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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 3771–3780
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance in the field
Why AAO was not persuaded
The letters and articles attested to the Petitioner's talent but did not provide specific examples of how his methods or techniques influenced other visual artists or equated to contributions of major significance in the field as a whole. Publications alone are insufficient absent evidence they were of major significance.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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The letters and articles attested to the Petitioner's talent but did not provide specific examples of how his methods or techniques influenced other visual artists or equated to contributions of major significance in the field as a whole. Publications alone are insufficient absent evidence they were of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_01_B2203; source_row=39297 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D))
Why AAO was not persuaded
The Petitioner compared her company's gross earnings to reported individual salaries without adjusting for her 50% ownership stake. Her estimated 50% share of company earnings ($68,234 for 2023 and $69,881 for 2022) is consistent with reported median salaries for real estate brokers and sales agents and does not demonstrate exceptional ability.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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The Petitioner compared her company's gross earnings to reported individual salaries without adjusting for her 50% ownership stake. Her estimated 50% share of company earnings ($68,234 for 2023 and $69,881 for 2022) is consistent with reported median salaries for real estate brokers and sales agents and does not demonstrate exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_08_B5203; source_row=39330 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 substantial merit was established by industry reports on housing demand, but national importance was not. The Petitioner's reliance on the real estate industry's general importance was misplaced; her specific endeavor of providing temporary corporate rentals with QR code amenities and projected modest job creation did not demonstrate broader national implications.
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 substantial merit was established by industry reports on housing demand, but national importance was not. The Petitioner's reliance on the real estate industry's general importance was misplaced; her specific endeavor of providing temporary corporate rentals with QR code amenities and projected modest job creation did not demonstrate broader national implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_08_B5203; source_row=39333 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
member of the professions holding an advanced degree
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the real estate broker and sales agent occupation only requires a high school diploma for entry, not a baccalaureate degree, so the occupation does not qualify as a 'profession' under the regulation. Holding an advanced degree alone is insufficient without also being a member of the professions.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found that the real estate broker and sales agent occupation only requires a high school diploma for entry, not a baccalaureate degree, so the occupation does not qualify as a 'profession' under the regulation. Holding an advanced degree alone is insufficient without also being a member of the professions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_08_B5203; source_row=39327 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 that the proposed endeavor, while in an important field, does not itself have national importance. The specific business would serve local patients, and its projected employment and economic effects (8 direct jobs, $233K in wages) are negligible compared to a sector employing 1.37 million people and generating ~$100 billion annually.…
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 proposed endeavor, while in an important field, does not itself have national importance. The specific business would serve local patients, and its projected employment and economic effects (8 direct jobs, $233K in wages) are negligible compared to a sector employing 1.37 million people and generating ~$100 billion annually. The record shows no broader national or global implications beyond the immediate business operations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_02_B5203; source_row=39309 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO found the Petitioner's experience was primarily as a teacher rather than researcher, his publication and citation record was minimal (five works, one citation), his statements lacked specifics regarding plans, funding, or progress, and recommendation letters and a job offer did not show meaningful interest comparable to that in Dhanasar.
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 found the Petitioner's experience was primarily as a teacher rather than researcher, his publication and citation record was minimal (five works, one citation), his statements lacked specifics regarding plans, funding, or progress, and recommendation letters and a job offer did not show meaningful interest comparable to that in Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_04_B5203; source_row=39316 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO found that the projected job and revenue figures were not adequately corroborated by the underlying industry data, and that even if accepted, the business's scale was too small relative to an industry with $3.6–4.1 billion in annual revenue and 9,500–10,600 employees to demonstrate 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 found that the projected job and revenue figures were not adequately corroborated by the underlying industry data, and that even if accepted, the business's scale was too small relative to an industry with $3.6–4.1 billion in annual revenue and 9,500–10,600 employees to demonstrate national importance. Inconsistencies between the professor's letter describing an international business consulting firm and the business plan's focus on syringe manufacturing further weakened the submission. Merely operating in an important industry is insufficient to establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_07_B5203; source_row=39324 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or remuneration
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO finds the Petitioner's 1.2 million yuan annual income at his clinic exceeds the salary range of Chinese doctors of traditional and modern medicine reflected in the survey evidence; AAO faults the Director for mischaracterizing the income certificate as anticipated earnings and for requiring proof of actual earned wages contrary to USCIS policy.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO finds the Petitioner's 1.2 million yuan annual income at his clinic exceeds the salary range of Chinese doctors of traditional and modern medicine reflected in the survey evidence; AAO faults the Director for mischaracterizing the income certificate as anticipated earnings and for requiring proof of actual earned wages contrary to USCIS policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_02_B2203; source_row=39307 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO finds the Petitioner's copyrighted therapies for liver ascites/menstrual pain and juvenile nearsightedness Tuina massage are original contributions of major significance, supported by commercialization (licensing to other practitioners) and expert letters; AAO rejects the Director's reliance on the China-only geographic scope.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
AAO finds the Petitioner's copyrighted therapies for liver ascites/menstrual pain and juvenile nearsightedness Tuina massage are original contributions of major significance, supported by commercialization (licensing to other practitioners) and expert letters; AAO rejects the Director's reliance on the China-only geographic scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-24_02_B2203; source_row=39305 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c