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 28012810

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's economic projections lacked supporting probative evidence, and his generalized claims relying on third-party market documentation did not identify a specific national impact. His endeavor lacked the 'substantial positive economic effects' required under Dhanasar.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's economic projections lacked supporting probative evidence, and his generalized claims relying on third-party market documentation did not identify a specific national impact. His endeavor lacked the 'substantial positive economic effects' required under Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_10_B5203; source_row=40827
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained acclaim and top of field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the totality of the evidence — including the Petitioner's framing of his field as nanofluid engineering, his two publications, his approximately 2,400 total citations, and his peer-review activity that ceased around 2015 — does not establish sustained national or international acclaim or top-of-field status.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the totality of the evidence — including the Petitioner's framing of his field as nanofluid engineering, his two publications, his approximately 2,400 total citations, and his peer-review activity that ceased around 2015 — does not establish sustained national or international acclaim or top-of-field status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_01_B2203; source_row=40789
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

one-time achievement (major, internationally recognized award)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO did not disturb the Director's finding that the Petitioner does not qualify via a one-time major achievement.

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AAO did not disturb the Director's finding that the Petitioner does not qualify via a one-time major achievement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_01_B2203; source_row=40785
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed substantial merit was shown (health), but the Petitioner's reliance on the importance of the ergonomics industry misapplies Dhanasar; her business plan and projections lacked sufficient evidentiary tie to substantial positive economic effects, job creation, or impact in an economically depressed area.

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AAO agreed substantial merit was shown (health), but the Petitioner's reliance on the importance of the ergonomics industry misapplies Dhanasar; her business plan and projections lacked sufficient evidentiary tie to substantial positive economic effects, job creation, or impact in an economically depressed area.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_08_B5203; source_row=40821
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that while the Petitioner's endeavor has substantial merit, the record lacks sufficient evidence to show that the prospective impact rises to the level of national importance.…

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AAO agreed that while the Petitioner's endeavor has substantial merit, the record lacks sufficient evidence to show that the prospective impact rises to the level of national importance. The importance of the surveying profession or the construction industry generally does not establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor, and the Petitioner did not sufficiently demonstrate how his work would extend beyond his clients to enhance societal welfare or create substantial positive economic effects on a broad national scale.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_15_B5203; source_row=40839
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 that while the proposed consultancy might provide valuable services to individual clients, projecting only five direct jobs without sufficient explanation for projections and without showing impact beyond the business's local area of operations was insufficient to establish national importance. The Petitioner did not demonstrate broader implications for the overall fields of business or IT.

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AAO found that while the proposed consultancy might provide valuable services to individual clients, projecting only five direct jobs without sufficient explanation for projections and without showing impact beyond the business's local area of operations was insufficient to establish national importance. The Petitioner did not demonstrate broader implications for the overall fields of business or IT.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_05_B5203; source_row=40814
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes the evidence focuses on Petitioner's qualifications (relevant to prong two) rather than the endeavor's broader prospective impact, and that revenue/employment projections, HUBZone claims, multiplier effects, tax contributions, and STEM characterization lack corroborating evidence of national-level impact.

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AAO concludes the evidence focuses on Petitioner's qualifications (relevant to prong two) rather than the endeavor's broader prospective impact, and that revenue/employment projections, HUBZone claims, multiplier effects, tax contributions, and STEM characterization lack corroborating evidence of national-level impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_01_B5203; source_row=40790
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that the Petitioner's evidence was largely about his personal qualifications and experience, which are relevant to the second prong but not the first. The Petitioner did not show that his specific proposed endeavor—working as a marketing specialist—has broader implications, significant potential to employ U.S. workers, or substantial positive economic effects rising to national importance.

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AAO held that the Petitioner's evidence was largely about his personal qualifications and experience, which are relevant to the second prong but not the first. The Petitioner did not show that his specific proposed endeavor—working as a marketing specialist—has broader implications, significant potential to employ U.S. workers, or substantial positive economic effects rising to national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_12_B5203; source_row=40833
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 adopted and affirmed the Director's thorough evaluation of the national importance element. AAO also found the Petitioner had abandoned the issue on appeal by reproducing the identical RFE text, and on motion the Petitioner made only vague assertions of error without demonstrating incorrect application of law or policy.

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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's thorough evaluation of the national importance element. AAO also found the Petitioner had abandoned the issue on appeal by reproducing the identical RFE text, and on motion the Petitioner made only vague assertions of error without demonstrating incorrect application of law or policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_03_B5203; source_row=40807
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong is dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved its opinion on the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_11_B5203; source_row=40832
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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