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 381390

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

offered position requires advanced degree professional

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification requires only a bachelor's plus 27 months' experience, which is less than a master's or a baccalaureate followed by five years of progressive experience.

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The labor certification requires only a bachelor's plus 27 months' experience, which is less than a master's or a baccalaureate followed by five years of progressive experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-04_03_B5203; source_row=44703
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

AAO found SCOPS' denial of this prong internally inconsistent with the RFE and largely conclusory, declining to reach the merits and instead remanding for a reasoned decision.

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 found SCOPS' denial of this prong internally inconsistent with the RFE and largely conclusory, declining to reach the merits and instead remanding for a reasoned decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-04_01_B5203; source_row=44699
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the merits of this prong, finding instead that SCOPS' analysis was internally contradictory and deficient, and remanded for a reasoned determination.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach the merits of this prong, finding instead that SCOPS' analysis was internally contradictory and deficient, and remanded for a reasoned determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-04_01_B5203; source_row=44697
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 did not separately address this prong, as the remand requires SCOPS to review all three prongs on a clean record.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not separately address this prong, as the remand requires SCOPS to review all three prongs on a clean record.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-04_01_B5203; source_row=44698
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner's initial filing did not include the required annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements for 2023, and the record does not indicate such evidence was unavailable.

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Petitioner's initial filing did not include the required annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements for 2023, and the record does not indicate such evidence was unavailable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-04_03_B5203; source_row=44704
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record did not show the Beneficiary's work extended beyond his employer and its customers to impact the broader industry or field at a nationally important level. Support letters praised past skills but did not address the proposed endeavor's prospective impact, and the general policy documents did not discuss the Beneficiary's specific work.…

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AAO found the record did not show the Beneficiary's work extended beyond his employer and its customers to impact the broader industry or field at a nationally important level. Support letters praised past skills but did not address the proposed endeavor's prospective impact, and the general policy documents did not discuss the Beneficiary's specific work. Individual projects were not shown to be unique, innovative, or to have national or global implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-03_03_B5203; source_row=44691
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with SCOPS that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance, noting the expert letter merely restated Petitioner's assertions without corroborating detail, the business plan projections lacked evidentiary basis, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate how her methods would have national or global implications beyond individual clients, nor that her proposed endeavor would have substantial positive econo…

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AAO agreed with SCOPS that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance, noting the expert letter merely restated Petitioner's assertions without corroborating detail, the business plan projections lacked evidentiary basis, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate how her methods would have national or global implications beyond individual clients, nor that her proposed endeavor would have substantial positive economic effects in an economically depressed area.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-03_01_B5203; source_row=44685
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 while the endeavor has substantial merit, the employment projections (2–8 employees over five years) and net profit forecasts ($27,538–$62,425) are too modest to show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects.…

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AAO agreed that while the endeavor has substantial merit, the employment projections (2–8 employees over five years) and net profit forecasts ($27,538–$62,425) are too modest to show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects. The Petitioner did not demonstrate how his company's impact would extend beyond individual clients to the SME sector broadly, did not identify specific government initiatives, and his expert letter made unsupported claims without showing the services are unique or innovative.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-03_02_B5203; source_row=44688
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 disagreed with SCOPS on substantial merit, finding the personal statement and articles place the endeavor within Dhanasar's contemplated areas, but agreed that national importance was not established because the record shows no broader implications beyond the Petitioner or its clients and no national/global impact within the field.

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AAO disagreed with SCOPS on substantial merit, finding the personal statement and articles place the endeavor within Dhanasar's contemplated areas, but agreed that national importance was not established because the record shows no broader implications beyond the Petitioner or its clients and no national/global impact within the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-03_04_B5203; source_row=44694
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved determination on the third prong because the first prong failure 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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AAO explicitly reserved determination on the third prong because the first prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-03_02_B5203; source_row=44690
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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