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 5621–5630

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on prong two because the failure on prong one 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 explicitly reserved judgment on prong two because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_03_B5203; source_row=36329
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on prong three because the failure on prong one 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 explicitly reserved judgment on prong three because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_03_B5203; source_row=36330
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major trade publication

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the record failed to show VCJ qualifies as a major trade publication. The citation metrics were actually for a different journal (Venture Capital by Routledge/Taylor & Francis, not VCJ by PEI), and the evidence of business school library listings and website visits did not demonstrate wide readership in the field.

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AAO agreed the record failed to show VCJ qualifies as a major trade publication. The citation metrics were actually for a different journal (Venture Capital by Routledge/Taylor & Francis, not VCJ by PEI), and the evidence of business school library listings and website visits did not demonstrate wide readership in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_02_B2203; source_row=36321
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted that even on overall review the record does not support the classification.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted that even on overall review the record does not support the classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-12_02_B2203; source_row=36324
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

The AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit given alignment with sustainable tourism goals, but found the Petitioner failed to show national importance because: the field's general importance does not establish the specific endeavor's national importance; the business plan projecting 12 employees and $166,081 in net profits by year five was too speculative and amorphous; the HUBZone argument was unsubstantiated; and t…

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 agreed the endeavor has substantial merit given alignment with sustainable tourism goals, but found the Petitioner failed to show national importance because: the field's general importance does not establish the specific endeavor's national importance; the business plan projecting 12 employees and $166,081 in net profits by year five was too speculative and amorphous; the HUBZone argument was unsubstantiated; and the evidence showed benefits likely limited to direct clients without broader field-wide impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-11_02_B5203; source_row=36299
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's evidence insufficient to establish national importance because the professional plan offered only generalized projections without sufficient detail, the articles and reports addressed the IT industry broadly rather than the specific proposed endeavor, and the expert opinion was general and did not substantively analyze the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor or its prospective national 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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AAO found the Petitioner's evidence insufficient to establish national importance because the professional plan offered only generalized projections without sufficient detail, the articles and reports addressed the IT industry broadly rather than the specific proposed endeavor, and the expert opinion was general and did not substantively analyze the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor or its prospective national impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-11_03_B5203; source_row=36302
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

new facts supported by documentary evidence

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted affidavits regarding the former employer's closure and a letter referencing a consulting role, but failed to establish unavailability of both primary and secondary evidence and did not explain why this evidence was not previously submitted.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner submitted affidavits regarding the former employer's closure and a letter referencing a consulting role, but failed to establish unavailability of both primary and secondary evidence and did not explain why this evidence was not previously submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-11_05_B5203; source_row=36308
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

incorrect application of law or policy

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner merely reargued facts already considered, which is insufficient under Matter of O-S-G-.

Why this is useful

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

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Petitioner merely reargued facts already considered, which is insufficient under Matter of O-S-G-.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-11_05_B5203; source_row=36309
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner did not establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor under the first Dhanasar prong, the AAO expressly declined to reach the third prong under INS v. Bagamasbad.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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Because the Petitioner did not establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor under the first Dhanasar prong, the AAO expressly declined to reach the third prong under INS v. Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-11_02_B5203; source_row=36301
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner did not establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor under the first Dhanasar prong, the AAO expressly declined to reach the second prong under INS v. Bagamasbad.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Because the Petitioner did not establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor under the first Dhanasar prong, the AAO expressly declined to reach the second prong under INS v. Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-11_02_B5203; source_row=36300
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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