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 6941–6950

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner showed substantial merit for STEM teaching but not national importance. AAO refused to consider the materially changed endeavor (educational center) raised post-filing. AAO found the Petitioner did not demonstrate his teaching activities would impact the field beyond his prospective students, reach broader national economic effects, or create U.S. jobs.

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AAO found the Petitioner showed substantial merit for STEM teaching but not national importance. AAO refused to consider the materially changed endeavor (educational center) raised post-filing. AAO found the Petitioner did not demonstrate his teaching activities would impact the field beyond his prospective students, reach broader national economic effects, or create U.S. jobs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_02_B5203; source_row=34267
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 agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. General industry reports on trends in martial arts studios and physical fitness did not connect to the Petitioner's specific endeavor, the professional plan lacked concrete details about employees, investment, location, or revenue projections, and the evidence showed no broader implications beyond the Petitioner's own business.

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The AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. General industry reports on trends in martial arts studios and physical fitness did not connect to the Petitioner's specific endeavor, the professional plan lacked concrete details about employees, investment, location, or revenue projections, and the evidence showed no broader implications beyond the Petitioner's own business.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_06_B5203; source_row=34280
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 finds prong 1 not met but on a different rationale: the petitioner impermissibly changed the proposed endeavor after filing, and the originally proposed endeavor was so undeveloped it cannot be analyzed under Dhanasar at all.

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AAO finds prong 1 not met but on a different rationale: the petitioner impermissibly changed the proposed endeavor after filing, and the originally proposed endeavor was so undeveloped it cannot be analyzed under Dhanasar at all.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_01_B5203; source_row=34264
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 that the studies and articles did not discuss the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor, the impact analysis report did not adequately explain anticipated revenue figures or establish that the project's economic impact would rise to a 'substantial positive economic effect' commensurate with national importance, and the support letters did not address the specific project or persuasively explain how the Petitione…

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AAO found that the studies and articles did not discuss the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor, the impact analysis report did not adequately explain anticipated revenue figures or establish that the project's economic impact would rise to a 'substantial positive economic effect' commensurate with national importance, and the support letters did not address the specific project or persuasively explain how the Petitioner's work would have national or global implications. AAO reaffirmed this finding was legally correct on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_05_B5203; source_row=34276
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

The AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to reach given that failure on the first prong was dispositive.

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The AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to reach given that failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_06_B5203; source_row=34282
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree qualification via baccalaureate plus five years progressive post-baccalaureate experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the experience letters were fatally deficient: one lacked a year, an end date, and full/part-time status; the other showed only approximately four years nine months and also lacked full/part-time information.…

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The AAO found that the experience letters were fatally deficient: one lacked a year, an end date, and full/part-time status; the other showed only approximately four years nine months and also lacked full/part-time information. Overlapping full-time theological studies and contradictory prior visa applications further undermined the claimed experience, leaving the AAO unable to credit five years of qualifying post-baccalaureate experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_06_B5203; source_row=34279
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agrees with the Director that the evidence primarily addresses the importance of the industry rather than the specific endeavor; that the 11 jobs created and the projected revenue growth do not rise to substantial positive economic effects; and that merely implementing existing sustainable technologies, without proposing new processes, does not show broad impact on climate change.

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AAO agrees with the Director that the evidence primarily addresses the importance of the industry rather than the specific endeavor; that the 11 jobs created and the projected revenue growth do not rise to substantial positive economic effects; and that merely implementing existing sustainable technologies, without proposing new processes, does not show broad impact on climate change.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_03_B5203; source_row=34270
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO expressly reserves the second prong as unnecessary because the petition fails on the first prong.

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AAO expressly reserves the second prong as unnecessary because the petition fails on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-31_03_B5203; source_row=34271
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's evidence and arguments addressed the general importance of the information technology industry and broad economic topics rather than the national importance of his specific proposed endeavor. The business plan's projected employment figures were not shown to provide substantial economic benefits at a level commensurate with national importance.

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AAO found the Petitioner's evidence and arguments addressed the general importance of the information technology industry and broad economic topics rather than the national importance of his specific proposed endeavor. The business plan's projected employment figures were not shown to provide substantial economic benefits at a level commensurate with national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-30_04_B5203; source_row=34261
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence focused on the importance of the manufacturing engineering industry broadly rather than the prospective impact of his specific endeavor. His personal plan was inconsistent with his assertion of becoming an independent business owner, and on appeal he abandoned that claim in favor of discussing his employment history, which relates to prong two rather than prong one.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence focused on the importance of the manufacturing engineering industry broadly rather than the prospective impact of his specific endeavor. His personal plan was inconsistent with his assertion of becoming an independent business owner, and on appeal he abandoned that claim in favor of discussing his employment history, which relates to prong two rather than prong one. He did not demonstrate his specific endeavor would sufficiently impact U.S. interests at the level of national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-30_03_B5203; source_row=34258
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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