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 7641–7650

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 that the Petitioner's evidence did not show his specific proposed IT consulting endeavor has national importance. The appellate arguments about entrepreneur guidance addressed the second prong rather than national importance, and the Petitioner failed to engage with the Director's specific findings or explain how the evidence supports a national importance claim.

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 Petitioner's evidence did not show his specific proposed IT consulting endeavor has national importance. The appellate arguments about entrepreneur guidance addressed the second prong rather than national importance, and the Petitioner failed to engage with the Director's specific findings or explain how the evidence supports a national importance claim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-11_01_B5203; source_row=33177
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree professional qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the director's finding because, while the petitioner holds a qualifying degree, neither the occupation of certified nursing assistant nor the role of CEO of an online consulting company has been shown to require a baccalaureate degree as the minimum entry requirement under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3).

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 finding because, while the petitioner holds a qualifying degree, neither the occupation of certified nursing assistant nor the role of CEO of an online consulting company has been shown to require a baccalaureate degree as the minimum entry requirement under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_03_B5203; source_row=33150
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 endeavor was vague and the business plan lacked critical details including course curricula, regulatory compliance with California CNA certification requirements, and a credible operational plan. The interest letters lacked professional credibility, no confirmed funding existed, and the petitioner provided no explanation of how she would simultaneously work full-time as a CNA while operating her business.

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 agreed the endeavor was vague and the business plan lacked critical details including course curricula, regulatory compliance with California CNA certification requirements, and a credible operational plan. The interest letters lacked professional credibility, no confirmed funding existed, and the petitioner provided no explanation of how she would simultaneously work full-time as a CNA while operating her business.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_03_B5203; source_row=33152
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 the proposed endeavor's description was materially inconsistent—shifting from law practice to management consulting to cross-border trade—and that the evidence submitted only showed general industry statistics rather than national importance specific to the Petitioner's 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 found the proposed endeavor's description was materially inconsistent—shifting from law practice to management consulting to cross-border trade—and that the evidence submitted only showed general industry statistics rather than national importance specific to the Petitioner's endeavor. The job multiplier figures contained an unexplained discrepancy and applied to broad industry categories, and all claims about broader implications were unsupported by specifics.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_02_B5203; source_row=33147
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 concluded the proposed endeavor's prospective impact does not extend beyond local athletes and academies to influence the field or economy broadly, and the record lacks evidence of substantial positive economic effects or job creation.

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 concluded the proposed endeavor's prospective impact does not extend beyond local athletes and academies to influence the field or economy broadly, and the record lacks evidence of substantial positive economic effects or job creation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_08_B5203; source_row=33174
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

foreign degree equivalent to U.S. baccalaureate (prerequisite for education+experience combination)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The credential evaluation internally contradicts its own conclusion: it cites the AACRAO EDGE database to establish the degree is comparable only to three years of U.S. undergraduate study, not a full baccalaureate, and separately lists the U.S.…

Why this is useful

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

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The credential evaluation internally contradicts its own conclusion: it cites the AACRAO EDGE database to establish the degree is comparable only to three years of U.S. undergraduate study, not a full baccalaureate, and separately lists the U.S. equivalent as '3 Years of Undergraduate Programs.' This self-contradiction renders the evaluation minimally probative, leaving no evidence that the Petitioner holds a qualifying degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_04_B5203; source_row=33154
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

The AAO found that while marketing has substantial merit, the Petitioner did not show her specific endeavor would have broader implications in the marketing field. The job and revenue projections lacked support and would not, even if substantiated, demonstrate substantial positive economic effects, and the expert letter offered no analysis tying her services to national-level impact.

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 that while marketing has substantial merit, the Petitioner did not show her specific endeavor would have broader implications in the marketing field. The job and revenue projections lacked support and would not, even if substantiated, demonstrate substantial positive economic effects, and the expert letter offered no analysis tying her services to national-level impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_05_B5203; source_row=33158
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director erred by treating a bachelor's degree alone as sufficient for advanced degree classification without reviewing the required employer letters showing five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(B).

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 Director erred by treating a bachelor's degree alone as sufficient for advanced degree classification without reviewing the required employer letters showing five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(B).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_06_B5203; source_row=33161
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong as unnecessary given that failure on the second prong and the EB-2 qualification threshold are each independently dispositive.

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 reserved this prong as unnecessary given that failure on the second prong and the EB-2 qualification threshold are each independently dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_03_B5203; source_row=33153
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong because the director's determination was internally contradictory and unclear, and AAO makes a definitive finding on the second prong that is dispositive.

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 reserved this prong because the director's determination was internally contradictory and unclear, and AAO makes a definitive finding on the second prong that is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-08-10_03_B5203; source_row=33151
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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