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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EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted reference letters and documentation about product development and business activities, but the evidence did not demonstrate that his work originated underlying technologies or had substantial influence beyond his employers and clients. Courts require that contributions of major significance show influence beyond one's employers, clients, or customers, and the Petitioner failed to meet that standard.

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

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The Petitioner submitted reference letters and documentation about product development and business activities, but the evidence did not demonstrate that his work originated underlying technologies or had substantial influence beyond his employers and clients. Courts require that contributions of major significance show influence beyond one's employers, clients, or customers, and the Petitioner failed to meet that standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_02_B2203; source_row=40660
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 does not satisfy national importance. The Petitioner failed to show the proposed endeavor's prospective impact extends beyond her company and its future clients to impact the relevant field, societal welfare, U.S. public health, or the U.S. economy at a national level.…

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but does not satisfy national importance. The Petitioner failed to show the proposed endeavor's prospective impact extends beyond her company and its future clients to impact the relevant field, societal welfare, U.S. public health, or the U.S. economy at a national level. The government initiatives submitted do not indicate government interest in the Petitioner's specific planned business activities, and her projected staffing and revenues do not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_03_B5203; source_row=40667
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

The AAO agreed the Petitioner demonstrated substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner's plans did not show she would directly employ U.S. workers or that economic benefits would extend beyond her employers or clients. The supporting letter praised her qualifications but did not address the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor.…

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The AAO agreed the Petitioner demonstrated substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner's plans did not show she would directly employ U.S. workers or that economic benefits would extend beyond her employers or clients. The supporting letter praised her qualifications but did not address the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor. The national importance assessment focuses on the specific endeavor's prospective impact, not the importance of the broader industry or national issues generally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_04_B5203; source_row=40670
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record does not describe the Petitioner's specific role beyond that of a participant or competitor, and she has not established how her individual performances serve as a critical role for the organizations managing the events or are of significant importance to the organizations' activities.

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AAO found the record does not describe the Petitioner's specific role beyond that of a participant or competitor, and she has not established how her individual performances serve as a critical role for the organizations managing the events or are of significant importance to the organizations' activities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B2203; source_row=40653
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner was not well positioned because he had not adequately defined the scope of his proposed endeavor, had not identified a specific employer, and the record did not reflect sufficient interest from potential customers, users, investors, or other relevant entities.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner was not well positioned because he had not adequately defined the scope of his proposed endeavor, had not identified a specific employer, and the record did not reflect sufficient interest from potential customers, users, investors, or other relevant entities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B5203; source_row=40657
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner had not shown urgent national interest in his contributions, did not demonstrate innovations or contributions that would benefit the nation even if other qualified U.S. workers were available, and the proposed work improving efficiency in agribusiness did not outweigh the benefits of the labor certification process.

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The Petitioner had not shown urgent national interest in his contributions, did not demonstrate innovations or contributions that would benefit the nation even if other qualified U.S. workers were available, and the proposed work improving efficiency in agribusiness did not outweigh the benefits of the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B5203; source_row=40658
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Without transcripts showing four years of study for the bacharel, the Petitioner cannot establish U.S. bachelor's degree equivalency; the lato sensu leads only to a professional certificate, not a graduate degree, and cannot supply the missing educational tier. The credential evaluator relied only on the diploma rather than a transcript-based examination.

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Without transcripts showing four years of study for the bacharel, the Petitioner cannot establish U.S. bachelor's degree equivalency; the lato sensu leads only to a professional certificate, not a graduate degree, and cannot supply the missing educational tier. The credential evaluator relied only on the diploma rather than a transcript-based examination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B5203; source_row=40655
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 withdrew the Director's finding that national importance was established (noting the Director had found for the Petitioner on this prong) and concluded the endeavor was not sufficiently defined. The Petitioner did not identify specific clients or scope of work, and relied on industry-level importance rather than his own potential impact on a specific project.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding that national importance was established (noting the Director had found for the Petitioner on this prong) and concluded the endeavor was not sufficiently defined. The Petitioner did not identify specific clients or scope of work, and relied on industry-level importance rather than his own potential impact on a specific project.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B5203; source_row=40656
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 found that the submitted articles discuss oral health issues generally but do not address the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The business plan's projections (25 eventual employees, $11.3M revenue) do not demonstrate significant economic impact relative to a $137.6B industry, and letters from patients and colleagues speak to the Petitioner's skills rather than her proposed endeavor's national importance.

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AAO found that the submitted articles discuss oral health issues generally but do not address the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The business plan's projections (25 eventual employees, $11.3M revenue) do not demonstrate significant economic impact relative to a $137.6B industry, and letters from patients and colleagues speak to the Petitioner's skills rather than her proposed endeavor's national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_02_B5203; source_row=40664
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO reserved the formal final merits determination as unnecessary given the Petitioner's failure at step 1, but noted in the aggregate the record did not establish the required acclaim.

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AAO reserved the formal final merits determination as unnecessary given the Petitioner's failure at step 1, but noted in the aggregate the record did not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_02_B2203; source_row=40663
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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