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 5561–5570

NIWEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary demonstrating exceptional ability (criterion D)

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found the Petitioner satisfied the high salary criterion, and the prior AAO decision did not disturb this finding. It is not contested on motion.

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The Director found the Petitioner satisfied the high salary criterion, and the prior AAO decision did not disturb this finding. It is not contested on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-15_01_B5203; source_row=36410
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to industry or field (criterion F)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that letters from coworkers and clients and submitted articles described job-related accomplishments as a business manager but did not demonstrate recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader import/export industry or field. On motion, the Petitioner did not address the AAO's specific reasoning that contributions must extend beyond his specific employers.

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The AAO found that letters from coworkers and clients and submitted articles described job-related accomplishments as a business manager but did not demonstrate recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader import/export industry or field. On motion, the Petitioner did not address the AAO's specific reasoning that contributions must extend beyond his specific employers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-15_01_B5203; source_row=36412
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification (criterion C)

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not claim eligibility for this criterion at any stage, so the issue is waived.

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The Petitioner did not claim eligibility for this criterion at any stage, so the issue is waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-15_01_B5203; source_row=36409
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience (criterion B)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The prior AAO decision disagreed with the Director's finding that the Petitioner satisfied the ten years full-time experience criterion. On motion, the Petitioner did not contest this determination, so it stands.

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The prior AAO decision disagreed with the Director's finding that the Petitioner satisfied the ten years full-time experience criterion. On motion, the Petitioner did not contest this determination, so it stands.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-15_01_B5203; source_row=36408
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record (criterion A)

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not claim eligibility for this criterion before the Director, on appeal, or on motion, so the issue is waived.

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The Petitioner did not claim eligibility for this criterion before the Director, on appeal, or on motion, so the issue is waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-15_01_B5203; source_row=36407
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 description was insufficiently detailed, narrowed the endeavor to practice as a pediatrician, and concluded that providing pediatric patient care lacked the broader implications needed for national importance and that broad statements about the healthcare industry did not establish substantial merit.

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AAO agreed the endeavor description was insufficiently detailed, narrowed the endeavor to practice as a pediatrician, and concluded that providing pediatric patient care lacked the broader implications needed for national importance and that broad statements about the healthcare industry did not establish substantial merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_07_B5203; source_row=36386
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Materials Science

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence of past achievements, lectures/workshops, industry talent shortages, and general economic benefits did not demonstrate that his proposed endeavor would impact the industrial maintenance or manufacturing field more broadly rather than simply benefiting his employers or clients.…

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The AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence of past achievements, lectures/workshops, industry talent shortages, and general economic benefits did not demonstrate that his proposed endeavor would impact the industrial maintenance or manufacturing field more broadly rather than simply benefiting his employers or clients. Citing Dhanasar itself, the AAO noted that teaching activities limited to attendees and worker shortage arguments addressed through labor certification do not constitute national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_05_B5203; source_row=36380
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 with the Director, finding that the Petitioner's modest job creation projections (six employees, three part-time), unsupported revenue forecasts, and failure to show impact beyond direct customers did not establish national importance.…

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AAO agreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner's modest job creation projections (six employees, three part-time), unsupported revenue forecasts, and failure to show impact beyond direct customers did not establish national importance. The expert opinion letter lacked relevance because it focused on marketing managers rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor, and the HUBZone argument failed for lack of evidence of company formation and the business plan's own statement that the Petitioner does not qualify.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_11_B5203; source_row=36404
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the endeavor had substantial merit but lacked national importance because impact would not extend beyond the petitioner's clients, no novel methodologies were shown to be disseminated, financial projections were uncorroborated, and the RIMS II indirect-jobs claim lacked detail.

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AAO found the endeavor had substantial merit but lacked national importance because impact would not extend beyond the petitioner's clients, no novel methodologies were shown to be disseminated, financial projections were uncorroborated, and the RIMS II indirect-jobs claim lacked detail.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_04_B5203; source_row=36377
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The alleged good-standing membership letter was not found in the record. More fundamentally, none of the organizations submitted were shown to be professional associations requiring a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent for membership.

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The alleged good-standing membership letter was not found in the record. More fundamentally, none of the organizations submitted were shown to be professional associations requiring a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent for membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_10_B5203; source_row=36398
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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