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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 5411–5420

NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanded salary demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacks documentation comparing the Petitioner's salary to other airline pilots or showing that his salary was based on exceptional ability. The appeal brief was also not supplemented by additional evidence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The record lacks documentation comparing the Petitioner's salary to other airline pilots or showing that his salary was based on exceptional ability. The appeal brief was also not supplemented by additional evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_03_B5203; source_row=36660
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director on vagueness as to the entire endeavor—finding sufficient specificity to discuss the first prong—and found that the Petitioner's evidence supported substantial merit in cold plasma applications.…

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 disagreed with the Director on vagueness as to the entire endeavor—finding sufficient specificity to discuss the first prong—and found that the Petitioner's evidence supported substantial merit in cold plasma applications. However, AAO found national importance unestablished because the articles submitted were not specific to the Petitioner's endeavor, the recommendation letters did not explain prospective national impact, and the Petitioner did not articulate how he would carry out the endeavor or demonstrate broader economic/employment implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_07_B5203; source_row=36674
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 established but not national importance. The Petitioner's arguments relied on general industry-level economic benefits rather than demonstrating substantial prospective impact of her specific marketing consulting 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 established but not national importance. The Petitioner's arguments relied on general industry-level economic benefits rather than demonstrating substantial prospective impact of her specific marketing consulting endeavor. The projected financials were modest with no employee job creation, the Executive Order reference was insufficiently connected to her consulting work, and the expert letter addressed the industry rather than the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_02_B5203; source_row=36647
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent (foreign degree + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The lato sensu certificate is not necessarily a graduate degree equivalent, and no credential evaluation was submitted. The employer letter for sales supervisor work lacked duty descriptions, and evidence of the co-founded company work was insufficient to document five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The lato sensu certificate is not necessarily a graduate degree equivalent, and no credential evaluation was submitted. The employer letter for sales supervisor work lacked duty descriptions, and evidence of the co-founded company work was insufficient to document five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_02_B5203; source_row=36646
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the submitted screenshots and documents did not identify the Petitioner as a judge who actually participated in voting, did not show actual judging (only interest or application to judge), and did not establish when any purported judging occurred relative to the petition filing date.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the submitted screenshots and documents did not identify the Petitioner as a judge who actually participated in voting, did not show actual judging (only interest or application to judge), and did not establish when any purported judging occurred relative to the petition filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_03_B2203; source_row=36651
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the self-prepared, unsigned, and undated IRS Form 1040 insufficient without corroborating evidence such as W-2 forms, paystubs, or employer letters, and noted the tax return covered income received partly after the petition filing date, failing to establish earnings at the time of filing.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found the self-prepared, unsigned, and undated IRS Form 1040 insufficient without corroborating evidence such as W-2 forms, paystubs, or employer letters, and noted the tax return covered income received partly after the petition filing date, failing to establish earnings at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_03_B2203; source_row=36654
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirms the Director's prong-one conclusion, finding the Director did not ignore evidence, that the Director's discussion of broader-field implications properly bore on national importance, and that the Petitioner failed to show prejudice from any unmentioned evidence.

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 affirms the Director's prong-one conclusion, finding the Director did not ignore evidence, that the Director's discussion of broader-field implications properly bore on national importance, and that the Petitioner failed to show prejudice from any unmentioned evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_04_B5203; source_row=36666
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 endeavor has substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner failed to provide specific information about projects, projected impact on the target population, or empirical data showing the work would have national or global implications. General labor statistics about the nonprofit sector are insufficient because the focus must be on 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 agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner failed to provide specific information about projects, projected impact on the target population, or empirical data showing the work would have national or global implications. General labor statistics about the nonprofit sector are insufficient because the focus must be on the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_06_B5203; source_row=36671
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the business plan constituted a material change and that the Petitioner's qualifications addressed the second Dhanasar prong rather than national importance. On motion, the Petitioner failed to specifically address or rebut this determination.

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 with the Director that the business plan constituted a material change and that the Petitioner's qualifications addressed the second Dhanasar prong rather than national importance. On motion, the Petitioner failed to specifically address or rebut this determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_01_B5203; source_row=36639
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong, reserving the issue because the first prong finding 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 explicitly declined to reach the third prong, reserving the issue because the first prong finding was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-28_05_B5203; source_row=36670
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment