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

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EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

Leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

What the decision said

AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner could not meet three of ten criteria even if this and criterion (vi) were found in her favor.

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AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner could not meet three of ten criteria even if this and criterion (vi) were found in her favor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_02_B2203; source_row=38091
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 agreed the first prong was not met, while partially disagreeing with the director's framing that benefits must be economic. AAO held that providing routine nursing services without broader national or global implications does not satisfy the national importance requirement, and that the Petitioner's qualifications, generalized publications, and assertions about addressing a nursing shortage lacked the broader implicatio…

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AAO agreed the first prong was not met, while partially disagreeing with the director's framing that benefits must be economic. AAO held that providing routine nursing services without broader national or global implications does not satisfy the national importance requirement, and that the Petitioner's qualifications, generalized publications, and assertions about addressing a nursing shortage lacked the broader implications required by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_01_B5203; source_row=38058
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner failed to submit properly certified translations of his foreign educational credentials, rendering those documents without evidentiary weight, and thus he did not establish advanced degree qualification. AAO chose not to base its dismissal on this ground because the Petitioner lacked prior notice.

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AAO found the Petitioner failed to submit properly certified translations of his foreign educational credentials, rendering those documents without evidentiary weight, and thus he did not establish advanced degree qualification. AAO chose not to base its dismissal on this ground because the Petitioner lacked prior notice.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_02_B5203; source_row=38061
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 concludes the evidence regarding women's business ownership initiatives does not address the Petitioner's specific endeavor and that any professional service can benefit its clients without rising to national importance.

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AAO concludes the evidence regarding women's business ownership initiatives does not address the Petitioner's specific endeavor and that any professional service can benefit its clients without rising to national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_04_B5203; source_row=38068
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 proposed consulting endeavor lacked sufficient evidence of national importance. The record did not demonstrate that the endeavor's prospective impact extended beyond direct clients, offered substantial positive economic effects, created significant U.S. employment, or had broader implications for the field.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed consulting endeavor lacked sufficient evidence of national importance. The record did not demonstrate that the endeavor's prospective impact extended beyond direct clients, offered substantial positive economic effects, created significant U.S. employment, or had broader implications for the field. Personal qualifications and alignment with general government policy goals were insufficient substitutes for corroborating evidence of national-level impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_05_B5203; source_row=38071
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's prior statements about broader industry implications and economic impact were examples contextualizing why the evidence was insufficient, not novel mandatory requirements. Showing growth potential is not equivalent to demonstrating significant economic impact, and working in a nationally important sector alone does not establish the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.

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AAO's prior statements about broader industry implications and economic impact were examples contextualizing why the evidence was insufficient, not novel mandatory requirements. Showing growth potential is not equivalent to demonstrating significant economic impact, and working in a nationally important sector alone does not establish the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_03_B5203; source_row=38065
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner conflates substantial merit and national importance, and that alignment with vague policy goals does not demonstrate the specific endeavor's potential prospective impact or broader implications required for national importance under Dhanasar.

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AAO found the Petitioner conflates substantial merit and national importance, and that alignment with vague policy goals does not demonstrate the specific endeavor's potential prospective impact or broader implications required for national importance under Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_06_B5203; source_row=38074
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 reserved the second prong in its prior decision because failure on the first prong was dispositive, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. The petitioner's contention that silence equated to acceptance was incorrect.

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AAO reserved the second prong in its prior decision because failure on the first prong was dispositive, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. The petitioner's contention that silence equated to acceptance was incorrect.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_03_B5203; source_row=38066
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 waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong was not met.

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AAO reserved judgment on the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong was not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_01_B5203; source_row=38060
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong was not met.

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 reserved judgment on the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong was not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-10_01_B5203; source_row=38059
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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