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 39413950

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has substantial merit, she failed to show it would extend beyond individual companies to have broader national implications. The submitted articles addressed general field-level importance rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor, and neither the expert letter nor the government report established that her work would impact the field or economy at a national level.

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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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While the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has substantial merit, she failed to show it would extend beyond individual companies to have broader national implications. The submitted articles addressed general field-level importance rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor, and neither the expert letter nor the government report established that her work would impact the field or economy at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_01_B5203; source_row=39026
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 disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding the evidence sufficient to establish it, but agreed that national importance was not shown. The Petitioner's evidence addressed the importance of the packaging industry generally rather than the prospective impact of her specific endeavor. The Company also lacked a verified physical location, undermining claims about Florida Opportunity Zone impact.

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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding the evidence sufficient to establish it, but agreed that national importance was not shown. The Petitioner's evidence addressed the importance of the packaging industry generally rather than the prospective impact of her specific endeavor. The Company also lacked a verified physical location, undermining claims about Florida Opportunity Zone impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_10_B5203; source_row=39062
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's finding that evidence of four license agreements did not reflect significant attention or commercialization of the Petitioner's contributions, and the impact did not extend beyond the four licensees.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO affirmed the Director's finding that evidence of four license agreements did not reflect significant attention or commercialization of the Petitioner's contributions, and the impact did not extend beyond the four licensees.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=39021
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration relative to others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's conclusion that the evidence showed the Petitioner's earnings were above average but well below the high end, and therefore did not establish a high salary relative to others in the field.

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AAO affirmed the Director's conclusion that the evidence showed the Petitioner's earnings were above average but well below the high end, and therefore did not establish a high salary relative to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=39024
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's findings, noting the Petitioner provided no new arguments or evidence to overcome the identified deficiencies regarding either award.

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AAO affirmed the Director's findings, noting the Petitioner provided no new arguments or evidence to overcome the identified deficiencies regarding either award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=39017
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's finding that insufficient evidence established actual participation as a judge, given the inconsistency between the two letters and the failure to demonstrate judging occurred prior to or at the time of filing.

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AAO affirmed the Director's finding that insufficient evidence established actual participation as a judge, given the inconsistency between the two letters and the failure to demonstrate judging occurred prior to or at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=39020
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputations

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director and found this criterion met based on the Petitioner's former work in Kazakhstan. Letters from Kazakhstan's gymnastics federation and competition results documented her athletes' international successes during her tenure, and an expert letter discussed Kazakhstan's historically strong international rating in the field and stated that a coach's assignment to the national team places them at th…

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AAO disagreed with the Director and found this criterion met based on the Petitioner's former work in Kazakhstan. Letters from Kazakhstan's gymnastics federation and competition results documented her athletes' international successes during her tenure, and an expert letter discussed Kazakhstan's historically strong international rating in the field and stated that a coach's assignment to the national team places them at the top of the field. However, AAO agreed the current U.S. employer did not have a demonstrated distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_03_B2203; source_row=39040
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted without further discussion the director's finding that the Petitioner satisfied criterion (iv) for judging the work of others.

Why this is useful

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AAO accepted without further discussion the director's finding that the Petitioner satisfied criterion (iv) for judging the work of others.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_03_B2203; source_row=39039
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated his specific business would attain sufficient size or scope to achieve national-scale economic results, would not employ enough people to significantly affect economically depressed areas, and would not introduce advancements to the consulting or business process engineering field.

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 the Petitioner had not demonstrated his specific business would attain sufficient size or scope to achieve national-scale economic results, would not employ enough people to significantly affect economically depressed areas, and would not introduce advancements to the consulting or business process engineering field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_03_B5203; source_row=39042
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, which was dispositive.

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 did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, which was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_03_B5203; source_row=39043
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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