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 7131–7140

NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional salary (criterion D)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The payscale.com report compared all hotel industry workers rather than hotel managers, used average rather than exceptional-ability-level salaries, covered a different city than where the Petitioner worked, and spa managers in the same industry earned higher average salaries than the Petitioner's highest earnings. The evidence was insufficient to show exceptional salary.

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

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The payscale.com report compared all hotel industry workers rather than hotel managers, used average rather than exceptional-ability-level salaries, covered a different city than where the Petitioner worked, and spa managers in the same industry earned higher average salaries than the Petitioner's highest earnings. The evidence was insufficient to show exceptional salary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-10_05_B5203; source_row=34002
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

recognition for achievements and significant contributions (criterion E)

What the decision said

AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner could not meet the three-criterion minimum threshold regardless, making assessment of this criterion unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner could not meet the three-criterion minimum threshold regardless, making assessment of this criterion unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-10_05_B5203; source_row=34003
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 with the Director that while the pilot shortage demonstrates substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show how his individual employment would have a nationally significant impact on aviation or the U.S. economy. Reliance on industry-wide importance and professional qualifications does not establish the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.

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 with the Director that while the pilot shortage demonstrates substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show how his individual employment would have a nationally significant impact on aviation or the U.S. economy. Reliance on industry-wide importance and professional qualifications does not establish the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-06_02_B5203; source_row=33976
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO reviewed the record in the aggregate as advisory guidance and found no sustained national or international acclaim, no demonstrated media attention spanning the relevant period, and no evidence of high remuneration or equity proceeds.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reviewed the record in the aggregate as advisory guidance and found no sustained national or international acclaim, no demonstrated media attention spanning the relevant period, and no evidence of high remuneration or equity proceeds.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-06_01_B2203; source_row=33975
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director's broad conclusion that the Petitioner had not met this criterion, though disagreeing on some specifics. The letters lacked corroboration, the documentary evidence did not link the Petitioner to a leading or critical role, and the RFE response raised an inapplicable due-process argument rather than addressing the evidentiary deficiency.

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AAO agreed with the Director's broad conclusion that the Petitioner had not met this criterion, though disagreeing on some specifics. The letters lacked corroboration, the documentary evidence did not link the Petitioner to a leading or critical role, and the RFE response raised an inapplicable due-process argument rather than addressing the evidentiary deficiency.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-06_01_B2203; source_row=33973
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 declined to reach the third prong because the first prong was dispositive against the Petitioner.

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 reach the third prong because the first prong was dispositive against the Petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-06_02_B5203; source_row=33978
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 declined to reach the second prong because the first prong was dispositive against the Petitioner.

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 declined to reach the second prong because the first prong was dispositive against the Petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-06_02_B5203; source_row=33977
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The articles do not include a substantial discussion of the Petitioner's work in the field; they are about a new brand of e-cigarette. Additionally, the articles describe the Petitioner as a 'marketing director,' not as an entrepreneur, and therefore do not relate to his work in the field for which classification is sought.

Why this is useful

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

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The articles do not include a substantial discussion of the Petitioner's work in the field; they are about a new brand of e-cigarette. Additionally, the articles describe the Petitioner as a 'marketing director,' not as an entrepreneur, and therefore do not relate to his work in the field for which classification is sought.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-06_01_B2203; source_row=33971
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s3 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the totality of the evidence did not show sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the very top of the field. AAO discussed each evidence category (awards, media, judging, recommendation letters, performances/ticket sales, earnings) and found none distinguished her at the upper echelon.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that the totality of the evidence did not show sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the very top of the field. AAO discussed each evidence category (awards, media, judging, recommendation letters, performances/ticket sales, earnings) and found none distinguished her at the upper echelon.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-05_02_B2203; source_row=33956
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's 'self-manufactured' finding after the RFE response supplied proper titles, dates, authors, and certified translations, but still agreed the criterion was not met because the magazine articles were about fashion trends and marketing designer clothing—not about the Petitioner and her work in the field as required by the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the Director's 'self-manufactured' finding after the RFE response supplied proper titles, dates, authors, and certified translations, but still agreed the criterion was not met because the magazine articles were about fashion trends and marketing designer clothing—not about the Petitioner and her work in the field as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-05_01_B2203; source_row=33940
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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