a license to practice as a software engineer or entrepreneur, and withdrew the Director's conclusion on this criterion.

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AAO found the Director failed to explain how company registration documents qualify as a license to practice as a software engineer or entrepreneur, and withdrew the Director's conclusion on this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_03_B5203; source_row=40890
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO found the Director analyzed an entirely wrong field of endeavor (airline industry) and remanded for proper analysis of the Petitioner's actual endeavor as a software engineer and entrepreneur.

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AAO found the Director analyzed an entirely wrong field of endeavor (airline industry) and remanded for proper analysis of the Petitioner's actual endeavor as a software engineer and entrepreneur.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_03_B5203; source_row=40895
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanding a high salary

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Director entirely failed to analyze or rule on the salary criterion, warranting remand for consideration.

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AAO noted that the Director entirely failed to analyze or rule on the salary criterion, warranting remand for consideration.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-23_03_B5203; source_row=40891
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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