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 5511–5520

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

The Petitioner's initial description was vague, the business plan and advisory letter were created after the filing date and thus cannot establish eligibility as of the priority date, and the record did not demonstrate broader national implications of the proposed endeavor beyond its own customers and employees.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner's initial description was vague, the business plan and advisory letter were created after the filing date and thus cannot establish eligibility as of the priority date, and the record did not demonstrate broader national implications of the proposed endeavor beyond its own customers and employees.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_02_B5203; source_row=36486
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO accepted that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor—building cyber-physical systems to monitor consciousness in brain injury and COVID-19 patients—has substantial merit and national importance.

Why this is useful

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Both the Director and AAO accepted that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor—building cyber-physical systems to monitor consciousness in brain injury and COVID-19 patients—has substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_08_B5203; source_row=36506
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination: degree of expertise significantly above ordinary

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's credentials, certifications, and employment letters reflect normal professional development in IT and lack corroborative evidence of broader impact or recognition. The Petitioner failed to adequately explain his specific contributions to the field with supporting documentary evidence.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's credentials, certifications, and employment letters reflect normal professional development in IT and lack corroborative evidence of broader impact or recognition. The Petitioner failed to adequately explain his specific contributions to the field with supporting documentary evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_12_B5203; source_row=36524
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 AAO found that the business plan's projections of 12 employees and $27 million in revenue lacked supporting detail and did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantially impact the economy. Industry reports addressed the importance of the construction sector generally rather than the specific endeavor. Letters of recommendation praised the Petitioner personally but did not show broader 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 AAO found that the business plan's projections of 12 employees and $27 million in revenue lacked supporting detail and did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantially impact the economy. Industry reports addressed the importance of the construction sector generally rather than the specific endeavor. Letters of recommendation praised the Petitioner personally but did not show broader impact. The proposed endeavor did not demonstrate original innovations or implications extending beyond his own companies and clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_04_B5203; source_row=36492
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherResearcher

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record (criterion A)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted a copy of her diploma, but not an official academic record from the university, as required by the criterion.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner submitted a copy of her diploma, but not an official academic record from the university, as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_09_B5203; source_row=36510
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherResearcher

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions (criterion F)

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the record shows the Petitioner is a skilled criminal investigator valued by former colleagues, it does not demonstrate she has been recognized for achievements and significant contributions to her industry or field as required by the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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While the record shows the Petitioner is a skilled criminal investigator valued by former colleagues, it does not demonstrate she has been recognized for achievements and significant contributions to her industry or field as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_09_B5203; source_row=36513
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherResearcher

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years full-time experience (criterion B)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Attorney General letter did not indicate whether employment was full-time; colleague recommendation letters from the second employer lacked dates of employment and full-time confirmation; commendation certificates are project-specific and do not satisfy the plain language of the criterion.

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The Attorney General letter did not indicate whether employment was full-time; colleague recommendation letters from the second employer lacked dates of employment and full-time confirmation; commendation certificates are project-specific and do not satisfy the plain language of the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_09_B5203; source_row=36511
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherResearcher

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification for the profession (criterion C)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The lawyer professional card is a license to practice law, not to practice as an anti-corruption and investigations specialist, and no evidence explained its significance for that occupation. Training completion certificates do not constitute a license or certification for her occupation.

Why this is useful

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The lawyer professional card is a license to practice law, not to practice as an anti-corruption and investigations specialist, and no evidence explained its significance for that occupation. Training completion certificates do not constitute a license or certification for her occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_09_B5203; source_row=36512
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

remaining exceptional ability criteria (B)-(F)

What the decision said

AAO deemed the Petitioner's challenge to the Director's findings on criteria (B)-(F) waived because she did not address them on appeal.

Why this is useful

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AAO deemed the Petitioner's challenge to the Director's findings on criteria (B)-(F) waived because she did not address them on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-20_05_B5203; source_row=36496
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's national importance analysis, finding the Petitioner failed to identify overlooked evidence and improperly centered his argument on the accounting field rather than his specific endeavor.

Why this is useful

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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's national importance analysis, finding the Petitioner failed to identify overlooked evidence and improperly centered his argument on the accounting field rather than his specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_04_B5203; source_row=36465
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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