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 28312840

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong because the failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.

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AAO declined to reach the third prong because the failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_15_B5203; source_row=40841
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 declined to reach the second prong because the failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.

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AAO declined to reach the second prong because the failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_15_B5203; source_row=40840
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 Petitioner failed to show how her consulting business would affect the economy beyond her immediate clients or reach the level of substantial positive economic effects contemplated by Dhanasar. Projected revenues and job creation figures were insufficient to demonstrate regional or national impact, and claims of transforming industry practices lacked independent corroborating evidence.

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AAO found the Petitioner failed to show how her consulting business would affect the economy beyond her immediate clients or reach the level of substantial positive economic effects contemplated by Dhanasar. Projected revenues and job creation figures were insufficient to demonstrate regional or national impact, and claims of transforming industry practices lacked independent corroborating evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_09_B5203; source_row=40824
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's business plan projections were unsupported by objective evidence and that operating one firm in a multi-billion-dollar industry did not demonstrate national-level economic impact. The business plan did not show prospective national impact on the IT/STEM field or on the broader economy, and letters of interest were nonbinding and insufficient.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's business plan projections were unsupported by objective evidence and that operating one firm in a multi-billion-dollar industry did not demonstrate national-level economic impact. The business plan did not show prospective national impact on the IT/STEM field or on the broader economy, and letters of interest were nonbinding and insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_02_B5203; source_row=40798
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

The Petitioner failed to provide sufficient explanation of his innovation or 'new benchmarks' for the design industry, and did not show how his services would extend beyond prospective clients to impact the industry or U.S. economy at a level commensurate with national importance. No new evidence or arguments were offered on appeal to overcome the Director's determination.

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The Petitioner failed to provide sufficient explanation of his innovation or 'new benchmarks' for the design industry, and did not show how his services would extend beyond prospective clients to impact the industry or U.S. economy at a level commensurate with national importance. No new evidence or arguments were offered on appeal to overcome the Director's determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-18_07_B5203; source_row=40782
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 the endeavor has substantial merit in the area of business and entrepreneurialism, but found the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The business plan projections lacked a sufficient basis and detail, the HUBZone location argument was unsupported, the alignment with federal STEM and tech initiatives was too general to demonstrate national importance specific to the Company, and the expert letter a…

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit in the area of business and entrepreneurialism, but found the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The business plan projections lacked a sufficient basis and detail, the HUBZone location argument was unsupported, the alignment with federal STEM and tech initiatives was too general to demonstrate national importance specific to the Company, and the expert letter addressed the broader tech industry rather than the Company's particular national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-18_04_B5203; source_row=40773
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 agreed substantial merit was established but found Petitioner did not show his consulting/training endeavor would impact the field, region, or national economy broadly. Staffing and revenue projections were unsupported, and his skills/experience pertain to prong two rather than the endeavor's importance.

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AAO agreed substantial merit was established but found Petitioner did not show his consulting/training endeavor would impact the field, region, or national economy broadly. Staffing and revenue projections were unsupported, and his skills/experience pertain to prong two rather than the endeavor's importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-18_06_B5203; source_row=40779
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

Petitioner's experience and knowledge as a police officer relate to prong two, not the prospective impact of the endeavor. The support letters from satisfied clients/potential partners do not establish a sufficiently direct connection between his security consulting services and any nationally important impact.

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Petitioner's experience and knowledge as a police officer relate to prong two, not the prospective impact of the endeavor. The support letters from satisfied clients/potential partners do not establish a sufficiently direct connection between his security consulting services and any nationally important impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-18_01_B5203; source_row=40764
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 agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found Petitioner did not show the Beneficiary's specific work as a M&E senior advisor would have prospective impact extending beyond his employer at a level commensurate with national importance. The submitted articles do not mention the Beneficiary or his specific work, and recommendation letters do not sufficiently address his future endeavor.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found Petitioner did not show the Beneficiary's specific work as a M&E senior advisor would have prospective impact extending beyond his employer at a level commensurate with national importance. The submitted articles do not mention the Beneficiary or his specific work, and recommendation letters do not sufficiently address his future endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-18_02_B5203; source_row=40767
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner did not establish that his proposed endeavor has national importance, distinguishing his case from Dhanasar because he failed to demonstrate broader implications in his field. The Petitioner's motion did not show how AAO misapplied law or policy.

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AAO found that the Petitioner did not establish that his proposed endeavor has national importance, distinguishing his case from Dhanasar because he failed to demonstrate broader implications in his field. The Petitioner's motion did not show how AAO misapplied law or policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-18_05_B5203; source_row=40776
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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