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 6721–6730

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

EB-2 underlying classification (advanced degree or exceptional ability)

What the decision said

AAO deemed the EB-2 threshold issue abandoned because the petitioner did not address the Director's finding on appeal. AAO also noted independently that the academic record appears insufficient to establish a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.

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AAO deemed the EB-2 threshold issue abandoned because the petitioner did not address the Director's finding on appeal. AAO also noted independently that the academic record appears insufficient to establish a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_06_B5203; source_row=34604
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree equivalent qualification (bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found unresolved inconsistencies between employment letters, Form ETA-750B, and a prior nonimmigrant visa application; insufficient duty descriptions; no clear specialty; and an unexplained discrepancy between the 2011 graduation date and the 2017 diploma issuance date, all precluding a finding that the Petitioner qualifies for EB-2.

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AAO found unresolved inconsistencies between employment letters, Form ETA-750B, and a prior nonimmigrant visa application; insufficient duty descriptions; no clear specialty; and an unexplained discrepancy between the 2011 graduation date and the 2017 diploma issuance date, all precluding a finding that the Petitioner qualifies for EB-2.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_02_B5203; source_row=34582
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Meeting at least three of six regulatory criteria for exceptional ability (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii))

What the decision said

AAO found the Petitioner waived any challenge to the Director's criteria analysis by offering only generalized eligibility statements without identifying specific errors in the Director's reasoning, rendering the issue abandoned on appeal under Matter of O-R-E- and Matter of R-A-M-.

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AAO found the Petitioner waived any challenge to the Director's criteria analysis by offering only generalized eligibility statements without identifying specific errors in the Director's reasoning, rendering the issue abandoned on appeal under Matter of O-R-E- and Matter of R-A-M-.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_05_B5203; source_row=34600
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Sufficiency and consistency of evidence regarding prospective occupation/proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner presented materially inconsistent descriptions of his proposed employment — soccer coach in the petition and RFE response, but business development professional for the first time on appeal. Because eligibility must be established at the time of filing, a petitioner cannot materially change the occupation or proposed endeavor on appeal.

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AAO found the Petitioner presented materially inconsistent descriptions of his proposed employment — soccer coach in the petition and RFE response, but business development professional for the first time on appeal. Because eligibility must be established at the time of filing, a petitioner cannot materially change the occupation or proposed endeavor on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_05_B5203; source_row=34599
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 formally reserved this prong because the EB-2 eligibility issue is dispositive, but noted in dicta that the Petitioner's soccer coaching endeavor would not rise to the level of national importance because it would not impact the field more broadly beyond his employer and the individuals he coaches.

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 formally reserved this prong because the EB-2 eligibility issue is dispositive, but noted in dicta that the Petitioner's soccer coaching endeavor would not rise to the level of national importance because it would not impact the field more broadly beyond his employer and the individuals he coaches.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_05_B5203; source_row=34601
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

At least three of six exceptional ability criteria

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not dispute that the Petitioner met four of six threshold criteria, but noted this alone is insufficient.

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AAO did not dispute that the Petitioner met four of six threshold criteria, but noted this alone is insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_08_B5203; source_row=34609
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 Director's favorable determination on prong one was flawed because it was based on an impermissibly altered proposed endeavor introduced during the RFE response, and the Director did not explain the basis for the conclusion.

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AAO found the Director's favorable determination on prong one was flawed because it was based on an impermissibly altered proposed endeavor introduced during the RFE response, and the Director did not explain the basis for the conclusion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_08_B5203; source_row=34611
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 separately analyze the third prong, remanding the entire NIW analysis due to the fundamental deficiencies in the Director's decision.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not separately analyze the third prong, remanding the entire NIW analysis due to the fundamental deficiencies in the Director's decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_08_B5203; source_row=34613
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 did not separately analyze the second prong, remanding the entire NIW analysis due to the fundamental deficiencies in the Director's decision.

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

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AAO did not separately analyze the second prong, remanding the entire NIW analysis due to the fundamental deficiencies in the Director's decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_08_B5203; source_row=34612
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

EB-2 underlying qualification (advanced degree or exceptional ability)

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner's brief did not address or contest the Director's findings on the underlying EB-2 classification, AAO deemed the issue waived and did not independently analyze it.

Why this is useful

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Because the Petitioner's brief did not address or contest the Director's findings on the underlying EB-2 classification, AAO deemed the issue waived and did not independently analyze it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-20_09_B5203; source_row=34614
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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