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 46314640

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 while the pilot shortage is a genuine national issue, the importance of the field or industry does not confer national importance on an individual's proposed work. The Petitioner's plan to fill a single pilot position and his individual training efforts would not impact the broader field at the level contemplated by Dhanasar.

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AAO agreed that while the pilot shortage is a genuine national issue, the importance of the field or industry does not confer national importance on an individual's proposed work. The Petitioner's plan to fill a single pilot position and his individual training efforts would not impact the broader field at the level contemplated by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-29_06_B5203; source_row=37878
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounder

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the letters from G-F-I- and T-B- S.A. described technical (not entrepreneurial) duties; the CPA letter and corporate documents covered less than two years; and even crediting the M-S-T- LTDA experience would only add three years and ten months, falling short of ten years.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the letters from G-F-I- and T-B- S.A. described technical (not entrepreneurial) duties; the CPA letter and corporate documents covered less than two years; and even crediting the M-S-T- LTDA experience would only add three years and ten months, falling short of ten years.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-29_02_B5203; source_row=37863
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounder

Issue evaluated

academic record

degree or diploma relating to area of exceptional ability

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the Director's favorable conclusion regarding this criterion.

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AAO did not disturb the Director's favorable conclusion regarding this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-29_02_B5203; source_row=37862
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounder

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice profession or certification for profession

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because neither the card nor the letter specified an occupation; the registration appears tied to the broad field of his degree rather than the proposed entrepreneurial endeavor; and the only requirement mentioned is payment of annual dues, which does not reflect the kind of standards typically associated with a license or certification.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because neither the card nor the letter specified an occupation; the registration appears tied to the broad field of his degree rather than the proposed entrepreneurial endeavor; and the only requirement mentioned is payment of annual dues, which does not reflect the kind of standards typically associated with a license or certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-29_02_B5203; source_row=37864
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounder

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination - exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the evidence shows a normal career trajectory rather than a much higher level of expertise; the salary survey lacked regional, industry, and range detail and the Petitioner's M-S-T- LTDA earnings were below the survey average; and the professional card and BAITP membership reflect only payment of fees, not recognition of exceptional ability.

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AAO concluded the evidence shows a normal career trajectory rather than a much higher level of expertise; the salary survey lacked regional, industry, and range detail and the Petitioner's M-S-T- LTDA earnings were below the survey average; and the professional card and BAITP membership reflect only payment of fees, not recognition of exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-29_02_B5203; source_row=37865
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not separately analyze prong two; the Director's favorable finding was undisturbed and not at issue on appeal.

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AAO did not separately analyze prong two; the Director's favorable finding was undisturbed and not at issue on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-29_05_B5203; source_row=37876
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes the Petitioner has not shown how his services would have broader implications in business management or pharmaceutical distribution; alignment with the importance of the industry or government initiatives is insufficient without showing the impact of the specific endeavor.

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AAO concludes the Petitioner has not shown how his services would have broader implications in business management or pharmaceutical distribution; alignment with the importance of the industry or government initiatives is insufficient without showing the impact of the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-29_05_B5203; source_row=37875
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner conflated the importance of the SDN/cloud computing industry with the national importance of the Beneficiary's specific role. Evidence such as the expert letter focused on the field overall rather than the Beneficiary's particular proposed endeavor, and the manager letter addressed past accomplishments without sufficiently addressing broad future impact.

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AAO found that the Petitioner conflated the importance of the SDN/cloud computing industry with the national importance of the Beneficiary's specific role. Evidence such as the expert letter focused on the field overall rather than the Beneficiary's particular proposed endeavor, and the manager letter addressed past accomplishments without sufficiently addressing broad future impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_08_B5203; source_row=37839
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's decision on national importance. The appeal brief failed to identify specific errors in the Director's analysis and instead repeated arguments from the RFE response, resulting in waiver of first-prong claims. AAO also independently found the brief deficient as an administrative appeal because it did not attempt to remedy any perceived error of law or fact.

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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's decision on national importance. The appeal brief failed to identify specific errors in the Director's analysis and instead repeated arguments from the RFE response, resulting in waiver of first-prong claims. AAO also independently found the brief deficient as an administrative appeal because it did not attempt to remedy any perceived error of law or fact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_01_B5203; source_row=37820
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the endeavor has substantial merit but lacks national importance. AAO found the Petitioner conflated the national importance of the issue area with the prospective impact of his particular venture, and that the Director did not require recommendation letters but merely considered them; any error was harmless.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the endeavor has substantial merit but lacks national importance. AAO found the Petitioner conflated the national importance of the issue area with the prospective impact of his particular venture, and that the Director did not require recommendation letters but merely considered them; any error was harmless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_12_B5203; source_row=37848
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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