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 271–280
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Computer Science / AIPhD
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement
What the decision said
AAO declined to reach the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-07_01_B5203; source_row=44891 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to the United States
What the decision said
AAO declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner failed to establish a specific proposed endeavor, making any prong-three finding unnecessary under Bagamasbad.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner failed to establish a specific proposed endeavor, making any prong-three finding unnecessary under Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-06_01_B5203; source_row=44885 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO withdrew SCOPS' favorable substantial-merit determination because the record does not reflect a specific proposed endeavor; without a defined endeavor, prong one cannot be assessed.
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 withdrew SCOPS' favorable substantial-merit determination because the record does not reflect a specific proposed endeavor; without a defined endeavor, prong one cannot be assessed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-06_01_B5203; source_row=44883 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
well-positioned to advance the endeavor
What the decision said
AAO declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner failed to establish a specific proposed endeavor, making any prong-two finding unnecessary under Bagamasbad.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner failed to establish a specific proposed endeavor, making any prong-two finding unnecessary under Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-06_01_B5203; source_row=44884 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 Petitioner relied on the general importance of the automation industry rather than showing his particular endeavor's broader impact, and that revenue/job projections were unsupported by evidence of methodology or scale.
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 the Petitioner relied on the general importance of the automation industry rather than showing his particular endeavor's broader impact, and that revenue/job projections were unsupported by evidence of methodology or scale.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-06_02_B5203; source_row=44886 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO affirmed that the regulations require at least a single foreign degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Experience cannot substitute for educational credentials below the baccalaureate level. The INS rulemaking history confirms that an alien must have at least a bachelor's degree; combining a two-year diploma with work experience does not satisfy that threshold.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO affirmed that the regulations require at least a single foreign degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Experience cannot substitute for educational credentials below the baccalaureate level. The INS rulemaking history confirms that an alien must have at least a bachelor's degree; combining a two-year diploma with work experience does not satisfy that threshold.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_07_B5203; source_row=44879 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed that the Petitioner's unsupported projections were not probative, that he failed to show his machine learning technology would improve upon existing tools to create national or global implications, and that merely working in an important field or aligning with government priorities does not establish national importance of the specific 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 agreed that the Petitioner's unsupported projections were not probative, that he failed to show his machine learning technology would improve upon existing tools to create national or global implications, and that merely working in an important field or aligning with government priorities does not establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_02_B5203; source_row=44866 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 agreed that the Beneficiary's quality-manager role, including the 'Red Binder' protocols, was not shown to have broader implications beyond his employer and clients. The testimonial evidence came only from employer colleagues making broad, unsubstantiated claims; industry-level reports merely described the broader aerospace field without tying national importance to the Beneficiary's specific endeavor; and the claimed j…
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 agreed that the Beneficiary's quality-manager role, including the 'Red Binder' protocols, was not shown to have broader implications beyond his employer and clients. The testimonial evidence came only from employer colleagues making broad, unsubstantiated claims; industry-level reports merely described the broader aerospace field without tying national importance to the Beneficiary's specific endeavor; and the claimed job-creation and economic-impact benefits lacked corroborating documentation and were too indirect.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_05_B5203; source_row=44876 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established
Case facts
Environment / Energy
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The Petitioner failed to contextualize the citation metrics or explain their significance in demonstrating major significance. The reference letters highlighted the Petitioner's work and personal adoption by a few colleagues but did not demonstrate widespread impact or influence across the field as a whole.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
The Petitioner failed to contextualize the citation metrics or explain their significance in demonstrating major significance. The reference letters highlighted the Petitioner's work and personal adoption by a few colleagues but did not demonstrate widespread impact or influence across the field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_01_B2203; source_row=44855 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c