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 4941–4950

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The record's evidence focused on the Petitioner's past work for former employers and did not demonstrate broader prospective impact on the IT field.…

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The record's evidence focused on the Petitioner's past work for former employers and did not demonstrate broader prospective impact on the IT field. The professional plan's claims of economic, societal, and cultural benefits lacked independent documentary support, and the recommendation letters and expert opinion focused on the Petitioner's credentials and fit (second prong) rather than the national importance of the endeavor itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_06_B5203; source_row=37385
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 establish national importance. The projections for job creation were too generalized and the Petitioner relied on the general importance of school safety rather than the specific prospective national impact of her particular endeavor.

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

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The projections for job creation were too generalized and the Petitioner relied on the general importance of school safety rather than the specific prospective national impact of her particular endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_04_B5203; source_row=37382
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because the first prong 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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AAO reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_07_B5203; source_row=37389
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

AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because the first prong 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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AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_07_B5203; source_row=37390
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 did not sufficiently explain the logistics of her project at a national scale — including how she would recruit participants through pharmacies, collect and organize patient data, or fund the project — and that her claims of broader field impact were not supported by probative 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 that the Petitioner did not sufficiently explain the logistics of her project at a national scale — including how she would recruit participants through pharmacies, collect and organize patient data, or fund the project — and that her claims of broader field impact were not supported by probative evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_07_B5203; source_row=37388
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Date of Bachelor's Degree Award / Five Years Post-Baccalaureate Experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the degree certificate states the Beneficiary was placed in the Higher Second Class in November 2005 but was signed by the vice chancellor and dated February 9, 2011, meaning the degree was conferred on that later date.…

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AAO found that the degree certificate states the Beneficiary was placed in the Higher Second Class in November 2005 but was signed by the vice chancellor and dated February 9, 2011, meaning the degree was conferred on that later date. The examination document and statement of marks show only that the Beneficiary passed his final exams in November 2005, not that the university approved all substantive degree requirements at that time. The university letter written nearly 17 years later was not issued in the normal course of business and lacked corroborating documentation of the substantive degree requirements. Neither credential evaluation adequately explained the seven-month gap between November 2005 examinations and June 2006 documents or provided evidence that the university approved the degree in November 2005.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_01_B5203; source_row=37369
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent (five years progressive work experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the experience letters deficient because they lacked specific duty descriptions, were authored by an accountant rather than a former employer or trainer, and omitted the author's address, all of which are required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g).

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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found the experience letters deficient because they lacked specific duty descriptions, were authored by an accountant rather than a former employer or trainer, and omitted the author's address, all of which are required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_08_B5203; source_row=37391
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 did not separately address prong 2, as the failure to meet prong 1 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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AAO did not separately address prong 2, as the failure to meet prong 1 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_08_B5203; source_row=37393
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 waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not separately address prong 3, as the failure to meet prong 1 was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not separately address prong 3, as the failure to meet prong 1 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_08_B5203; source_row=37394
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's determination that this criterion was met and did not disturb that finding.

Why this is useful

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AAO accepted the Director's determination that this criterion was met and did not disturb that finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-02_01_B2203; source_row=37365
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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