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 38913900

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 that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor — offering radiology services to individual patients in underserved areas — only directly benefits those individuals availing themselves of the services, akin to teaching which only benefits the students being taught, and thus does not rise to national importance.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor — offering radiology services to individual patients in underserved areas — only directly benefits those individuals availing themselves of the services, akin to teaching which only benefits the students being taught, and thus does not rise to national importance. The letters focused on past work rather than prospective impact, and the business plan did not show broader implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_06_B5203; source_row=39115
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO gave the new evaluation little weight because it listed coursework without explaining how five semesters (approximately two years) of study are equivalent to the four years generally required for a U.S. bachelor's degree, especially given the prior evaluation from the same organization assessed the same credential as only an associate's degree equivalent.

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AAO gave the new evaluation little weight because it listed coursework without explaining how five semesters (approximately two years) of study are equivalent to the four years generally required for a U.S. bachelor's degree, especially given the prior evaluation from the same organization assessed the same credential as only an associate's degree equivalent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_09_B5203; source_row=39124
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 Petitioner's proposed endeavor morphed from endodontist to entrepreneur owning a dental assistant training business — a wholly different endeavor with no connection to endodontic services. This material inconsistency made it impossible to assess substantial merit or national importance.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor morphed from endodontist to entrepreneur owning a dental assistant training business — a wholly different endeavor with no connection to endodontic services. This material inconsistency made it impossible to assess substantial merit or national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_01_B5203; source_row=39083
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that attestations describe the Petitioner's accomplishments but the record lacks corroborating evidence that these are original contributions of major significance demonstrating national or international acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that attestations describe the Petitioner's accomplishments but the record lacks corroborating evidence that these are original contributions of major significance demonstrating national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_02_B2203; source_row=39091
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that IEEE Senior Membership does not satisfy the criterion because the IEEE bylaws do not establish that membership requirements reflect outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.

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AAO agreed with the Director that IEEE Senior Membership does not satisfy the criterion because the IEEE bylaws do not establish that membership requirements reflect outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_02_B2203; source_row=39088
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanding a high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director's analysis, noting the talent acquisition specialist's statement lacked any citation, explanation, or data points to support the 95th percentile claim, and without corroborating evidence the statement cannot demonstrate high compensation relative to others in the field.

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AAO agreed with the Director's analysis, noting the talent acquisition specialist's statement lacked any citation, explanation, or data points to support the 95th percentile claim, and without corroborating evidence the statement cannot demonstrate high compensation relative to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_02_B2203; source_row=39094
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner has not demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim and is not among the small percentage at the very top of the field, noting the Petitioner failed to address the Director's final merits analysis on appeal.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner has not demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim and is not among the small percentage at the very top of the field, noting the Petitioner failed to address the Director's final merits analysis on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_02_B2203; source_row=39095
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the record does not establish that the Petitioner was the recipient of a prize or award, and that this recognition does not demonstrate a 'career of acclaimed work in the field.'

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AAO agreed with the Director that the record does not establish that the Petitioner was the recipient of a prize or award, and that this recognition does not demonstrate a 'career of acclaimed work in the field.'
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_02_B2203; source_row=39087
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 found that the Petitioner's proposed tax consulting business would not sufficiently extend beyond his potential clients to impact the field more broadly, that the revenue and job creation projections were inadequately corroborated and did not operate at a scale of national importance, and that the expert and recommendation letters failed to address the broader implications of the specific proposed endeavor.

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 Petitioner's proposed tax consulting business would not sufficiently extend beyond his potential clients to impact the field more broadly, that the revenue and job creation projections were inadequately corroborated and did not operate at a scale of national importance, and that the expert and recommendation letters failed to address the broader implications of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_08_B5203; source_row=39121
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanded a salary or other remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the record does not reflect what salary or remuneration would be expected for individuals of exceptional ability performing duties comparable to those the Petitioner intends to undertake as an entrepreneur or cloud services consultant, and the salary survey did not correspond to the Petitioner's proposed endeavor.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the record does not reflect what salary or remuneration would be expected for individuals of exceptional ability performing duties comparable to those the Petitioner intends to undertake as an entrepreneur or cloud services consultant, and the salary survey did not correspond to the Petitioner's proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_12_B5203; source_row=39141
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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