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 45414550

EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

While AAO disagreed with the Director's dismissal of similarweb.com statistics as irrelevant, it found the statistics provided were insufficient to establish the websites as major trade or other major media due to lack of context regarding the ranking groups and intended audiences. Petitioner's assertion that advertising presence demonstrates reach was conjecture unsupported by evidence.

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While AAO disagreed with the Director's dismissal of similarweb.com statistics as irrelevant, it found the statistics provided were insufficient to establish the websites as major trade or other major media due to lack of context regarding the ranking groups and intended audiences. Petitioner's assertion that advertising presence demonstrates reach was conjecture unsupported by evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-06_01_B2203; source_row=38008
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO acknowledged substantial merit of the Petitioner's intention to develop an architectural consultancy but found the evidence insufficient to establish national importance. The business plan lacked detailed basis for its projections, industry-level evidence did not speak to the specific proposed endeavor, and past experience/contributions were relevant to the second prong rather than the first.

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AAO acknowledged substantial merit of the Petitioner's intention to develop an architectural consultancy but found the evidence insufficient to establish national importance. The business plan lacked detailed basis for its projections, industry-level evidence did not speak to the specific proposed endeavor, and past experience/contributions were relevant to the second prong rather than the first.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-06_02_B5203; source_row=38016
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's finding on the first prong without further analysis and proceeded to review the second prong.

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AAO accepted the Director's finding on the first prong without further analysis and proceeded to review the second prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-06_01_B5203; source_row=38013
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 adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding that the Petitioner failed to provide independent and corroborating evidence to support generalized claims of broad impact on the field or substantial economic effects. No new evidence or arguments were presented on appeal.

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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding that the Petitioner failed to provide independent and corroborating evidence to support generalized claims of broad impact on the field or substantial economic effects. No new evidence or arguments were presented on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-06_05_B5203; source_row=38025
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organization with distinguished reputation

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's denial of this criterion on appeal, so AAO considered the claim waived.

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The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's denial of this criterion on appeal, so AAO considered the claim waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-06_01_B2203; source_row=38011
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The RGD designation signals quality and competence rather than outstanding professional achievement. The allowance of experience in lieu of examination sections emphasizes acquired knowledge and skill rather than achievements that elevate members above peers. The portfolio evaluation criteria focus on communication and design skills rather than distinguishing achievements.

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The RGD designation signals quality and competence rather than outstanding professional achievement. The allowance of experience in lieu of examination sections emphasizes acquired knowledge and skill rather than achievements that elevate members above peers. The portfolio evaluation criteria focus on communication and design skills rather than distinguishing achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-06_01_B2203; source_row=38007
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 that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The benefits of the proposed fitness and sports consulting endeavor would only extend to those individuals and entities directly engaging the Petitioner's services, akin to teaching that benefits only the immediate students.…

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The benefits of the proposed fitness and sports consulting endeavor would only extend to those individuals and entities directly engaging the Petitioner's services, akin to teaching that benefits only the immediate students. The economic projections (17 employees, ~$738K in salary, ~$265K in tax revenue over five years) were not shown to have a substantial prospective positive economic effect commensurate with national importance, and the expert letter focused on the general field rather than the specific national impact of the Petitioner's endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-05_01_B5203; source_row=37996
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director and withdrew the finding that the Petitioner was well positioned. The experience letters did not reflect a record of success in similar efforts, the business plan showed minimal progress beyond company registration, and the recommendation letters were not material or probative evidence of interest or support from relevant entities.

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AAO disagreed with the Director and withdrew the finding that the Petitioner was well positioned. The experience letters did not reflect a record of success in similar efforts, the business plan showed minimal progress beyond company registration, and the recommendation letters were not material or probative evidence of interest or support from relevant entities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-05_01_B5203; source_row=37997
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's favorable finding because the Petitioner relied on screenshots pasted into a letter rather than evidentiary printouts, selected comparison websites herself rather than providing an objective ranking of major trade publications, and relied on SiteWorth Traffic data that is based on Alexa statistics—a service defunct since 2022—making the evidence unreliable and insufficient to establish that her p…

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AAO withdrew the Director's favorable finding because the Petitioner relied on screenshots pasted into a letter rather than evidentiary printouts, selected comparison websites herself rather than providing an objective ranking of major trade publications, and relied on SiteWorth Traffic data that is based on Alexa statistics—a service defunct since 2022—making the evidence unreliable and insufficient to establish that her publications appeared in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-05_01_B2203; source_row=37994
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the Petitioner's qualifications are immaterial to prong 1 and that generalized industry information does not show the specific endeavor's broader implications, employment impact, or national/global significance.

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AAO concluded the Petitioner's qualifications are immaterial to prong 1 and that generalized industry information does not show the specific endeavor's broader implications, employment impact, or national/global significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-05_02_B5203; source_row=37999
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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