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 6281–6290

EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

FinancePhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO declined to consider new evidence submitted for the first time on appeal because the Petitioner had prior notice and opportunity to submit it. AAO further found that the comparison of the Petitioner's executive vice president salary to general insurance industry averages was not a proper comparison to others in the same occupation, as required by precedent and case law.

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AAO declined to consider new evidence submitted for the first time on appeal because the Petitioner had prior notice and opportunity to submit it. AAO further found that the comparison of the Petitioner's executive vice president salary to general insurance industry averages was not a proper comparison to others in the same occupation, as required by precedent and case law.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_01_B2203; source_row=35249
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the petitioner was not well-positioned: while he had relevant experience as an entrepreneur in Brazil, the evidence did not establish a record of success, the business plan's projections were not adequately supported, funding from personal assets was not documented, and letters from Brazilian clients did not demonstrate progress or interest in the U.S. endeavor.

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AAO agreed the petitioner was not well-positioned: while he had relevant experience as an entrepreneur in Brazil, the evidence did not establish a record of success, the business plan's projections were not adequately supported, funding from personal assets was not documented, and letters from Brazilian clients did not demonstrate progress or interest in the U.S. endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_07_B5203; source_row=35280
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the petitioner failed to establish national importance: the business plan's job and revenue projections were not adequately supported, claims about economically distressed location and SBA Hubzone lacked evidentiary support, and broad articles about immigrant entrepreneurs in general did not show prospective impact of the specific endeavor beyond its direct clients.

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AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the petitioner failed to establish national importance: the business plan's job and revenue projections were not adequately supported, claims about economically distressed location and SBA Hubzone lacked evidentiary support, and broad articles about immigrant entrepreneurs in general did not show prospective impact of the specific endeavor beyond its direct clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_07_B5203; source_row=35279
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

FinanceBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed there was substantial merit (potential to improve U.S. business finances and compliance) but found national importance unestablished. The business plan projections ($5.6M revenue, 20 employees after 5 years) were insufficient to show nationally significant economic impact; expert and article evidence addressed the financial field generally rather than the petitioner's specific endeavor; and the HubZone claim lack…

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AAO agreed there was substantial merit (potential to improve U.S. business finances and compliance) but found national importance unestablished. The business plan projections ($5.6M revenue, 20 employees after 5 years) were insufficient to show nationally significant economic impact; expert and article evidence addressed the financial field generally rather than the petitioner's specific endeavor; and the HubZone claim lacked evidentiary support. AAO also rejected the argument that because all businesses need financial auditing, the endeavor is nationally important, distinguishing substantial merit from national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_02_B5203; source_row=35264
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

The personal statements were unreliable due to suspicious signatures (pixelated or italic-font) inconsistent with the Petitioner's own signature on the Form I-140, and use of Bluebook citation style incongruous with a Brazilian martial arts fitness director. Even if reliable, the statements addressed generalizations about fitness rather than showing how the specific endeavor would have national or global implications.…

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The personal statements were unreliable due to suspicious signatures (pixelated or italic-font) inconsistent with the Petitioner's own signature on the Form I-140, and use of Bluebook citation style incongruous with a Brazilian martial arts fitness director. Even if reliable, the statements addressed generalizations about fitness rather than showing how the specific endeavor would have national or global implications. The opinion letter bore the same signature concerns. Employer and client letters established only local benefit, not national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_04_B5203; source_row=35270
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found Petitioner failed to compare his compensation to peers in the field, did not justify reliance on comparable evidence, and had previously conceded in his RFE response that this criterion 'will not be met.'

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AAO found Petitioner failed to compare his compensation to peers in the field, did not justify reliance on comparable evidence, and had previously conceded in his RFE response that this criterion 'will not be met.'
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_01_B5203; source_row=35257
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 with the Director that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor did not rise to the level of national importance, as it was confined to the impact of her company and its clientele, and her revenue and employment projections did not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects for the nation.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor did not rise to the level of national importance, as it was confined to the impact of her company and its clientele, and her revenue and employment projections did not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects for the nation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_05_B5203; source_row=35273
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's determination on the first prong unclear—the Director formally found it met but then appeared to question national importance when analyzing the second prong—and reserved the issue because the second prong finding is dispositive.

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AAO found the Director's determination on the first prong unclear—the Director formally found it met but then appeared to question national importance when analyzing the second prong—and reserved the issue because the second prong finding is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_03_B5203; source_row=35267
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the second prong dispositive.

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AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the second prong dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_03_B5203; source_row=35269
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

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the third prong, as the first prong was not met and the motions failed on procedural grounds.

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AAO did not reach the third prong, as the first prong was not met and the motions failed on procedural grounds.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-01-04_05_B5203; source_row=35275
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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