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 5071–5080

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved prong 3 as unnecessary given the dispositive prong 1 finding.

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 prong 3 as unnecessary given the dispositive prong 1 finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_02_B5203; source_row=37172
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 reserved this prong because prong 1 was dispositive, but noted significant doubt about the Director's conclusion that the Petitioner was well positioned, observing that most of the Petitioner's evidence related to automotive repair rather than franchise brokerage.

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 this prong because prong 1 was dispositive, but noted significant doubt about the Director's conclusion that the Petitioner was well positioned, observing that most of the Petitioner's evidence related to automotive repair rather than franchise brokerage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_02_B5203; source_row=37171
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 business plan's projections of 14 employees and $4.1 million in gross revenue over five years were inadequately supported, and even if accurate, would not constitute substantial positive economic effects at the national level. The Petitioner's consulting services would not impact the field beyond her immediate clientele, analogous to Dhanasar's classroom teacher whose activities lacked broader national impact.

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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The business plan's projections of 14 employees and $4.1 million in gross revenue over five years were inadequately supported, and even if accurate, would not constitute substantial positive economic effects at the national level. The Petitioner's consulting services would not impact the field beyond her immediate clientele, analogous to Dhanasar's classroom teacher whose activities lacked broader national impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_05_B5203; source_row=37184
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 explicitly declined to reach the second prong, reserving it as unnecessary to the result given the dispositive finding on the first prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong, reserving it as unnecessary to the result given the dispositive finding on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_05_B5203; source_row=37185
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 to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong, reserving it as unnecessary to the result given the dispositive finding on the first prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong, reserving it as unnecessary to the result given the dispositive finding on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_05_B5203; source_row=37186
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

The Director did not address this prong at all. AAO remanded for proper analysis, instructing the Director to address the Petitioner's arguments and evidence and explain decisional weight given to each balancing factor.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Director did not address this prong at all. AAO remanded for proper analysis, instructing the Director to address the Petitioner's arguments and evidence and explain decisional weight given to each balancing factor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_01_B5203; source_row=37168
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

The Director did not address this prong at all. AAO remanded for proper analysis, instructing the Director to articulate the basis for the finding.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Director did not address this prong at all. AAO remanded for proper analysis, instructing the Director to articulate the basis for the finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_01_B5203; source_row=37167
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO agreed substantial merit is demonstrated but found the Director's national importance analysis insufficient because it failed to address key evidence. AAO remanded for a proper analysis and expressly reserved its own opinion on the ultimate merits.

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 agreed substantial merit is demonstrated but found the Director's national importance analysis insufficient because it failed to address key evidence. AAO remanded for a proper analysis and expressly reserved its own opinion on the ultimate merits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_01_B5203; source_row=37166
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Exceptional ability initial evidentiary criteria (at least 3 of 6)

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this issue and remanded to the Director to evaluate it in the first instance.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to reach this issue and remanded to the Director to evaluate it in the first instance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-23_01_B5203; source_row=37165
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

AAO found substantial merit but not national importance. The projected 13 jobs relied on inconsistent full-time staffing assumptions, the HUBZone claims lacked corroborating evidence, the endeavor would benefit only direct clients rather than impacting the athletics industry broadly, and industry-level reports do not demonstrate national importance for the specific proposed endeavor.

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 found substantial merit but not national importance. The projected 13 jobs relied on inconsistent full-time staffing assumptions, the HUBZone claims lacked corroborating evidence, the endeavor would benefit only direct clients rather than impacting the athletics industry broadly, and industry-level reports do not demonstrate national importance for the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-22_06_B5203; source_row=37158
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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