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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 6431–6440

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated 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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded that the Petitioner's track record of successful research and the significance of his proposed work to advance U.S. education interests demonstrate contributions of such value that they would benefit the United States even if other qualified U.S. workers were available.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO concluded that the Petitioner's track record of successful research and the significance of his proposed work to advance U.S. education interests demonstrate contributions of such value that they would benefit the United States even if other qualified U.S. workers were available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-18_02_B5203; source_row=35072
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 disagreed with the Director that substantial merit was lacking, finding that the Petitioner's medical work furthers human knowledge and relates to the medical field. However, AAO agreed national importance was not established because the record did not show the endeavor would broadly impact the medical field beyond the Petitioner's individual patients and students; a general doctor shortage does not render one physician…

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 disagreed with the Director that substantial merit was lacking, finding that the Petitioner's medical work furthers human knowledge and relates to the medical field. However, AAO agreed national importance was not established because the record did not show the endeavor would broadly impact the medical field beyond the Petitioner's individual patients and students; a general doctor shortage does not render one physician's work nationally important, and claims of rural/underserved area practice were unsubstantiated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_02_B5203; source_row=35044
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's technology diploma does not equal a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree. AAO further found that the claimed MBA was entirely unsupported by documentation, that material inconsistencies in degree dates (2007 vs. 2018) were unresolved, and that there is no regulatory mechanism to substitute work experience for less than a full baccalaureate degree.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's technology diploma does not equal a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree. AAO further found that the claimed MBA was entirely unsupported by documentation, that material inconsistencies in degree dates (2007 vs. 2018) were unresolved, and that there is no regulatory mechanism to substitute work experience for less than a full baccalaureate degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_06_B5203; source_row=35062
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 found that the Petitioner conflated the importance of the education field with the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor. The support letters and other record evidence spoke to her skills and impact on immediate students but did not document broader implications for the field or the economy.…

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 found that the Petitioner conflated the importance of the education field with the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor. The support letters and other record evidence spoke to her skills and impact on immediate students but did not document broader implications for the field or the economy. A teacher shortage alone is insufficient to establish national importance, as DOL addresses worker shortages through the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_01_B5203; source_row=35041
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 found that the Petitioner's claims about increasing FDI and trade were not supported by financial projections, and the record lacked evidence that the endeavor's staffing levels and business activity would provide substantial economic benefits or broader national implications. Industry-level articles and the Petitioner's personal expertise do not substitute for evidence of the specific endeavor's national importance.…

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 found that the Petitioner's claims about increasing FDI and trade were not supported by financial projections, and the record lacked evidence that the endeavor's staffing levels and business activity would provide substantial economic benefits or broader national implications. Industry-level articles and the Petitioner's personal expertise do not substitute for evidence of the specific endeavor's national importance. The expert opinion letter lacked relevance and probative value on the national importance question.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_04_B5203; source_row=35056
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the salary evidence was insufficient. The accountant's letter was not corroborated by bank statements, tax filings, or paystubs, and the Petitioner's 2023 Glassdoor salary data was not a proper comparison for salaries earned from 2008 to 2018.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed the salary evidence was insufficient. The accountant's letter was not corroborated by bank statements, tax filings, or paystubs, and the Petitioner's 2023 Glassdoor salary data was not a proper comparison for salaries earned from 2008 to 2018.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_03_B5203; source_row=35050
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's favorable finding. The Petitioner had not shown his memberships remained valid through adjudication, and even if valid, he had not provided information about the qualifications for membership or the professional nature of the organizations.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO withdrew the Director's favorable finding. The Petitioner had not shown his memberships remained valid through adjudication, and even if valid, he had not provided information about the qualifications for membership or the professional nature of the organizations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_03_B5203; source_row=35051
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 that substantial merit was met but found national importance was not established. Industry-wide reports do not demonstrate national importance of a specific small consulting business; the business plan's employment and revenue projections (7 employees, $3.2M revenue) are insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects at a national level; the endeavor does not sufficiently connect to federal technology…

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 agreed that substantial merit was met but found national importance was not established. Industry-wide reports do not demonstrate national importance of a specific small consulting business; the business plan's employment and revenue projections (7 employees, $3.2M revenue) are insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects at a national level; the endeavor does not sufficiently connect to federal technology transfer initiatives or demonstrate how it would impact the field more broadly; and the expert letter lacked meaningful analysis of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_05_B5203; source_row=35059
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability qualification

What the decision said

AAO deemed the exceptional ability issue waived because the Petitioner did not raise it on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO deemed the exceptional ability issue waived because the Petitioner did not raise it on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_06_B5203; source_row=35063
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision given the failure on the first prong.

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 judgment on the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision given the failure on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-15_01_B5203; source_row=35042
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment