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 43614370

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

The AAO found the Petitioner's evidence — including letters praising his past work and a business plan projecting only three initial employees — did not demonstrate broader implications for the field beyond individual client relationships.…

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The AAO found the Petitioner's evidence — including letters praising his past work and a business plan projecting only three initial employees — did not demonstrate broader implications for the field beyond individual client relationships. Letters from references lacked specificity as to broader economic or industry-wide impact, and articles on the importance of the broader field did not speak to the Petitioner's specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-21_05_B5203; source_row=38363
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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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

Because the first prong was dispositive, the AAO declined to reach and reserved determination on the second prong.

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Because the first prong was dispositive, the AAO declined to reach and reserved determination on the second prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-21_05_B5203; source_row=38364
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that neither PMI nor SINTESP was shown to require at minimum a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent for membership, so they do not qualify as 'professional associations' under the regulatory definition.

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AAO found that neither PMI nor SINTESP was shown to require at minimum a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent for membership, so they do not qualify as 'professional associations' under the regulatory definition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-21_09_B5203; source_row=38372
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination – exceptional ability

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner failed to meet at least three of the six evidentiary criteria, AAO found it unnecessary to conduct a final merits analysis.

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Because the Petitioner failed to meet at least three of the six evidentiary criteria, AAO found it unnecessary to conduct a final merits analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-21_09_B5203; source_row=38373
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 agreed with the Director's overall conclusion that national importance was not established, but noted the Director's statement about continuing employment constituting legal error.…

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AAO agreed with the Director's overall conclusion that national importance was not established, but noted the Director's statement about continuing employment constituting legal error. AAO found the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has substantial merit (reversing the Director on that sub-point) but does not have national importance because the evidence speaks to the importance of the aviation field generally, not the specific prospective impact of the Petitioner's training activities. A labor shortage alone does not render an endeavor nationally important, and the Petitioner did not show his training methods differ from or improve upon existing methods.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-20_03_B5203; source_row=38322
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's decision. Education, skills, and knowledge alone do not position a petitioner to advance their endeavor. The Petitioner's articles lacked evidence of significance or citation impact, her personal plan did not detail how she has impacted or intends to advance her endeavor, her job offers were not connected to the proposed endeavor, and evidence submitted after the filing date could not…

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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's decision. Education, skills, and knowledge alone do not position a petitioner to advance their endeavor. The Petitioner's articles lacked evidence of significance or citation impact, her personal plan did not detail how she has impacted or intends to advance her endeavor, her job offers were not connected to the proposed endeavor, and evidence submitted after the filing date could not be considered.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-20_05_B5203; source_row=38331
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 substantial merit but not national importance. While recognizing the nursing shortage, AAO held that occupational shortages do not render a proposed endeavor nationally important under Dhanasar, and that the Petitioner failed to explain how her specific nursing, auditing, and data analysis work would have broader implications for the field rather than just filling a workforce gap.

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AAO found substantial merit but not national importance. While recognizing the nursing shortage, AAO held that occupational shortages do not render a proposed endeavor nationally important under Dhanasar, and that the Petitioner failed to explain how her specific nursing, auditing, and data analysis work would have broader implications for the field rather than just filling a workforce gap.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-20_05_B5203; source_row=38330
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's Brazilian nursing diploma equates to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a higher degree. Her lato sensus enrollment did not result in a graduate credential. Her post-baccalaureate nursing work experience amounts to only about 18 months (April 2016–August 2017 and August 2022–February 2023), far short of the five years required.

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The Petitioner's Brazilian nursing diploma equates to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a higher degree. Her lato sensus enrollment did not result in a graduate credential. Her post-baccalaureate nursing work experience amounts to only about 18 months (April 2016–August 2017 and August 2022–February 2023), far short of the five years required.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-20_05_B5203; source_row=38328
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the recommendation letters provided only generic attestations of job performance without specific examples of broad field impact, that the record lacked a detailed business plan or description of how the proposed endeavor would operate, and that the Petitioner's personal assertions without corroborating evidence were insufficient.

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AAO found that the recommendation letters provided only generic attestations of job performance without specific examples of broad field impact, that the record lacked a detailed business plan or description of how the proposed endeavor would operate, and that the Petitioner's personal assertions without corroborating evidence were insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-20_07_B5203; source_row=38337
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 that the Petitioner's evidence addressed the trucking industry in general rather than the national importance of his specific Florida-based freight shipping business. The driver shortage argument was unavailing because such shortages are addressed through the labor certification process.…

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 evidence addressed the trucking industry in general rather than the national importance of his specific Florida-based freight shipping business. The driver shortage argument was unavailing because such shortages are addressed through the labor certification process. Revenue and employment projections were not shown to provide 'substantial positive economic effects' at a level commensurate with national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-20_02_B5203; source_row=38319
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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