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 41214130

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 the Petitioner's proposed endeavor of owning and operating a mediation and conciliation business did not demonstrate national importance. The job creation projections (26 jobs out of ~7,600 industry workers) represent only about one-third of one percent of the industry and are a nominal economic benefit.…

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AAO found the Petitioner's proposed endeavor of owning and operating a mediation and conciliation business did not demonstrate national importance. The job creation projections (26 jobs out of ~7,600 industry workers) represent only about one-third of one percent of the industry and are a nominal economic benefit. The claimed benefits such as access to justice and cost savings do not individually or collectively rise to the level of national importance, much like the teaching activities in Dhanasar that also failed to show broader field impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_07_B5203; source_row=38730
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 that the endeavor has substantial merit but the Petitioner failed to provide probative evidence of national importance; alignment with legislation and secondary economic effects do not satisfy the broader-impact requirement.

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AAO agreed that the endeavor has substantial merit but the Petitioner failed to provide probative evidence of national importance; alignment with legislation and secondary economic effects do not satisfy the broader-impact requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_14_B5203; source_row=38749
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Valid original signature on Form I-140

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the signature was invalid. The March 2020 alert addressed photocopied or scanned reproductions of original handwritten signatures, not electronically generated signatures. An electronically applied signature nullifies the filing, and the Director had discretion to deny rather than reject the petition and was not obligated to permit a cure.

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AAO agreed that the signature was invalid. The March 2020 alert addressed photocopied or scanned reproductions of original handwritten signatures, not electronically generated signatures. An electronically applied signature nullifies the filing, and the Director had discretion to deny rather than reject the petition and was not obligated to permit a cure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_09_B5203; source_row=38733
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 articles and reports provided only a general overview of occupational health and did not discuss the Petitioner's specific endeavor or innovative audit models; the record lacked expert opinion or government letters detailing interest in her specific proposal; the Petitioner did not show her methodologies differ from or improve upon existing approaches; and the business plan projections were unsupported by…

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AAO found that the articles and reports provided only a general overview of occupational health and did not discuss the Petitioner's specific endeavor or innovative audit models; the record lacked expert opinion or government letters detailing interest in her specific proposal; the Petitioner did not show her methodologies differ from or improve upon existing approaches; and the business plan projections were unsupported by independent corroborating evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_11_B5203; source_row=38738
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Intent to continue working in the field in the United States

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this issue because the finding against extraordinary ability was already dispositive.

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AAO declined to reach this issue because the finding against extraordinary ability was already dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_01_B2203; source_row=38705
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

What the decision said

AAO reserved prong 3 as unnecessary given the prong-1 failure.

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AAO reserved prong 3 as unnecessary given the prong-1 failure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_17_B5203; source_row=38762
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)

What the decision said

AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary to decide given that the NIW determination was dispositive.

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AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary to decide given that the NIW determination was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_10_B5203; source_row=38734
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 found the petitioner focused on the importance of the aviation field generally rather than demonstrating how her specific consulting and training business would impact the field at a nationally important level. The business plan's projections of 18-20 jobs and modest revenue were unsupported and insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects nationally.

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AAO found the petitioner focused on the importance of the aviation field generally rather than demonstrating how her specific consulting and training business would impact the field at a nationally important level. The business plan's projections of 18-20 jobs and modest revenue were unsupported and insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects nationally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_10_B5203; source_row=38735
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

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

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AAO expressly declined to reach the third prong because the first prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_16_B5203; source_row=38757
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the field (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(F))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters only praised the Petitioner's general work performance and contributions to his employer and their clients, not achievements or significant contributions to the civil engineering field as a whole.

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AAO found the letters only praised the Petitioner's general work performance and contributions to his employer and their clients, not achievements or significant contributions to the civil engineering field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-08_16_B5203; source_row=38758
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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