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 6451–6460

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agrees the endeavor has substantial merit but finds the Petitioner did not establish national importance. The proposed used car dealership does not extend beyond the company's own clientele, lacks broader implications for the field, and the Petitioner has not shown significant potential to employ U.S. workers or generate 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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AAO agrees the endeavor has substantial merit but finds the Petitioner did not establish national importance. The proposed used car dealership does not extend beyond the company's own clientele, lacks broader implications for the field, and the Petitioner has not shown significant potential to employ U.S. workers or generate substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_01_B5203; source_row=35014
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

The NPR interview was about a Chinese swimmer, not about the Petitioner. The CJR podcast lacked a transcript and appeared to cover various topics rather than being about the Petitioner. The talkingbiznews.com article was about a publication's business model, not about the Petitioner and her work. Additionally, the Petitioner did not establish the major status of cjr.org or talkingbiznews.com.

Why this is useful

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

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The NPR interview was about a Chinese swimmer, not about the Petitioner. The CJR podcast lacked a transcript and appeared to cover various topics rather than being about the Petitioner. The talkingbiznews.com article was about a publication's business model, not about the Petitioner and her work. Additionally, the Petitioner did not establish the major status of cjr.org or talkingbiznews.com.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_06_B5203; source_row=35035
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The limited reporting on the Petitioner's articles did not establish major significance. Publishing in prestigious outlets does not automatically demonstrate major significance. Speaking invitations did not show widespread impact. Recommendation letters were conclusory and lacked specific detail to establish that her work constituted original contributions of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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The limited reporting on the Petitioner's articles did not establish major significance. Publishing in prestigious outlets does not automatically demonstrate major significance. Speaking invitations did not show widespread impact. Recommendation letters were conclusory and lacked specific detail to establish that her work constituted original contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_06_B5203; source_row=35037
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's journalistic articles lack the hallmarks of scholarly articles: they were written as a reporter rather than a researcher, are affiliated with news publications rather than academic institutions, and contain no footnotes, endnotes, or bibliographies. Furthermore, the articles were not written for learned persons in a specialized field but rather for a general audience.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The Petitioner's journalistic articles lack the hallmarks of scholarly articles: they were written as a reporter rather than a researcher, are affiliated with news publications rather than academic institutions, and contain no footnotes, endnotes, or bibliographies. Furthermore, the articles were not written for learned persons in a specialized field but rather for a general audience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_06_B5203; source_row=35038
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award relating to the area of exceptional ability (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A))

Why AAO was not persuaded

The jurisprudence transcript lists courses unrelated to any possible area of exceptional ability. The choreography education is listed only as 'other' on the résumé, not as a degree, diploma, or certificate, and no official academic record for it was submitted.

Why this is useful

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

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The jurisprudence transcript lists courses unrelated to any possible area of exceptional ability. The choreography education is listed only as 'other' on the résumé, not as a degree, diploma, or certificate, and no official academic record for it was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_05_B5203; source_row=35031
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 (baccalaureate + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The foreign degree transcript does not establish equivalence to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Even if it did, the employer letters are deficient: one references post-filing experience, one lacks the signatory's name and specific dates, one covers less than a year, and the self-authored letter fails to specify amounts of time and includes periods predating the degree. English tutoring experience is inapposite to the specialty.

Why this is useful

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

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The foreign degree transcript does not establish equivalence to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Even if it did, the employer letters are deficient: one references post-filing experience, one lacks the signatory's name and specific dates, one covers less than a year, and the self-authored letter fails to specify amounts of time and includes periods predating the degree. English tutoring experience is inapposite to the specialty.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_05_B5203; source_row=35030
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

coming to continue work in area of expertise

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's shifting plans and fabricated documentation failed to meet the clear evidence standard. The AAO found his explanations for pandemic travel delays incredible given that he already had work authorization and a travel document.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner's shifting plans and fabricated documentation failed to meet the clear evidence standard. The AAO found his explanations for pandemic travel delays incredible given that he already had work authorization and a travel document.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_02_B2203; source_row=35023
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this criterion because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold requirement of at least three criteria, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to reach this criterion because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold requirement of at least three criteria, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_06_B5203; source_row=35039
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion; this finding was not contested on appeal.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion; this finding was not contested on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_06_B5203; source_row=35036
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

What the decision said

AAO did not independently evaluate criterion (v) and remanded for the Director to properly consider the evidence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not independently evaluate criterion (v) and remanded for the Director to properly consider the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_01_B2203; source_row=35010
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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