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 6981–6990

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

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

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

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion; it was not contested on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-26_01_B2203; source_row=34207
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 record supported substantial merit for the endeavor but not national importance. The expert opinion letter conflated the national importance of the dental field generally with the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed work.…

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 record supported substantial merit for the endeavor but not national importance. The expert opinion letter conflated the national importance of the dental field generally with the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed work. The Petitioner did not show that her proposed endeavor's prospective impact extends sufficiently beyond her company and its business partners to affect her field, public health, or the national economy at the level of national importance, and she did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_04_B5203; source_row=34199
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 agreed that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but found national importance not established. The four expert opinion letters discussed the HR consulting industry generally rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor, were substantially similar to one another, and provided little probative value.…

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 proposed endeavor has substantial merit but found national importance not established. The four expert opinion letters discussed the HR consulting industry generally rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor, were substantially similar to one another, and provided little probative value. The business plan's financial projections lacked supporting methodology and the creation of 29 jobs would not rise to national importance. AAO agreed with the Director's analogy to Dhanasar, where teaching activities did not extend beyond individual students to impact the field more broadly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_01_B5203; source_row=34193
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the record contained discrepancies in the Petitioner's monthly salary (230,000 vs 207,000 rubles) and lacked objective comparative evidence. The Rosstat data covered development directors, a position the Petitioner did not show is comparable to chief executive, and Petitioner did not provide comparative bonus data.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the record contained discrepancies in the Petitioner's monthly salary (230,000 vs 207,000 rubles) and lacked objective comparative evidence. The Rosstat data covered development directors, a position the Petitioner did not show is comparable to chief executive, and Petitioner did not provide comparative bonus data.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_01_B2203; source_row=34191
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the relevant question is not the importance of the industry or profession but rather the potential prospective impact of the specific endeavor the petitioner proposes. The evidence demonstrated Petitioner is an experienced engineer who intends to open a consulting business, but did not demonstrate broad impact on the field or substantial positive economic effects beyond his own clients.

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 relevant question is not the importance of the industry or profession but rather the potential prospective impact of the specific endeavor the petitioner proposes. The evidence demonstrated Petitioner is an experienced engineer who intends to open a consulting business, but did not demonstrate broad impact on the field or substantial positive economic effects beyond his own clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_05_B5203; source_row=34202
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 explicitly declined to reach the second prong because the first-prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.

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 explicitly declined to reach the second prong because the first-prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_04_B5203; source_row=34200
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

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the first-prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.

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 declined to reach the third prong because the first-prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_04_B5203; source_row=34201
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 explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish national importance under the first prong renders the petition ineligible, making further analysis unnecessary under Bagamasbad.

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 explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish national importance under the first prong renders the petition ineligible, making further analysis unnecessary under Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_01_B5203; source_row=34194
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 qualification (foreign equivalent bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the client reference letters do not qualify as employer letters under the regulations, and the record otherwise lacked corroborating documentation (business registration, invoices, contracts, tax returns) to establish consistent and regular self-employment experience. No employer letter was provided for the 2009–2012 period either.

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 client reference letters do not qualify as employer letters under the regulations, and the record otherwise lacked corroborating documentation (business registration, invoices, contracts, tax returns) to establish consistent and regular self-employment experience. No employer letter was provided for the 2009–2012 period either.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_01_B5203; source_row=34192
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

Petitioner did not advance any argument on appeal regarding contributions; AAO deems it waived.

Why this is useful

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

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Petitioner did not advance any argument on appeal regarding contributions; AAO deems it waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-25_01_B2203; source_row=34188
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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