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 7291–7300

NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the membership certificate, which expired December 31, 2021, did not establish maintained membership through adjudication in March 2023. AAO additionally found that the evidence did not demonstrate NASS constitutes a professional association under the regulatory definition, and that the membership was not clearly relevant to the Petitioner's proposed endeavor.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the membership certificate, which expired December 31, 2021, did not establish maintained membership through adjudication in March 2023. AAO additionally found that the evidence did not demonstrate NASS constitutes a professional association under the regulatory definition, and that the membership was not clearly relevant to the Petitioner's proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_05_B5203; source_row=33723
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the record did not show national importance. The business plan's financial and job forecasts lacked evidentiary basis, generalized statements about investment attraction were unsupported, the anticipated creation of 21 jobs was insufficient, and the evidence about the industry generally did not speak to the national importance of the Petitioner's specific endeavor.

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AAO agreed the record did not show national importance. The business plan's financial and job forecasts lacked evidentiary basis, generalized statements about investment attraction were unsupported, the anticipated creation of 21 jobs was insufficient, and the evidence about the industry generally did not speak to the national importance of the Petitioner's specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_02_B5203; source_row=33713
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's initial proposed endeavor as a post-secondary teacher lacked national importance, and his later-proposed sports academy business constituted a material change that could not retroactively establish eligibility. Even if the sports academy business were considered, the record lacked sufficient evidence that it would impact the broader field, U.S.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's initial proposed endeavor as a post-secondary teacher lacked national importance, and his later-proposed sports academy business constituted a material change that could not retroactively establish eligibility. Even if the sports academy business were considered, the record lacked sufficient evidence that it would impact the broader field, U.S. economy, or healthcare system at the level of national importance under Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_01_B5203; source_row=33710
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 reserved its opinion on the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making resolution of this prong unnecessary.

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AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making resolution of this prong unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_03_B5203; source_row=33718
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 reserved its opinion on the second prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making resolution of this prong unnecessary.

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AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the second prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making resolution of this prong unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_03_B5203; source_row=33717
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 the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's third-prong analysis insufficient because it did not adequately discuss the weighed evidence or address the Petitioner's specific arguments, and remanded for a proper balancing analysis.

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AAO found the Director's third-prong analysis insufficient because it did not adequately discuss the weighed evidence or address the Petitioner's specific arguments, and remanded for a proper balancing analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_04_B5203; source_row=33721
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 noted the Director's prong 2 finding lacked any analytical basis and remanded for the Director to articulate the reasons for the finding with reference to the relevant factors.

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AAO noted the Director's prong 2 finding lacked any analytical basis and remanded for the Director to articulate the reasons for the finding with reference to the relevant factors.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_04_B5203; source_row=33720
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO agreed the evidence is sufficient to show substantial merit, but declined to resolve the national importance question, instead remanding because the Director failed to address key evidence and did not sufficiently explain the denial.

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AAO agreed the evidence is sufficient to show substantial merit, but declined to resolve the national importance question, instead remanding because the Director failed to address key evidence and did not sufficiently explain the denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_04_B5203; source_row=33719
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

experience criterion

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the experience criterion.

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AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the experience criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_05_B5203; source_row=33722
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concurred with the Director that the letters of recommendation did not satisfy 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(F) because the writers were former clients or business associates rather than peers, the letters discussed client-specific projects rather than industry-wide contributions, and there was no evidence of recognition beyond the Petitioner's clients at a level indicative of achievements and significant contributions to…

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AAO concurred with the Director that the letters of recommendation did not satisfy 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(F) because the writers were former clients or business associates rather than peers, the letters discussed client-specific projects rather than industry-wide contributions, and there was no evidence of recognition beyond the Petitioner's clients at a level indicative of achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-09-21_05_B5203; source_row=33724
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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