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 5651–5660

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

The AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the step-one threshold of three criteria, but noted in passing that the record does not support the required acclaim.

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The AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the step-one threshold of three criteria, but noted in passing that the record does not support the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_01_B2203; source_row=36257
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the second prong as unnecessary to reach because the Petitioner's failure on 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 the second prong as unnecessary to reach because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_03_B5203; source_row=36269
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to reach because the Petitioner's failure on 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 the third prong as unnecessary to reach because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_03_B5203; source_row=36270
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree professional qualification

What the decision said

AAO reserved this issue because the Dhanasar analysis was dispositive, making it unnecessary to adjudicate the EB-2 threshold qualification.

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AAO reserved this issue because the Dhanasar analysis was dispositive, making it unnecessary to adjudicate the EB-2 threshold qualification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_05_B5203; source_row=36274
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 the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong because the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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 the third prong because the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_05_B5203; source_row=36277
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the second prong because the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the second prong because the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_05_B5203; source_row=36276
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 that while the merit of physical training was acknowledged, the Petitioner did not demonstrate that his specific endeavor would have broader national-level impact beyond his patients. The record lacked evidence of substantial positive economic effects or significant job creation at the national or regional level.

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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 while the merit of physical training was acknowledged, the Petitioner did not demonstrate that his specific endeavor would have broader national-level impact beyond his patients. The record lacked evidence of substantial positive economic effects or significant job creation at the national or regional level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_05_B5203; source_row=36275
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director failed to consider employer letters showing over five years of post-degree nursing experience, which in combination with the bachelor's degree satisfies the advanced degree equivalent requirement under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).

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The Director failed to consider employer letters showing over five years of post-degree nursing experience, which in combination with the bachelor's degree satisfies the advanced degree equivalent requirement under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-07_08_B5203; source_row=36286
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but found it does not rise to national importance. The Petitioner's numerous assertions about economic benefits, legal deserts, and U.S.-Brazil trade were insufficiently detailed, not corroborated by probative evidence directly tying her individual legal work to national-level impact, and improperly conflated the importance of the legal profession generally with the…

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 agreed the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but found it does not rise to national importance. The Petitioner's numerous assertions about economic benefits, legal deserts, and U.S.-Brazil trade were insufficiently detailed, not corroborated by probative evidence directly tying her individual legal work to national-level impact, and improperly conflated the importance of the legal profession generally with the national importance of her specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-06_01_B5203; source_row=36242
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

While the AAO criticized the Director for mischaracterizing the Petitioner's endeavor as merely working as a Spanish as a second language teacher, it agreed with the ultimate conclusion that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's evidence was generalized and did not show how her specific consulting endeavor would have broad regional or national impact beyond the schools where she would work.

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 +
While the AAO criticized the Director for mischaracterizing the Petitioner's endeavor as merely working as a Spanish as a second language teacher, it agreed with the ultimate conclusion that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's evidence was generalized and did not show how her specific consulting endeavor would have broad regional or national impact beyond the schools where she would work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-06_03_B5203; source_row=36249
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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