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 5881–5890

NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

Commanded salary demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the salary evidence insufficient because the Petitioner compared his salary to average truck drivers rather than to other entrepreneurs in the trucking industry, and did not show the salary was determined based on exceptional ability.

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AAO found the salary evidence insufficient because the Petitioner compared his salary to average truck drivers rather than to other entrepreneurs in the trucking industry, and did not show the salary was determined based on exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_01_B5203; source_row=35880
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner must establish eligibility at the time of filing, and a post-filing welcome letter without a join date is insufficient to establish prior membership; the burden is on the Petitioner.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner must establish eligibility at the time of filing, and a post-filing welcome letter without a join date is insufficient to establish prior membership; the burden is on the Petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_01_B5203; source_row=35881
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that academic credentials and citations alone do not suffice, the course syllabi did not clearly show a developed curriculum incorporating AI/IT, peer review invitations lacked evidence of completion or field impact, and support letters provided effusive praise without demonstrating a record of success or progress in the proposed endeavor.

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AAO found that academic credentials and citations alone do not suffice, the course syllabi did not clearly show a developed curriculum incorporating AI/IT, peer review invitations lacked evidence of completion or field impact, and support letters provided effusive praise without demonstrating a record of success or progress in the proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_05_B5203; source_row=35897
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Name discrepancy on the diploma is unresolved, EDGE does not equate the Spanish título propio MBA to a U.S. master's, and no transcripts were submitted. AAO declines to base dismissal on this issue because Petitioner lacked notice.

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Name discrepancy on the diploma is unresolved, EDGE does not equate the Spanish título propio MBA to a U.S. master's, and no transcripts were submitted. AAO declines to base dismissal on this issue because Petitioner lacked notice.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_02_B5203; source_row=35886
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

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's endeavor has substantial merit in bilingual education but found insufficient specificity about the prospective impact attributable to her work. The professional plan did not document where, when, or how she would perform the described activities or quantify what effects they would have, and the recommendation letters were too general to establish national-level impact.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's endeavor has substantial merit in bilingual education but found insufficient specificity about the prospective impact attributable to her work. The professional plan did not document where, when, or how she would perform the described activities or quantify what effects they would have, and the recommendation letters were too general to establish national-level impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_04_B5203; source_row=35893
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

license or certification

License or certification for the profession or occupation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that because the Petitioner is an owner-operator who drives trucks himself, the CDL is a license for his occupation and this criterion is met.

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AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that because the Petitioner is an owner-operator who drives trucks himself, the CDL is a license for his occupation and this criterion is met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_01_B5203; source_row=35879
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

recognition

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the letters reflect positive working experiences but do not describe achievements or significant contributions to the trucking field, and noted two letters contained nearly identical wording, diminishing their probative value.

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AAO agreed the letters reflect positive working experiences but do not describe achievements or significant contributions to the trucking field, and noted two letters contained nearly identical wording, diminishing their probative value.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_01_B5203; source_row=35882
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

academic record

Academic record relating to area of exceptional ability

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner's law degree satisfies the academic record criterion.

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AAO affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner's law degree satisfies the academic record criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_01_B5203; source_row=35877
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

Ten years of full-time experience

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not address or claim to establish this criterion on appeal, so it was treated as waived.

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The Petitioner did not address or claim to establish this criterion on appeal, so it was treated as waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_01_B5203; source_row=35878
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director's narrow geographic framing of national importance and held that the Director improperly focused on the Petitioner's individual attributes (methods/skills) rather than the proposed endeavor. The Petitioner's detailed statement and expert letter demonstrated prospective impact on domestic and international security of nation states.

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AAO disagreed with the Director's narrow geographic framing of national importance and held that the Director improperly focused on the Petitioner's individual attributes (methods/skills) rather than the proposed endeavor. The Petitioner's detailed statement and expert letter demonstrated prospective impact on domestic and international security of nation states.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-12_05_B5203; source_row=35896
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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