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 5571–5580

NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanded salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The tax documentation relating to rural property does not show the Petitioner's salary or remuneration for her services demonstrating exceptional ability, as required by the criterion.

Why this is useful

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The tax documentation relating to rural property does not show the Petitioner's salary or remuneration for her services demonstrating exceptional ability, as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_10_B5203; source_row=36397
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

FinanceManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate original contributions of major significance, finding that the national planning textbook selection did not itself establish major significance in the field. The record lacked independent expert opinion or other evidence showing the textbooks were recognized as making original contributions of major significance.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate original contributions of major significance, finding that the national planning textbook selection did not itself establish major significance in the field. The record lacked independent expert opinion or other evidence showing the textbooks were recognized as making original contributions of major significance. A recommendation letter submitted on appeal was not considered because the Petitioner had been previously put on notice to provide such evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B2203; source_row=36367
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

FinanceManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish a high salary or significantly high remuneration relative to peers. The comparative wage data was too broad and did not account for her senior role or specific occupation. Her consulting income in mainland China was above average but well below the reported high salary. BLS data was irrelevant because the Petitioner works outside the United States.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish a high salary or significantly high remuneration relative to peers. The comparative wage data was too broad and did not account for her senior role or specific occupation. Her consulting income in mainland China was above average but well below the reported high salary. BLS data was irrelevant because the Petitioner works outside the United States.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B2203; source_row=36369
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 found that the Petitioner's proposed consultancy did not demonstrate national importance because the record failed to show that her activities would have broader implications beyond her individual clients for the IT or logistics industries as a whole. The relevant question is the impact of the specific proposed endeavor, not the general importance of the human resources profession.

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 found that the Petitioner's proposed consultancy did not demonstrate national importance because the record failed to show that her activities would have broader implications beyond her individual clients for the IT or logistics industries as a whole. The relevant question is the impact of the specific proposed endeavor, not the general importance of the human resources profession.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_01_B5203; source_row=36363
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 found that the Petitioner's updated statement emphasized his expertise and employer-specific duties without showing broader implications rising to the level of national importance. The government reports had already been considered and resubmitting them does not constitute new facts.…

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 found that the Petitioner's updated statement emphasized his expertise and employer-specific duties without showing broader implications rising to the level of national importance. The government reports had already been considered and resubmitting them does not constitute new facts. The CRS report argument was misplaced because the Policy Manual's reference to quasi-governmental entities relates to letters of interest, not industry reports.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_09_B5203; source_row=36392
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 Petitioner failed to specifically articulate his proposed endeavor beyond a general intent to work in the supply chain industry, and that arguments about industry-wide importance and his personal skills did not establish prospective national impact of the specific endeavor.

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 found Petitioner failed to specifically articulate his proposed endeavor beyond a general intent to work in the supply chain industry, and that arguments about industry-wide importance and his personal skills did not establish prospective national impact of the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_03_B5203; source_row=36374
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherFacultyBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concludes by a preponderance of the evidence that the Petitioner's education, accomplishments, unique background, recognized expertise, planned postdoctoral fellowship, and academic and community funding establish she is well positioned to advance the endeavor.

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 concludes by a preponderance of the evidence that the Petitioner's education, accomplishments, unique background, recognized expertise, planned postdoctoral fellowship, and academic and community funding establish she is well positioned to advance the endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_08_B5203; source_row=36390
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherFacultyBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concludes that strong positive factors—including Petitioner's advanced degree, achievements, unique skills, and academic and community support, combined with letters explaining why labor certification is ill-suited to identifying such researchers—establish that on balance the United States would benefit from waiving the labor certification.

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 concludes that strong positive factors—including Petitioner's advanced degree, achievements, unique skills, and academic and community support, combined with letters explaining why labor certification is ill-suited to identifying such researchers—establish that on balance the United States would benefit from waiving the labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_08_B5203; source_row=36391
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

The Petitioner's statements and business plan offer only generalized descriptions without probative evidence of prospective national-level impact. Plans to hire six employees and knowledge-transfer claims do not show the endeavor will extend beyond the company and its clients to impact the insurance industry or the broader U.S. economy at a nationally important level.

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 Petitioner's statements and business plan offer only generalized descriptions without probative evidence of prospective national-level impact. Plans to hire six employees and knowledge-transfer claims do not show the endeavor will extend beyond the company and its clients to impact the insurance industry or the broader U.S. economy at a nationally important level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_06_B5203; source_row=36383
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

Neither the Director nor AAO addressed the second prong; AAO's analysis focused only on the dispositive first prong.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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Neither the Director nor AAO addressed the second prong; AAO's analysis focused only on the dispositive first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_04_B5203; source_row=36378
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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