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 28512860

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the second prong because the dispositive failure on the first prong rendered it unnecessary to reach.

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 explicitly reserved the second prong because the dispositive failure on the first prong rendered it unnecessary to reach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-17_04_B5203; source_row=40747
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 with the Director that the record failed to show the endeavor would have a broad, nationally important impact. The projected 11 employees and $877,000 in revenue were insufficient to establish prospective national-level impact.

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 agreed with the Director that the record failed to show the endeavor would have a broad, nationally important impact. The projected 11 employees and $877,000 in revenue were insufficient to establish prospective national-level impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-17_07_B5203; source_row=40755
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 found the Petitioner did not demonstrate that his education and consulting services extend beyond the company's specific clientele to have broader implications at a national level, nor that they offer original innovations with wider implications in the IT 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 did not demonstrate that his education and consulting services extend beyond the company's specific clientele to have broader implications at a national level, nor that they offer original innovations with wider implications in the IT field. General assertions about economic contributions and unsupported business plan projections were insufficient, and even crediting the financial projections, the revenue and job creation would not constitute substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-17_02_B5203; source_row=40743
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 not national importance, because there is no evidence of broader field impact, original innovations, potential to employ U.S. workers, or substantial positive economic effects beyond the Petitioner's own business, clients, and trainees.

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 agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but not national importance, because there is no evidence of broader field impact, original innovations, potential to employ U.S. workers, or substantial positive economic effects beyond the Petitioner's own business, clients, and trainees.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-16_02_B5203; source_row=40724
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent of U.S. baccalaureate degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

The diploma conferred only a 'Title of Physiotherapist' without referencing any degree level; the credential evaluator's opinion was unreliable because it applied the nonimmigrant '3-for-1' rule inapplicable in immigrant visa proceedings and relied on self-reported work experience beyond the evaluator's expertise. The Petitioner did not respond to the NOID to address these deficiencies.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The diploma conferred only a 'Title of Physiotherapist' without referencing any degree level; the credential evaluator's opinion was unreliable because it applied the nonimmigrant '3-for-1' rule inapplicable in immigrant visa proceedings and relied on self-reported work experience beyond the evaluator's expertise. The Petitioner did not respond to the NOID to address these deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-16_01_B5203; source_row=40718
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 found the Petitioner's business plan projections lacked sufficient basis and, even if credited, did not demonstrate operations at a scale rising to national importance. The proposed endeavor's impact would not extend beyond his immediate area of operations or the individuals directly served, and he failed to show his ventures would have broader implications to the relevant fields or significantly reduce a national STEM…

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 business plan projections lacked sufficient basis and, even if credited, did not demonstrate operations at a scale rising to national importance. The proposed endeavor's impact would not extend beyond his immediate area of operations or the individuals directly served, and he failed to show his ventures would have broader implications to the relevant fields or significantly reduce a national STEM labor shortage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-16_06_B5203; source_row=40736
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor lacked national importance. Articles about general operations managers did not establish broader field-level impact, and the business plan's revenue and job creation projections lacked sufficient evidentiary basis and were not of a scale rising to national importance.

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 agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor lacked national importance. Articles about general operations managers did not establish broader field-level impact, and the business plan's revenue and job creation projections lacked sufficient evidentiary basis and were not of a scale rising to national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-16_05_B5203; source_row=40733
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 (journalism relating to social equity issues) but agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The professional plan did not specify publication outlets, circulation, income projections, or job creation.…

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 agreed the endeavor has substantial merit (journalism relating to social equity issues) but agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The professional plan did not specify publication outlets, circulation, income projections, or job creation. The teaching/lecture component, like the STEM-teaching proposal in Dhanasar itself, did not show impact extending broadly to the field of journalism at a level commensurate with national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-16_03_B5203; source_row=40727
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanding a high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

While AAO disagreed with the Director's reasoning that prospective salary cannot be considered, and found the W-2 and employment verification letter provided sufficient salary evidence, the Petitioner failed to provide adequate comparative wage data for a proper comparison position at the director level.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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While AAO disagreed with the Director's reasoning that prospective salary cannot be considered, and found the W-2 and employment verification letter provided sufficient salary evidence, the Petitioner failed to provide adequate comparative wage data for a proper comparison position at the director level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-16_01_B2203; source_row=40716
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the recommendation and expert opinion letters did not establish original contributions of major significance. The letters praised the Petitioner generally but lacked specificity about how his work impacted the field, and the original articles lacked complete English translations.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the recommendation and expert opinion letters did not establish original contributions of major significance. The letters praised the Petitioner generally but lacked specificity about how his work impacted the field, and the original articles lacked complete English translations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-16_01_B2203; source_row=40712
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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