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 5391–5400

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 concluded the Petitioner's proposed cybersecurity consulting services for small and medium-sized businesses did not demonstrate prospective impact rising to the level of national importance, as the evidence did not show how the endeavor would extend beyond his customers and employers or provide substantial positive economic effects at a regional or national scale.…

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 concluded the Petitioner's proposed cybersecurity consulting services for small and medium-sized businesses did not demonstrate prospective impact rising to the level of national importance, as the evidence did not show how the endeavor would extend beyond his customers and employers or provide substantial positive economic effects at a regional or national scale. The expert letter made general assertions without specific analysis, and projected revenues and employment figures did not suffice.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_01_B5203; source_row=36682
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 agrees that focus must be on the specific endeavor, not the general industry, and the evidence does not show the boat building business would have impact distinct from any other small business or broadly impact the boat building industry or U.S. economy beyond clients directly served.

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 agrees that focus must be on the specific endeavor, not the general industry, and the evidence does not show the boat building business would have impact distinct from any other small business or broadly impact the boat building industry or U.S. economy beyond clients directly served.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_03_B5203; source_row=36688
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

academic degree

What the decision said

Not claimed by the Petitioner; the decision notes he claims no education beyond high school.

Why this is useful

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

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Not claimed by the Petitioner; the decision notes he claims no education beyond high school.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_04_B5203; source_row=36691
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied this criterion based on letters from former employers.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied this criterion based on letters from former employers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_04_B5203; source_row=36692
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that letters from a former employer and customers attested to the Petitioner's diligence but did not identify significant contributions to the field, and that his book about recovering from illness did not amount to a contribution to general operational management.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that letters from a former employer and customers attested to the Petitioner's diligence but did not identify significant contributions to the field, and that his book about recovering from illness did not amount to a contribution to general operational management.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_04_B5203; source_row=36696
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification

What the decision said

Not claimed.

Why this is useful

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

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Not claimed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_04_B5203; source_row=36693
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding the comparative wage data was position-appropriate based on the employer's description of job duties, and that the Petitioner established by a preponderance of the evidence that he commands a high salary.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO disagreed with the Director, finding the comparative wage data was position-appropriate based on the employer's description of job duties, and that the Petitioner established by a preponderance of the evidence that he commands a high salary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_01_B2203; source_row=36680
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this criterion because the Petitioner already met three criteria once the high-salary criterion was credited.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO declined to reach this criterion because the Petitioner already met three criteria once the high-salary criterion was credited.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_01_B2203; source_row=36677
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to address prong two because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong one, making further analysis unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

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 declined to address prong two because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong one, making further analysis unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_06_B5203; source_row=36706
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO reserved prong three as unnecessary because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong one.

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 three as unnecessary because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-29_06_B5203; source_row=36707
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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