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 45714580

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong as unnecessary because the Petitioner had not established national importance under the first prong, and reaching the second prong would serve no meaningful purpose.

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AAO reserved this prong as unnecessary because the Petitioner had not established national importance under the first prong, and reaching the second prong would serve no meaningful purpose.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_06_B5203; source_row=37980
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 did not show how his proposed consultancy would benefit the United States at a national level. Business plan projections lacked corroboration, and most evidence related to the petitioner's credentials rather than the national impact of the endeavor itself.

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 did not show how his proposed consultancy would benefit the United States at a national level. Business plan projections lacked corroboration, and most evidence related to the petitioner's credentials rather than the national impact of the endeavor itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_06_B5203; source_row=37979
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the failure on prong one was dispositive.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_08_B5203; source_row=37988
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

The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two because the failure on prong one was dispositive.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_08_B5203; source_row=37987
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved consideration of the third prong because failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO reserved consideration of the third prong because failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_07_B5203; source_row=37985
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

What the decision said

AAO agreed the Petitioner holds a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in production engineering but questioned whether the record shows he holds an advanced degree or has five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience. AAO reserved the issue because the Dhanasar analysis is dispositive.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner holds a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in production engineering but questioned whether the record shows he holds an advanced degree or has five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience. AAO reserved the issue because the Dhanasar analysis is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_07_B5203; source_row=37982
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the personal statement generalized about the value of process engineering rather than the specific endeavor's prospective national impact; the expert opinion focused on project managers generally; articles and reports provided only background information about fields rather than the specific endeavor; and economic impact claims were too attenuated without corroborating evidence.

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 personal statement generalized about the value of process engineering rather than the specific endeavor's prospective national impact; the expert opinion focused on project managers generally; articles and reports provided only background information about fields rather than the specific endeavor; and economic impact claims were too attenuated without corroborating evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_07_B5203; source_row=37983
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved consideration of the second prong because failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved consideration of the second prong because failure under the first prong is dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_07_B5203; source_row=37984
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 Petitioner's evidence addressed general conditions in the e-commerce industry and economy but did not show how his specific company would have a prospective national impact. Business plan projections lacked objective basis, the expert opinion letter was vague, and assertions about benefiting a low-income area were unsubstantiated.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner's evidence addressed general conditions in the e-commerce industry and economy but did not show how his specific company would have a prospective national impact. Business plan projections lacked objective basis, the expert opinion letter was vague, and assertions about benefiting a low-income area were unsubstantiated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_09_B5203; source_row=37989
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding the Petitioner's evidence—including the business plan, general industry articles, and credentials—insufficient to show the endeavor would have an impact rising to the level of national importance beyond the Petitioner's own company and prospective clients.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding the Petitioner's evidence—including the business plan, general industry articles, and credentials—insufficient to show the endeavor would have an impact rising to the level of national importance beyond the Petitioner's own company and prospective clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-03_01_B5203; source_row=37957
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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