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 5501–5510

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

awards

What the decision said

AAO reserved criterion (i) because the Petitioner had already failed to meet at least three criteria based on the criteria that were addressed, making further analysis unnecessary.

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AAO reserved criterion (i) because the Petitioner had already failed to meet at least three criteria based on the criteria that were addressed, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-21_04_B2203; source_row=36554
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence addressed the importance of the dental healthcare industry as a whole, not the prospective impact of her specific proposed endeavor. General industry statistics, workforce shortage data, government oral health initiatives, and broad economic claims were insufficient to show national importance. The expert letters also lacked probative value on this specific question.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence addressed the importance of the dental healthcare industry as a whole, not the prospective impact of her specific proposed endeavor. General industry statistics, workforce shortage data, government oral health initiatives, and broad economic claims were insufficient to show national importance. The expert letters also lacked probative value on this specific question. Additionally, AAO refused to consider the materially changed endeavor description submitted on appeal under Matter of Izummi.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_03_B5203; source_row=36489
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's master's degree in telecommunications and network management, while relevant, is not itself sufficient to show he is well positioned. His employment history in telecommunications does not establish a track record of success in neuroscience research. He was only a consultant on funded projects, not the primary grant contact or initiator.…

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AAO found the Petitioner's master's degree in telecommunications and network management, while relevant, is not itself sufficient to show he is well positioned. His employment history in telecommunications does not establish a track record of success in neuroscience research. He was only a consultant on funded projects, not the primary grant contact or initiator. His business plan lacked corroborating evidence of contacts with potential customers or registration of a U.S. corporation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_08_B5203; source_row=36507
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 disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding the business plan adequately described the proposed endeavor, and withdrew the Director's finding on that sub-element. However, AAO agreed with the Director that the record failed to demonstrate national importance, as the Petitioner's unsupported economic projections, general industry reports, and an inapposite expert opinion did not establish that the endeavor…

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AAO disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding the business plan adequately described the proposed endeavor, and withdrew the Director's finding on that sub-element. However, AAO agreed with the Director that the record failed to demonstrate national importance, as the Petitioner's unsupported economic projections, general industry reports, and an inapposite expert opinion did not establish that the endeavor would have broader implications beyond his own business and clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_07_B5203; source_row=36503
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found that the projected $2.9 million revenues and 25 employees, plans for geographic expansion, and asserted alignment with the infrastructure law did not show the business would impact the national IT field or economy more broadly.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found that the projected $2.9 million revenues and 25 employees, plans for geographic expansion, and asserted alignment with the infrastructure law did not show the business would impact the national IT field or economy more broadly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_06_B5203; source_row=36500
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherResearcher

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacks evidence that the Colombian law degree is the foreign equivalent of a degree above a U.S. bachelor's degree, and there is no showing of a bachelor's equivalent plus five years of post-baccalaureate progressive experience.

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The record lacks evidence that the Colombian law degree is the foreign equivalent of a degree above a U.S. bachelor's degree, and there is no showing of a bachelor's equivalent plus five years of post-baccalaureate progressive experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_09_B5203; source_row=36509
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherResearcher

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the proposed endeavor has substantial merit (withdrawing the Director's contrary finding on that element) but does not have national importance. The Petitioner's reliance on her own credentials to establish national importance was misplaced; the business plan, industry reports, and expert opinion letter addressed the importance of the field generally and the Petitioner's qualifications rather than the specific pro…

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AAO found the proposed endeavor has substantial merit (withdrawing the Director's contrary finding on that element) but does not have national importance. The Petitioner's reliance on her own credentials to establish national importance was misplaced; the business plan, industry reports, and expert opinion letter addressed the importance of the field generally and the Petitioner's qualifications rather than the specific prospective impact of her particular endeavor. Working as an anti-corruption and investigations specialist at a police department does not, without more, rise to the level of national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_09_B5203; source_row=36514
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 agreed that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but does not demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's reliance on his personal experience is relevant to the second prong, not the first.…

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AAO agreed that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but does not demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's reliance on his personal experience is relevant to the second prong, not the first. The business plan's financial projections lack corroborating evidence, the expert letter focuses on the industry broadly rather than the specific endeavor, and general economic benefits from immigrant entrepreneurship do not establish national importance for this specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_10_B5203; source_row=36517
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 agreed the business plan did not establish national importance, finding that the evidence supports the importance of the SAP/ERP industry generally but not the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The financial projections lacked supporting basis, and the Petitioner did not show her services differ from existing market offerings or would broadly impact the industry or economy beyond directly served clients.

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AAO agreed the business plan did not establish national importance, finding that the evidence supports the importance of the SAP/ERP industry generally but not the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The financial projections lacked supporting basis, and the Petitioner did not show her services differ from existing market offerings or would broadly impact the industry or economy beyond directly served clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_11_B5203; source_row=36520
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 found that generalized trade data, STEM assertions, claims of 'innovation,' and self-employment as general manager do not establish the specific endeavor has national or global implications within a field. The endeavor benefits the Petitioner and her clients but lacks the broader impact contemplated by Dhanasar.

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AAO found that generalized trade data, STEM assertions, claims of 'innovation,' and self-employment as general manager do not establish the specific endeavor has national or global implications within a field. The endeavor benefits the Petitioner and her clients but lacks the broader impact contemplated by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_01_B5203; source_row=36483
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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