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 34813490

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved prong two because prong one was dispositive.

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AAO reserved prong two because prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-08_02_B5203; source_row=39764
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO reserved prong three because prong one was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved prong three because prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-08_02_B5203; source_row=39765
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's determination, finding that the combination of two separate Brazilian degrees does not satisfy the single-source foreign equivalent degree requirement, and that even if it did, the Petitioner lacked the requisite five years of post-degree progressive experience. The issue was nonetheless reserved as non-dispositive.

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AAO withdrew the Director's determination, finding that the combination of two separate Brazilian degrees does not satisfy the single-source foreign equivalent degree requirement, and that even if it did, the Petitioner lacked the requisite five years of post-degree progressive experience. The issue was nonetheless reserved as non-dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_04_B5203; source_row=39735
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 Petitioner established substantial merit but not national importance. Relying on the importance of the field or the customer base served is insufficient; the focus must be on the broader implications of the specific proposed endeavor.…

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AAO agreed the Petitioner established substantial merit but not national importance. Relying on the importance of the field or the customer base served is insufficient; the focus must be on the broader implications of the specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner's projected benefits to her clients would not result in broader implications to the field, and her employment and revenue projections lacked evidentiary basis and did not explain how they would impact the area of intended operations at a nationally significant scale.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_04_B5203; source_row=39732
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's original proposed endeavor — working as a civil engineer within a U.S. company — did not demonstrate prospective national importance. The shift to establishing and directing a construction company represented a material change in the fundamental character of the endeavor that could not retroactively establish eligibility.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's original proposed endeavor — working as a civil engineer within a U.S. company — did not demonstrate prospective national importance. The shift to establishing and directing a construction company represented a material change in the fundamental character of the endeavor that could not retroactively establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_02_B5203; source_row=39726
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 AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's endeavor does not sufficiently extend beyond her company and its clientele to impact the industry more broadly.…

Why this is useful

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The AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's endeavor does not sufficiently extend beyond her company and its clientele to impact the industry more broadly. The AAO noted that the relevant inquiry is the specific proposed endeavor, not the importance of public relations work generally, and that the Petitioner failed to show broader national implications or significant positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_05_B5203; source_row=39736
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

The AAO declined to reach the second prong because the failure on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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The AAO declined to reach the second prong because the failure on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_05_B5203; source_row=39737
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 to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

The AAO declined to reach the third prong because the failure on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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The AAO declined to reach the third prong because the failure on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_05_B5203; source_row=39738
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong three, reserving the issue as unnecessary to the disposition given the dispositive findings on prongs one and two.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO declined to reach prong three, reserving the issue as unnecessary to the disposition given the dispositive findings on prongs one and two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_03_B5203; source_row=39731
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO focused on the specific consulting endeavor rather than the importance of the industry generally, finding that the Petitioner failed to show her services would have implications beyond a specific company, school, or clientele, and did not demonstrate the scale or mechanism of any potential economic 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 focused on the specific consulting endeavor rather than the importance of the industry generally, finding that the Petitioner failed to show her services would have implications beyond a specific company, school, or clientele, and did not demonstrate the scale or mechanism of any potential economic impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-07_03_B5203; source_row=39729
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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