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 6471–6480

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 declined to analyze the third prong because the Petitioner failed the second prong, making further analysis unnecessary.

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 declined to analyze the third prong because the Petitioner failed the second prong, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_04_B5203; source_row=35029
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 record supports substantial merit but expressed doubts about national importance, noting that the broader importance of long-distance freight trucking does not necessarily impart national importance to the Petitioner's specific endeavor as a business owner. AAO declined to resolve the issue because the second prong was dispositive.

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 record supports substantial merit but expressed doubts about national importance, noting that the broader importance of long-distance freight trucking does not necessarily impart national importance to the Petitioner's specific endeavor as a business owner. AAO declined to resolve the issue because the second prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_04_B5203; source_row=35027
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO expressly reserves analysis of the second prong because the failure on the first prong is dispositive.

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 expressly reserves analysis of the second prong because the failure on the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_01_B5203; source_row=35015
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 expressly reserves analysis of the third prong because the failure on the first prong is dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO expressly reserves analysis of the third prong because the failure on the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-14_01_B5203; source_row=35016
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the evidence did not establish national importance. Industry reports addressed software development and small businesses generally rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor, the business plan's projections lacked independent objective support, and the expert opinion failed to meaningfully address the prospective national or global impact of the specific propos…

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 agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the evidence did not establish national importance. Industry reports addressed software development and small businesses generally rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor, the business plan's projections lacked independent objective support, and the expert opinion failed to meaningfully address the prospective national or global impact of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-13_03_B5203; source_row=35003
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 the record presented inconsistent and insufficient evidence about the Petitioner's proposed endeavor, ranging across international trade consulting, real estate remodeling, teaching, translation, and general business management, without a coherent description of what specific work she would perform. The evidence did not establish 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.

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AAO agreed that the record presented inconsistent and insufficient evidence about the Petitioner's proposed endeavor, ranging across international trade consulting, real estate remodeling, teaching, translation, and general business management, without a coherent description of what specific work she would perform. The evidence did not establish national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-13_02_B5203; source_row=35000
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 AAO found that the Petitioner offered only general notions of national impact without specific evidence showing how her clinic servicing clients in a certain area would have national-level implications. She also failed to demonstrate 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 AAO found that the Petitioner offered only general notions of national impact without specific evidence showing how her clinic servicing clients in a certain area would have national-level implications. She also failed to demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or produce substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-13_01_B5203; source_row=34997
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

The AAO agreed that substantial merit was shown but that national importance was not. The business plan's veracity was undermined by internally inconsistent wage data and an apparent unpaid worker.…

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 AAO agreed that substantial merit was shown but that national importance was not. The business plan's veracity was undermined by internally inconsistent wage data and an apparent unpaid worker. Even if credible, operating a mobile clinic out of a van in one metropolitan area, in a field with existing competitors, with only five employees, does not rise to the level of national or global implications or significant economic effects in an economically depressed area.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-12_01_B5203; source_row=34966
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit (potential to help U.S. businesses grow and create jobs) but agreed it lacked national importance. The business plan's projected revenues, profits, and employee count were too modest, the plan to hire from economically depressed areas would not employ enough people to significantly affect those areas, and the Petitioner's broad GDP arguments did not demonstrate that his specific…

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 the endeavor had substantial merit (potential to help U.S. businesses grow and create jobs) but agreed it lacked national importance. The business plan's projected revenues, profits, and employee count were too modest, the plan to hire from economically depressed areas would not employ enough people to significantly affect those areas, and the Petitioner's broad GDP arguments did not demonstrate that his specific consulting business would achieve national-scale results.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-12_02_B5203; source_row=34974
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The reference letters briefly described the Beneficiary's projects without detailing the significance in the field and were largely conclusory. The patent-related letters failed to show how patents impacted the field, were commercialized, or attracted widespread attention sufficient to constitute 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 reference letters briefly described the Beneficiary's projects without detailing the significance in the field and were largely conclusory. The patent-related letters failed to show how patents impacted the field, were commercialized, or attracted widespread attention sufficient to constitute major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-12_02_B2203; source_row=34969
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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