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 6771–6780

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree professional qualification (baccalaureate + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the employment letters deficient: some covered pre-baccalaureate periods, some were not from employers, and none confirmed full-time employment. The equivalency evaluation was rejected because it counted non-qualifying experience and relied on the Petitioner's resume rather than employer letters.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the employment letters deficient: some covered pre-baccalaureate periods, some were not from employers, and none confirmed full-time employment. The equivalency evaluation was rejected because it counted non-qualifying experience and relied on the Petitioner's resume rather than employer letters.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_08_B5203; source_row=34523
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive.

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 explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_06_B5203; source_row=34522
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence addressed the general importance of the construction industry and infrastructure crisis but did not establish that any individual project manager's work, including the Petitioner's, would have broader implications beyond local benefits from individual projects. The only documented U.S.…

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 that the Petitioner's evidence addressed the general importance of the construction industry and infrastructure crisis but did not establish that any individual project manager's work, including the Petitioner's, would have broader implications beyond local benefits from individual projects. The only documented U.S. project involved widening a section of a state highway, which was not shown to have broader implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_06_B5203; source_row=34520
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_06_B5203; source_row=34521
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong as unnecessary to reach given the dispositive finding 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 explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong as unnecessary to reach given the dispositive finding on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_04_B5203; source_row=34515
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 job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong as unnecessary to reach given the dispositive finding on the first prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong as unnecessary to reach given the dispositive finding on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_04_B5203; source_row=34516
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 that the expert letters and research discussed aviation's general importance and the cumulative impact of pilots, but none of the submissions explained how the Petitioner's specific endeavor as a single commercial pilot would broadly impact the aviation industry or have national implications beyond his prospective employers.

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 expert letters and research discussed aviation's general importance and the cumulative impact of pilots, but none of the submissions explained how the Petitioner's specific endeavor as a single commercial pilot would broadly impact the aviation industry or have national implications beyond his prospective employers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_04_B5203; source_row=34514
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO reiterated that the projected $6M tax, $17.7M revenue, $14M payroll, and 185 jobs did not establish substantial positive economic effects regionally or nationally, and the Petitioner did not show how AAO's prior analysis was an incorrect application of law or policy.

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 reiterated that the projected $6M tax, $17.7M revenue, $14M payroll, and 185 jobs did not establish substantial positive economic effects regionally or nationally, and the Petitioner did not show how AAO's prior analysis was an incorrect application of law or policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_01_B5203; source_row=34492
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the longitudinal study of mental health in Puerto Rican youth, part of the NIH ECHO program, has substantial merit and national importance, and the record supports this conclusion.

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 that the longitudinal study of mental health in Puerto Rican youth, part of the NIH ECHO program, has substantial merit and national importance, and the record supports this conclusion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_05_B5203; source_row=34517
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director mischaracterized the Beneficiary as a computer data analyst, when in fact his role involves deep expertise in psychiatry and medical psychology data, unique and irreplaceable knowledge of over twenty years of study data, and an integral position within the research team. His education and prolonged involvement in the longitudinal research demonstrate he is well-positioned to advance the endeavor.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Director mischaracterized the Beneficiary as a computer data analyst, when in fact his role involves deep expertise in psychiatry and medical psychology data, unique and irreplaceable knowledge of over twenty years of study data, and an integral position within the research team. His education and prolonged involvement in the longitudinal research demonstrate he is well-positioned to advance the endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-16_05_B5203; source_row=34518
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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