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 6251–6260

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 agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor of owning and operating an IT and cybersecurity consulting firm lacks the broader implications or substantial positive economic effects indicative of national importance. The relevant question is the impact of the specific endeavor, not the importance of the IT and cybersecurity field generally.…

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 agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor of owning and operating an IT and cybersecurity consulting firm lacks the broader implications or substantial positive economic effects indicative of national importance. The relevant question is the impact of the specific endeavor, not the importance of the IT and cybersecurity field generally. Evidence of qualifications and prior achievements is material to prong two, not prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_04_B5203; source_row=35309
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 SBA article speaks only to the general importance of small businesses, not to the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. Working in an important field is insufficient to establish national importance of the specific endeavor.

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 SBA article speaks only to the general importance of small businesses, not to the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. Working in an important field is insufficient to establish national importance of the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_01_B5203; source_row=35299
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 conducted a multi-page de novo analysis and concluded the Petitioner did not establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor, withdrawing the Director's unsupported finding.

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 conducted a multi-page de novo analysis and concluded the Petitioner did not establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor, withdrawing the Director's unsupported finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_03_B5203; source_row=35306
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding, noting the Petitioner holds only the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree and lacked either a higher degree or five years of post-baccalaureate experience at the time of filing.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding, noting the Petitioner holds only the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree and lacked either a higher degree or five years of post-baccalaureate experience at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_03_B5203; source_row=35305
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 judgment on the second prong, holding that because the Petitioner failed the first prong it was unnecessary to reach the second and third prongs.

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 judgment on the second prong, holding that because the Petitioner failed the first prong it was unnecessary to reach the second and third prongs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_01_B5203; source_row=35300
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The professional plan lacked essential details about the proposed endeavor—such as location, number of employees, wages, and scope of operations—and therefore the record did not establish how the proposed upstart mechanical and electrical maintenance services company may have national or global implications or significant potential to employ U.S. workers or produce substantial positive economic effects.

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 professional plan lacked essential details about the proposed endeavor—such as location, number of employees, wages, and scope of operations—and therefore the record did not establish how the proposed upstart mechanical and electrical maintenance services company may have national or global implications or significant potential to employ U.S. workers or produce substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_06_B5203; source_row=35315
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the third Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and a finding on the third prong was unnecessary to the result.

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 its opinion on the third Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and a finding on the third prong was unnecessary to the result.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_06_B5203; source_row=35317
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and a finding on the second prong was unnecessary to the result.

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 its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met and a finding on the second prong was unnecessary to the result.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_06_B5203; source_row=35316
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 the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO's prior decision did not need to reach prong 3 because prong 1 was dispositive; the motion decision does not re-examine it.

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's prior decision did not need to reach prong 3 because prong 1 was dispositive; the motion decision does not re-examine it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_02_B5203; source_row=35304
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO's prior decision did not need to reach prong 2 because prong 1 was dispositive; the motion decision does not re-examine it.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO's prior decision did not need to reach prong 2 because prong 1 was dispositive; the motion decision does not re-examine it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-08_02_B5203; source_row=35303
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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