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 44314440

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed substantial merit was shown but concluded the Petitioner did not document prospective impact beyond her own business and clients. Recommendation letters spoke to her personal qualifications (prong two), industry shortage evidence does not establish national importance, and the business plan's projected jobs/wages/taxes lacked corroborating evidence and a sufficient direct evidentiary tie.

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AAO agreed substantial merit was shown but concluded the Petitioner did not document prospective impact beyond her own business and clients. Recommendation letters spoke to her personal qualifications (prong two), industry shortage evidence does not establish national importance, and the business plan's projected jobs/wages/taxes lacked corroborating evidence and a sufficient direct evidentiary tie.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_02_B5203; source_row=38196
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 substantial merit was shown but concluded national importance was not established because the Petitioner focused on the importance of mental health and the psychology field generally, did not demonstrate broader national or global implications of her specific endeavor, and did not document substantial positive economic effects or significant U.S. job creation potential.

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AAO agreed substantial merit was shown but concluded national importance was not established because the Petitioner focused on the importance of mental health and the psychology field generally, did not demonstrate broader national or global implications of her specific endeavor, and did not document substantial positive economic effects or significant U.S. job creation potential.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_04_B5203; source_row=38202
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 agrees the record fails to establish national importance because the Petitioner did not articulate specific errors by the Director and did not demonstrate broader implications of his consulting endeavor.

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AAO agrees the record fails to establish national importance because the Petitioner did not articulate specific errors by the Director and did not demonstrate broader implications of his consulting endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_03_B5203; source_row=38199
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit (potential to help U.S. businesses increase revenues and create jobs) but found the Petitioner did not show national importance: the projected revenues/net income, lack of impact on a depressed area, and failure to show broader effect on the management consulting field were insufficient. AAO analogized to the STEM-teaching petitioner in Dhanasar.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit (potential to help U.S. businesses increase revenues and create jobs) but found the Petitioner did not show national importance: the projected revenues/net income, lack of impact on a depressed area, and failure to show broader effect on the management consulting field were insufficient. AAO analogized to the STEM-teaching petitioner in Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_01_B5203; source_row=38193
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

The AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to show how providing public relations services would have broader implications in the field or for the national economy. Evidence about the importance of the PR profession generally did not establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor, and the expert opinion letter lacked relevance and probative value on this question.

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The AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to show how providing public relations services would have broader implications in the field or for the national economy. Evidence about the importance of the PR profession generally did not establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor, and the expert opinion letter lacked relevance and probative value on this question.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_05_B5203; source_row=38205
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong because the national-importance failure resolved the appeal.

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AAO reserved this prong because the national-importance failure resolved the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_01_B5203; source_row=38194
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the Petitioner's appellate arguments about the waiver's purported benefits to the United States, citing Bagamasbad.

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AAO declined to reach the Petitioner's appellate arguments about the waiver's purported benefits to the United States, citing Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_01_B5203; source_row=38195
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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record shows the Beneficiary performed in a critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation, satisfying this criterion.

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AAO found the record shows the Beneficiary performed in a critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_01_B2203; source_row=38191
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record shows the Beneficiary displayed his work at jewelry exhibitions, satisfying this criterion.

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AAO found the record shows the Beneficiary displayed his work at jewelry exhibitions, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_01_B2203; source_row=38190
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record includes documentation indicating the Beneficiary has judged the work of jewelry makers, satisfying this criterion.

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AAO found the record includes documentation indicating the Beneficiary has judged the work of jewelry makers, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-14_01_B2203; source_row=38189
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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