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 7511–7520

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director that the Teletriumph award lacked national recognition (finding it is Ukraine's only television award presented by the professional association and national government), but found the Petitioner failed to establish by a preponderance that she personally received the award, as the awarding entity's website listed 'New Channel' as recipient, not the Petitioner.…

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AAO disagreed with the Director that the Teletriumph award lacked national recognition (finding it is Ukraine's only television award presented by the professional association and national government), but found the Petitioner failed to establish by a preponderance that she personally received the award, as the awarding entity's website listed 'New Channel' as recipient, not the Petitioner. The other claimed awards also lacked sufficient evidence of receipt and national/international recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_01_B2203; source_row=33317
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The Petitioner impermissibly changed her proposed endeavor from working as a physical therapist to founding a healthcare company. Even if the original endeavor were evaluated, working as a single physical therapist in a healthcare facility does not show broader field implications or substantial positive economic effects.…

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AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The Petitioner impermissibly changed her proposed endeavor from working as a physical therapist to founding a healthcare company. Even if the original endeavor were evaluated, working as a single physical therapist in a healthcare facility does not show broader field implications or substantial positive economic effects. The revised business plan also lacked sufficient detail on growth projections, number of physical therapists to be hired, or evidence of operating in an economically depressed area.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_06_B5203; source_row=33334
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanding salary demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record lacked evidence of what salary exceptional ability human resources specialists command for comparable duties, making it impossible to evaluate whether the Petitioner's salary demonstrated exceptional ability.

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AAO found the record lacked evidence of what salary exceptional ability human resources specialists command for comparable duties, making it impossible to evaluate whether the Petitioner's salary demonstrated exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_08_B5203; source_row=33343
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the expert opinion letter and personal statement failed to explain how benefiting individual students rises to the level of national importance, and that the Petitioner offered no substantiated evidence that her endeavor would broadly impact the field of childhood education or the U.S. economy.

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AAO agreed that the expert opinion letter and personal statement failed to explain how benefiting individual students rises to the level of national importance, and that the Petitioner offered no substantiated evidence that her endeavor would broadly impact the field of childhood education or the U.S. economy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_07_B5203; source_row=33337
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 that the proposed endeavor, as established at the time of filing, did not demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's consulting work would benefit her clients but the record did not establish broader implications for the field or the U.S. economy. New facts about founding a company introduced in response to the RFE constituted a material change and could not establish eligibility.…

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AAO agreed that the proposed endeavor, as established at the time of filing, did not demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner's consulting work would benefit her clients but the record did not establish broader implications for the field or the U.S. economy. New facts about founding a company introduced in response to the RFE constituted a material change and could not establish eligibility. The expert letter and support letters also failed to articulate how the specific endeavor had national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_10_B5203; source_row=33354
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found it lacks national importance because the Petitioner's plan is generalized and does not explain how her work will impact the field, address a national talent shortage, or affect entities beyond her immediate employer or patients. Her teaching/skills-sharing activities were analogized to those in Dhanasar itself, which did not rise to national importance.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found it lacks national importance because the Petitioner's plan is generalized and does not explain how her work will impact the field, address a national talent shortage, or affect entities beyond her immediate employer or patients. Her teaching/skills-sharing activities were analogized to those in Dhanasar itself, which did not rise to national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_12_B5203; source_row=33361
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner is an experienced physical therapist but found her plan vague, aspirational, and not tied to any specific or plausible plan of national importance. Support letters failed to identify specific tactics or processes she developed, and her qualifications do not exceed those expected of any physical therapist.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner is an experienced physical therapist but found her plan vague, aspirational, and not tied to any specific or plausible plan of national importance. Support letters failed to identify specific tactics or processes she developed, and her qualifications do not exceed those expected of any physical therapist.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_12_B5203; source_row=33362
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the record contained evidence of the Petitioner's education, having education, skills, and knowledge in isolation is insufficient. The record did not show how prior duties constituted a record of success in similar efforts, did not reflect any progress toward the proposed endeavor, and did not clarify whether the proposed endeavor remained unchanged after the Petitioner changed employers.…

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AAO found that while the record contained evidence of the Petitioner's education, having education, skills, and knowledge in isolation is insufficient. The record did not show how prior duties constituted a record of success in similar efforts, did not reflect any progress toward the proposed endeavor, and did not clarify whether the proposed endeavor remained unchanged after the Petitioner changed employers. Recommendation letters were not material, relevant, or probative evidence of interest or support.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_04_B5203; source_row=33329
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 the Petitioner's motion merely restated prior arguments without providing pertinent precedent or establishing that the prior decision was based on an incorrect application of law or policy. The relevant inquiry is the specific proposed endeavor's potential prospective impact with broader implications, not the importance of the field generally.

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AAO found the Petitioner's motion merely restated prior arguments without providing pertinent precedent or establishing that the prior decision was based on an incorrect application of law or policy. The relevant inquiry is the specific proposed endeavor's potential prospective impact with broader implications, not the importance of the field generally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_04_B5203; source_row=33328
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 proposed endeavor as described at the time of filing (external configuration analysis for aircraft engines) lacked national importance. References to nuclear reactors constituted a material change not permissible under 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(1). New evidence on motion failed to explain how the aircraft engine analysis endeavor, independent of the nuclear reactor work, could have national or global implications.

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AAO found that the proposed endeavor as described at the time of filing (external configuration analysis for aircraft engines) lacked national importance. References to nuclear reactors constituted a material change not permissible under 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(1). New evidence on motion failed to explain how the aircraft engine analysis endeavor, independent of the nuclear reactor work, could have national or global implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-24_02_B5203; source_row=33325
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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