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 31913200

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, while the endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The business plan's revenue forecasts ($972K–$1.35M) and projected 3 new jobs by year 5 were unsupported and too modest and locally focused to demonstrate broader national economic impact. Client letters addressed prior project-level accomplishments rather than broader field impact.

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AAO agreed with the Director that, while the endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The business plan's revenue forecasts ($972K–$1.35M) and projected 3 new jobs by year 5 were unsupported and too modest and locally focused to demonstrate broader national economic impact. Client letters addressed prior project-level accomplishments rather than broader field impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_10_B5203; source_row=40199
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 agreed the Petitioner showed substantial merit but not national importance. The proposed veterinary clinic lacked evidence of prospective impact beyond its own clientele, the revenue projections were inconsistent and unsupported, the employment projections lacked evidentiary basis, and the general benefits of the veterinary field are not a substitute for demonstrating the specific proposed endeavor's national importance.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner showed substantial merit but not national importance. The proposed veterinary clinic lacked evidence of prospective impact beyond its own clientele, the revenue projections were inconsistent and unsupported, the employment projections lacked evidentiary basis, and the general benefits of the veterinary field are not a substitute for demonstrating the specific proposed endeavor's national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_09_B5203; source_row=40196
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner submitted insufficient and inconsistent evidence regarding the substantive nature of the proposed endeavor. The conflicting statements, unaddressed contradictions, and material change to the business plan between the initial filing and RFE response resulted in unresolved inconsistencies that precluded a finding of substantial merit and national importance.

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AAO found that the Petitioner submitted insufficient and inconsistent evidence regarding the substantive nature of the proposed endeavor. The conflicting statements, unaddressed contradictions, and material change to the business plan between the initial filing and RFE response resulted in unresolved inconsistencies that precluded a finding of substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_07_B5203; source_row=40190
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

individual of exceptional ability (at least 3 of 6 criteria)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not submit evidence of ten years of full-time experience, professional association membership, or recognition for achievements; the salary evidence (net 4,163 / gross 18,618, not converted to USD) did not show a salary demonstrating exceptional ability.

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The Petitioner did not submit evidence of ten years of full-time experience, professional association membership, or recognition for achievements; the salary evidence (net 4,163 / gross 18,618, not converted to USD) did not show a salary demonstrating exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_05_B5203; source_row=40182
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

U.S. advanced degree or foreign equivalent (or U.S. bachelor's plus 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Venezuelan technician certificate represents only 2-3 years of study per EDGE, and the engineer title was not shown to be a 'Professional Title' equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's, particularly as it was awarded only two years after the technician title. No probative evidence demonstrated completion of the Spanish master's program.

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The Venezuelan technician certificate represents only 2-3 years of study per EDGE, and the engineer title was not shown to be a 'Professional Title' equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's, particularly as it was awarded only two years after the technician title. No probative evidence demonstrated completion of the Spanish master's program.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_05_B5203; source_row=40181
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's evidence focused on her own qualifications (relevant to prong 2) and on the prosthetics industry generally rather than the prospective impact of her specific endeavor. The business plan's projections, hiring assertions, and investment claims lacked corroborating evidence of broader implications, employment of U.S. workers, or substantial positive economic effects.

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The Petitioner's evidence focused on her own qualifications (relevant to prong 2) and on the prosthetics industry generally rather than the prospective impact of her specific endeavor. The business plan's projections, hiring assertions, and investment claims lacked corroborating evidence of broader implications, employment of U.S. workers, or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_05_B5203; source_row=40183
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 the United States

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three as the failure on prong one was dispositive.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three as the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_11_B5203; source_row=40204
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two as the failure on prong one was dispositive.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two as the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_11_B5203; source_row=40203
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

EconomicsPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO implicitly accepted that the scholarly articles criterion was met, as it was among the three the Director credited.

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AAO implicitly accepted that the scholarly articles criterion was met, as it was among the three the Director credited.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_02_B2203; source_row=40168
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

EconomicsPhD

Issue evaluated

other

coming to the United States to work in field of endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner's plan to create a consulting firm in the United States was sufficiently detailed and withdrew the Director's conclusion on this issue.

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AAO found the Petitioner's plan to create a consulting firm in the United States was sufficiently detailed and withdrew the Director's conclusion on this issue.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_02_B2203; source_row=40171
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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