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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 5631–5640

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

The Director denied on the discretionary balancing prong but did so without adequate explanation; AAO did not reach the merits and remanded.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Director denied on the discretionary balancing prong but did so without adequate explanation; AAO did not reach the merits and remanded.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-11_04_B5203; source_row=36307
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 the Petitioner's proposed endeavor—serving as executive chef at two catering businesses—lacks national importance because its impact is limited to individual businesses and customers rather than broadly affecting the culinary arts field. Opinion letters addressed the importance of the food industry generally but did not explain how the Petitioner's specific endeavor would impact the broader field.…

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 found the Petitioner's proposed endeavor—serving as executive chef at two catering businesses—lacks national importance because its impact is limited to individual businesses and customers rather than broadly affecting the culinary arts field. Opinion letters addressed the importance of the food industry generally but did not explain how the Petitioner's specific endeavor would impact the broader field. Fabricated quotes in the appeal brief and reliance on post-filing-date evidence further undermined the Petitioner's case.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-08_04_B5203; source_row=36296
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 found that the Petitioner's statements and business plan offered only generalized descriptions and broad potential job creation claims unsupported by probative evidence, and that third-party documents about the real estate industry did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's specific endeavor would rise to national importance.…

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 +
The AAO found that the Petitioner's statements and business plan offered only generalized descriptions and broad potential job creation claims unsupported by probative evidence, and that third-party documents about the real estate industry did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's specific endeavor would rise to national importance. Drawing on Dhanasar's own example, the AAO concluded the endeavor would not impact the broader field or U.S. economy at a nationally important level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-08_01_B5203; source_row=36290
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO was skeptical the record shows the Petitioner is well positioned, noting that letters only highlight past experiences in IT sales business management and it is unclear whether the proposed endeavor of selling insurance is related to past work. AAO also found that the business opportunities presented appear to be general or vague service arrangements rather than evidence of support for the specific proposed endeavor.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO was skeptical the record shows the Petitioner is well positioned, noting that letters only highlight past experiences in IT sales business management and it is unclear whether the proposed endeavor of selling insurance is related to past work. AAO also found that the business opportunities presented appear to be general or vague service arrangements rather than evidence of support for the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-08_02_B5203; source_row=36294
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 was skeptical the record supports national importance, noting that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor appears to be continuing a career as a business manager focusing on sales using IT, and that the Petitioner conflates their personal execution of the endeavor with its national importance. AAO also noted the Director may investigate whether the endeavor is essentially a job search.…

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 was skeptical the record supports national importance, noting that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor appears to be continuing a career as a business manager focusing on sales using IT, and that the Petitioner conflates their personal execution of the endeavor with its national importance. AAO also noted the Director may investigate whether the endeavor is essentially a job search. AAO remanded for a fuller analysis but signaled doubt about eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-08_02_B5203; source_row=36293
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer and labor certification

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the third prong, instructing the Director on remand to evaluate the balancing factors only if the Petitioner is found to satisfy the first and second prongs.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved judgment on the third prong, instructing the Director on remand to evaluate the balancing factors only if the Petitioner is found to satisfy the first and second prongs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-08_02_B5203; source_row=36295
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 adopted and affirmed the Director's finding that the proposed endeavor lacks national importance. Creating eight jobs does not rise to 'significant potential to employ U.S. workers,' and industry-level articles about IT's general importance do not establish that the specific proposed endeavor will have national or global implications.

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 adopted and affirmed the Director's finding that the proposed endeavor lacks national importance. Creating eight jobs does not rise to 'significant potential to employ U.S. workers,' and industry-level articles about IT's general importance do not establish that the specific proposed endeavor will have national or global implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_01_B5203; source_row=36258
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 the endeavor has substantial merit but found the Petitioner did not establish national importance because the submitted articles concerned the broader industry rather than her specific business, and the business plan's conflicting statements about staffing undermined her job creation claim.

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 the endeavor has substantial merit but found the Petitioner did not establish national importance because the submitted articles concerned the broader industry rather than her specific business, and the business plan's conflicting statements about staffing undermined her job creation claim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_04_B5203; source_row=36271
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the submitted materials do not discuss the merits of the Petitioner's work, his standing in the field, or the impact of his work, and are therefore not published material about the Petitioner as required by the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the submitted materials do not discuss the merits of the Petitioner's work, his standing in the field, or the impact of his work, and are therefore not published material about the Petitioner as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_01_B2203; source_row=36253
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that performance evaluations and supervisory duties do not equate to formal participation as a judge. While the AAO agreed an extra-regulatory requirement of judging outside of employment cannot be imposed, the Petitioner still failed to show formal designation as a judge with specific evidence of when, whom, and by what standards reviews occurred.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

View full reasoning +
The AAO agreed that performance evaluations and supervisory duties do not equate to formal participation as a judge. While the AAO agreed an extra-regulatory requirement of judging outside of employment cannot be imposed, the Petitioner still failed to show formal designation as a judge with specific evidence of when, whom, and by what standards reviews occurred.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_01_B2203; source_row=36254
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment