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 5751–5760

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner's rehabilitation clinic has substantial merit, her evidence does not establish broader prospective impact. The business plan's job creation and tax projections lack evidentiary support and do not rise to national importance. Shortage of healthcare professionals addresses substantial merit but not national importance.…

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AAO found that while the Petitioner's rehabilitation clinic has substantial merit, her evidence does not establish broader prospective impact. The business plan's job creation and tax projections lack evidentiary support and do not rise to national importance. Shortage of healthcare professionals addresses substantial merit but not national importance. Expert opinions discuss the importance of the field generally but do not focus on the specific endeavor's broader impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_08_B5203; source_row=36099
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 not national importance. The Petitioner's claims about job creation and economic impact were unsupported by a business plan or similar evidence, and the impact of the proposed training center would be limited to enrollees rather than having broader field-wide implications.

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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 the endeavor has substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner's claims about job creation and economic impact were unsupported by a business plan or similar evidence, and the impact of the proposed training center would be limited to enrollees rather than having broader field-wide implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_10_B5203; source_row=36112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other54 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that while the Petitioner made original contributions, he did not establish they were of major significance. Citation counts were not shown to be indicative of major significance, letters of recommendation lacked specific impact information, and the Petitioner did not show wide acceptance or implementation of his research.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that while the Petitioner made original contributions, he did not establish they were of major significance. Citation counts were not shown to be indicative of major significance, letters of recommendation lacked specific impact information, and the Petitioner did not show wide acceptance or implementation of his research.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_01_B2203; source_row=36069
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other54 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although the Petitioner held a leading role for the SQDSAC division, he did not provide sufficient documentation to establish that SQDSAC itself had a distinguished reputation. Being the first company in China on the maglev project did not alone establish distinguished reputation.

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

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Although the Petitioner held a leading role for the SQDSAC division, he did not provide sufficient documentation to establish that SQDSAC itself had a distinguished reputation. Being the first company in China on the maglev project did not alone establish distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_01_B2203; source_row=36071
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 affirmed the Director's finding on Dhanasar's first prong and found no basis to reopen or reconsider on motion, as the Petitioner's motion failed to specifically address or rebut AAO's prior determination and offered no new evidence or legal argument.

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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 affirmed the Director's finding on Dhanasar's first prong and found no basis to reopen or reconsider on motion, as the Petitioner's motion failed to specifically address or rebut AAO's prior determination and offered no new evidence or legal argument.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_01_B5203; source_row=36073
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

At least ten years of full-time experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner failed to list all relevant positions on his Form ETA 750B as required, and that the properly documented positions comprised less than nine years of experience. AAO also noted uncertainty about whether one position was actually 'in the occupation' sought.

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

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AAO found that the Petitioner failed to list all relevant positions on his Form ETA 750B as required, and that the properly documented positions comprised less than nine years of experience. AAO also noted uncertainty about whether one position was actually 'in the occupation' sought.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_11_B5203; source_row=36116
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

academic record

Official academic record showing degree or diploma

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the diploma and transcript from a federal technological education center constitute official academic records showing a diploma in the field.

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AAO agreed that the diploma and transcript from a federal technological education center constitute official academic records showing a diploma in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_11_B5203; source_row=36115
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

recognition

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the training certificates merely show completion of courses, not achievements; that the bonus and scholarship letters did not establish industry-level contributions; and that the recommendation letters, while praising the Petitioner's capabilities, did not document specific achievements or contributions extending beyond his employers to the larger field.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the training certificates merely show completion of courses, not achievements; that the bonus and scholarship letters did not establish industry-level contributions; and that the recommendation letters, while praising the Petitioner's capabilities, did not document specific achievements or contributions extending beyond his employers to the larger field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_11_B5203; source_row=36120
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

license or certification

License to practice the profession or certification for a particular occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that neither document was accompanied by evidence that it was required for the Petitioner to work in his occupation in Brazil, and both were obtained in May 2022 after the Petitioner had already entered the U.S. and stopped working as an electrical technician.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that neither document was accompanied by evidence that it was required for the Petitioner to work in his occupation in Brazil, and both were obtained in May 2022 after the Petitioner had already entered the U.S. and stopped working as an electrical technician.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_11_B5203; source_row=36117
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

Commanded a salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not mention this criterion on appeal; AAO treated it as waived and affirmed the denial.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not mention this criterion on appeal; AAO treated it as waived and affirmed the denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_11_B5203; source_row=36118
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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