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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 7251–7260

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the proposed endeavor lacked national importance because the Petitioner did not identify a specific or consistent endeavor and her evidence pointed to the importance of the field rather than the specific impact of her individual work. AAO also faulted her for introducing a new endeavor in the RFE response that could not retroactively establish eligibility.

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 found the proposed endeavor lacked national importance because the Petitioner did not identify a specific or consistent endeavor and her evidence pointed to the importance of the field rather than the specific impact of her individual work. AAO also faulted her for introducing a new endeavor in the RFE response that could not retroactively establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-27_02_B5203; source_row=33794
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The bronze medal claim is undermined by inconsistencies between the Petitioner's account and ISA ranking data crediting another surfer with 3rd place. The 9th place finishes lack evidence of national or international reporting or field recognition as awards for excellence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The bronze medal claim is undermined by inconsistencies between the Petitioner's account and ISA ranking data crediting another surfer with 3rd place. The 9th place finishes lack evidence of national or international reporting or field recognition as awards for excellence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-27_01_B2203; source_row=33782
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacked sufficient documentary evidence from WSL, ABRASP, and CBS establishing their membership eligibility requirements, selection processes, and that the Petitioner's membership was based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts. The CBS Rule Book submitted was incomplete and addressed competition categories rather than membership requirements.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The record lacked sufficient documentary evidence from WSL, ABRASP, and CBS establishing their membership eligibility requirements, selection processes, and that the Petitioner's membership was based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts. The CBS Rule Book submitted was incomplete and addressed competition categories rather than membership requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-27_01_B2203; source_row=33783
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The evidence did not establish how the Petitioner's involvement in WQS events and media activities translated into a leading or critical role for WSL itself. For J- magazine and C- film company, the Petitioner was featured in their productions but held no actual role within those organizations, and she failed to substantiate their distinguished reputations.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The evidence did not establish how the Petitioner's involvement in WQS events and media activities translated into a leading or critical role for WSL itself. For J- magazine and C- film company, the Petitioner was featured in their productions but held no actual role within those organizations, and she failed to substantiate their distinguished reputations. On appeal the Petitioner conceded she held no actual role in the media companies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-27_01_B2203; source_row=33789
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 reaffirmed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that his endeavor would broadly impact the oil and gas industry, has significant potential to employ U.S. workers, or offers substantial positive economic effects. The Petitioner's argument that Dhanasar is 'easier to satisfy' than NYSDOT was unsupported and betrayed a conflation of the two standards.

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 reaffirmed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that his endeavor would broadly impact the oil and gas industry, has significant potential to employ U.S. workers, or offers substantial positive economic effects. The Petitioner's argument that Dhanasar is 'easier to satisfy' than NYSDOT was unsupported and betrayed a conflation of the two standards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-27_03_B5203; source_row=33797
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO did not resolve the merits of the ability-to-pay issue, instead remanding because material new evidence was submitted on appeal and the Director failed to apply the Sonegawa totality-of-circumstances analysis.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not resolve the merits of the ability-to-pay issue, instead remanding because material new evidence was submitted on appeal and the Director failed to apply the Sonegawa totality-of-circumstances analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-27_01_B5203; source_row=33793
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor remained unclear and inconsistent, with no documentation of the U.S. company's existence, no business plan or sales forecast, and no showing that his work would have national or global implications or substantial positive economic effects beyond his individual clientele.…

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 +
The AAO found the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor remained unclear and inconsistent, with no documentation of the U.S. company's existence, no business plan or sales forecast, and no showing that his work would have national or global implications or substantial positive economic effects beyond his individual clientele. The expert opinion letter failed to address the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed work, and the shortage of accounting professionals is addressed through the labor certification process rather than the NIW framework.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-26_08_B5203; source_row=33779
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's general assertions about management did not establish national importance. The Petitioner's post-RFE submissions described a materially different entrepreneurial endeavor not contemplated at filing, and even those submissions failed to show job creation at a level producing substantial positive economic effects or to explain how the specific proposed endeavor (rather than the field generally…

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 agreed that the Petitioner's general assertions about management did not establish national importance. The Petitioner's post-RFE submissions described a materially different entrepreneurial endeavor not contemplated at filing, and even those submissions failed to show job creation at a level producing substantial positive economic effects or to explain how the specific proposed endeavor (rather than the field generally) would have national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-26_02_B5203; source_row=33761
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner does not hold an advanced degree and failed to document five years of qualifying post-baccalaureate work experience because the submitted employment letters did not comply with 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1) requirements (missing writer titles and addresses), and one letter concerned post-filing employment that cannot count toward eligibility.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner does not hold an advanced degree and failed to document five years of qualifying post-baccalaureate work experience because the submitted employment letters did not comply with 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1) requirements (missing writer titles and addresses), and one letter concerned post-filing employment that cannot count toward eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-26_06_B5203; source_row=33775
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 rejected the Petitioner's reading of Dhanasar as only requiring that a petitioner's field be nationally important, affirming that Dhanasar specifically requires consideration of the endeavor's potential impact. The support letters praised the Petitioner's abilities but did not establish what national impact his specific proposed U.S. endeavor would have.…

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 rejected the Petitioner's reading of Dhanasar as only requiring that a petitioner's field be nationally important, affirming that Dhanasar specifically requires consideration of the endeavor's potential impact. The support letters praised the Petitioner's abilities but did not establish what national impact his specific proposed U.S. endeavor would have. The Petitioner failed to sufficiently define or document the specific nature of his endeavor and its prospective impacts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-26_06_B5203; source_row=33772
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment