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 5021–5030

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to show that developing lesson plans incorporating digital platforms rises to national importance. The evidence submitted related mostly to personal qualifications rather than national impact, and the letters of support only described positive classroom-level effects without highlighting broader prospective national or global implications.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to show that developing lesson plans incorporating digital platforms rises to national importance. The evidence submitted related mostly to personal qualifications rather than national impact, and the letters of support only described positive classroom-level effects without highlighting broader prospective national or global implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-26_01_B5203; source_row=37257
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest this determination on appeal, so AAO treats the issue as waived.

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The Petitioner did not contest this determination on appeal, so AAO treats the issue as waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-26_03_B5203; source_row=37263
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

exceptional ability final merits

What the decision said

AAO reserves this issue because the case is resolved on other grounds.

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AAO reserves this issue because the case is resolved on other grounds.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-26_03_B5203; source_row=37264
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Beneficiary failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, but advised in dicta that the record does not show the required acclaim.

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Beneficiary failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, but advised in dicta that the record does not show the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-26_01_B2203; source_row=37256
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Petitioner's evidence of personal education, skills, and record of success pertains to the second prong, not the first prong's national importance analysis, but did not separately adjudicate the second prong given the dispositive failure on the first prong.

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AAO noted that the Petitioner's evidence of personal education, skills, and record of success pertains to the second prong, not the first prong's national importance analysis, but did not separately adjudicate the second prong given the dispositive failure on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-26_01_B5203; source_row=37258
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

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding the record lacked documentation showing the Petitioner's services would extend beyond her prospective clients to impact the industry or U.S. economy at a nationally important level. The Petitioner also failed to provide sufficient evidence on appeal that the RFE response was timely mailed.

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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding the record lacked documentation showing the Petitioner's services would extend beyond her prospective clients to impact the industry or U.S. economy at a nationally important level. The Petitioner also failed to provide sufficient evidence on appeal that the RFE response was timely mailed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-26_04_B5203; source_row=37268
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional (bachelor's plus 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the experience evidence does not relate to the proposed specialty of special education and does not document actual management duties; pre-degree marketing experience does not count as post-baccalaureate.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the experience evidence does not relate to the proposed specialty of special education and does not document actual management duties; pre-degree marketing experience does not count as post-baccalaureate.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-25_09_B5203; source_row=37242
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

The AAO agreed that while the endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner did not provide sufficient corroborating evidence of national importance. Business projections lacked adequate support, academic credentials relate to the second prong not the first, and the industry reports addressed the importance of the human resources field generally rather than the prospective impact of the Petitioner's specific endeavor.

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The AAO agreed that while the endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner did not provide sufficient corroborating evidence of national importance. Business projections lacked adequate support, academic credentials relate to the second prong not the first, and the industry reports addressed the importance of the human resources field generally rather than the prospective impact of the Petitioner's specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-25_05_B5203; source_row=37229
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 the proposed endeavor lacks national importance, finding it fungible with existing repair shops, and that neither the Petitioner's qualifications nor generalized information about business and the economy is material to national importance.

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AAO agreed the proposed endeavor lacks national importance, finding it fungible with existing repair shops, and that neither the Petitioner's qualifications nor generalized information about business and the economy is material to national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-25_02_B5203; source_row=37220
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification (bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's work history as a nurse, assistant nurse, and technical manager did not constitute progressive experience in the specialty of nurse practitioner. Letters lacking job duties were insufficient, and post-filing work experience letters could not be considered.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's work history as a nurse, assistant nurse, and technical manager did not constitute progressive experience in the specialty of nurse practitioner. Letters lacking job duties were insufficient, and post-filing work experience letters could not be considered.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-25_08_B5203; source_row=37238
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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