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 44914500

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

Substantial merit was conceded by the Director. AAO found national importance lacking: the proposed endeavor of providing fitness and well-being consulting services through a startup in the Florida area would benefit only specific prospective clients and employees, without broader field-level or economic impact, and the business plan's revenue projections ($58K-$90K) did not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects.

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Substantial merit was conceded by the Director. AAO found national importance lacking: the proposed endeavor of providing fitness and well-being consulting services through a startup in the Florida area would benefit only specific prospective clients and employees, without broader field-level or economic impact, and the business plan's revenue projections ($58K-$90K) did not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_09_B5203; source_row=38110
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the Petitioner's membership card shows she became a member in 2021, she was not yet a member when the petition was filed in 2020. Additionally, the union's requirement of prior experience and 'high regard' from existing members is not synonymous with requiring outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.

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Because the Petitioner's membership card shows she became a member in 2021, she was not yet a member when the petition was filed in 2020. Additionally, the union's requirement of prior experience and 'high regard' from existing members is not synonymous with requiring outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_02_B2203; source_row=38085
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

Participation as a judge of the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The judging panel evidence post-dates the petition filing and does not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Teaching and evaluating coursework and supervising student internships do not meet the defined judging criteria under the regulation.

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See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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The judging panel evidence post-dates the petition filing and does not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Teaching and evaluating coursework and supervising student internships do not meet the defined judging criteria under the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_02_B2203; source_row=38087
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 in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

Recommendation letters praise the Petitioner's work but do not establish that her contributions were of major significance to the field. The government-issued document does not recognize the Petitioner's specific contributions or link them to the approval of listed channels. A foreign-language university printout lacked a certified English translation and could not be meaningfully assessed.…

Why this is useful

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

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Recommendation letters praise the Petitioner's work but do not establish that her contributions were of major significance to the field. The government-issued document does not recognize the Petitioner's specific contributions or link them to the approval of listed channels. A foreign-language university printout lacked a certified English translation and could not be meaningfully assessed. The Petitioner failed to explain how her contributions rose to major significance in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_02_B2203; source_row=38088
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

Published material about the petitioner in major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The article post-dates the petition filing and the Petitioner failed to address the evidentiary deficiency of missing circulation and comparative data. Ambiguous characterizations like 'substantial popularity' and 'extensive reach and influence' do not establish KazUnite as a major trade publication.

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The article post-dates the petition filing and the Petitioner failed to address the evidentiary deficiency of missing circulation and comparative data. Ambiguous characterizations like 'substantial popularity' and 'extensive reach and influence' do not establish KazUnite as a major trade publication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_02_B2203; source_row=38086
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 found the Petitioner's wide-ranging aspirations vague and unsupported by probative evidence of prospective national impact. He did not explain how his platform or sales manager role would impact the nation at scale, lacked relevant prior experience, and failed to address whether similar platforms already exist. The importance of the sales profession generally does not confer national importance on his individual endeavor.

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AAO found the Petitioner's wide-ranging aspirations vague and unsupported by probative evidence of prospective national impact. He did not explain how his platform or sales manager role would impact the nation at scale, lacked relevant prior experience, and failed to address whether similar platforms already exist. The importance of the sales profession generally does not confer national importance on his individual endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_08_B5203; source_row=38107
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 found the Petitioner's endeavor did not have impact commensurate with national importance — it lacked sufficient reach beyond his employees and clients, lacked potential to employ a significant number of U.S. workers or offer substantial positive economic effects, and lacked broader implications resonating at a national level.

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's endeavor did not have impact commensurate with national importance — it lacked sufficient reach beyond his employees and clients, lacked potential to employ a significant number of U.S. workers or offer substantial positive economic effects, and lacked broader implications resonating at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_05_B5203; source_row=38101
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 nature of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor unclear and internally inconsistent across filings — including conflicting geographic locations (Pennsylvania/Virginia/Ohio vs. Texas) and vague descriptions of his specific role. Recommendation letters addressed past contributions rather than 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 the nature of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor unclear and internally inconsistent across filings — including conflicting geographic locations (Pennsylvania/Virginia/Ohio vs. Texas) and vague descriptions of his specific role. Recommendation letters addressed past contributions rather than the specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner failed to explain how his novel techniques differ from what is already available in the United States, and provided no specific data on prospective economic impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_14_B5203; source_row=38125
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 evidence submitted relates to tourism generally rather than to the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner did not identify specific towns, cities, or regions of focus, did not substantiate the business plan projections, and did not demonstrate how revenue and employment figures would produce substantial positive economic effects at a national level.

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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The evidence submitted relates to tourism generally rather than to the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner did not identify specific towns, cities, or regions of focus, did not substantiate the business plan projections, and did not demonstrate how revenue and employment figures would produce substantial positive economic effects at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_12_B5203; source_row=38119
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

Reserved as unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

Why this is useful

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Reserved as unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_06_B5203; source_row=38106
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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