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 5601–5610

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 that the Petitioner's assertions were generic and unsupported, lacking specificity about the artists she would work with, the national-level products her endeavor would produce, or how her work would broadly impact the U.S. music industry.…

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 agreed that the Petitioner's assertions were generic and unsupported, lacking specificity about the artists she would work with, the national-level products her endeavor would produce, or how her work would broadly impact the U.S. music industry. The connection between her proposed work and the Biden Administration initiatives was too vague, and the letter from a supporting organization merely reiterated unsupported assertions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-13_07_B5203; source_row=36359
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent qualification

What the decision said

AAO found the credential evaluation indicated the degree was from a non-regionally-accredited institution, making the record insufficiently clear, but reserved final determination because the NIW national importance finding was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the credential evaluation indicated the degree was from a non-regionally-accredited institution, making the record insufficiently clear, but reserved final determination because the NIW national importance finding was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-13_06_B5203; source_row=36355
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the failure to establish national importance under the first prong was dispositive.

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 reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the failure to establish national importance under the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-13_06_B5203; source_row=36357
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the third Dhanasar prong because the failure to establish national importance under the first prong was dispositive.

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 reserved its opinion on the third Dhanasar prong because the failure to establish national importance under the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-13_06_B5203; source_row=36358
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third Dhanasar prong, finding that the dispositive failure on national importance under the first prong made it unnecessary to reach the third prong.

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 explicitly reserved judgment on the third Dhanasar prong, finding that the dispositive failure on national importance under the first prong made it unnecessary to reach the third prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-13_02_B5203; source_row=36345
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO adopted the Director's finding that the Petitioner is well-positioned to advance the endeavor without further analysis.

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 adopted the Director's finding that the Petitioner is well-positioned to advance the endeavor without further analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-13_02_B5203; source_row=36344
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 agreed that while the Petitioner's nursing work has substantial merit and provides value to patients and employers, she failed to demonstrate broader national-level implications. Her experience is relevant to prong two, the nursing shortage is addressed through the labor certification and Schedule A process, and her economic impact claims lacked supporting 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 agreed that while the Petitioner's nursing work has substantial merit and provides value to patients and employers, she failed to demonstrate broader national-level implications. Her experience is relevant to prong two, the nursing shortage is addressed through the labor certification and Schedule A process, and her economic impact claims lacked supporting evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_03_B5203; source_row=36328
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the income statement was unsubstantiated by independent evidence, the vagas.com screenshot lacked critical contextual information, and the petitioner improperly compared her income as a managing member to wages for micropigmentators, which are distinct occupations.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the income statement was unsubstantiated by independent evidence, the vagas.com screenshot lacked critical contextual information, and the petitioner improperly compared her income as a managing member to wages for micropigmentators, which are distinct occupations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_05_B5203; source_row=36337
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO did not address criterion (v) on appeal, as the remand was resolved on criterion (i) alone.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO did not address criterion (v) on appeal, as the remand was resolved on criterion (i) alone.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_01_B2203; source_row=36314
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards for excellence

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO held that the Director erred by disregarding the athletic competition medals. Under USCIS policy guidance, evidence of athletic acclaim can be given proportionate weight in athlete-to-coach transition cases, and the medals satisfy the plain language of criterion (i).

Why this is useful

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

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AAO held that the Director erred by disregarding the athletic competition medals. Under USCIS policy guidance, evidence of athletic acclaim can be given proportionate weight in athlete-to-coach transition cases, and the medals satisfy the plain language of criterion (i).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_01_B2203; source_row=36310
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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