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 7821–7830

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's initial petition described working as an administrator and financial analyst and submitted over 30 varied job postings without explaining their relevance. This amounted to a job search rather than a specific proposed endeavor. The business plan submitted at the RFE stage constituted a material change and was not considered.

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The Petitioner's initial petition described working as an administrator and financial analyst and submitted over 30 varied job postings without explaining their relevance. This amounted to a job search rather than a specific proposed endeavor. The business plan submitted at the RFE stage constituted a material change and was not considered.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-18_07_B5203; source_row=32924
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted only the English translation of academic transcripts, not the original untranslated transcripts. USCIS regulations require foreign language documents to be accompanied by a full English language translation—not replaced by one. Without the original untranslated transcripts, the criterion is not met.

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The Petitioner submitted only the English translation of academic transcripts, not the original untranslated transcripts. USCIS regulations require foreign language documents to be accompanied by a full English language translation—not replaced by one. Without the original untranslated transcripts, the criterion is not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-18_07_B5203; source_row=32921
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the proposed endeavor of working as a surgeon would not extend beyond the Petitioner's hospital and patients to impact the medical field broadly. The post-filing job offer adding endocrine surgery and a specific location was an impermissible material change, and articles about general physician shortages did not show the Petitioner's specific endeavor would address such issues at a national scale.

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AAO concluded the proposed endeavor of working as a surgeon would not extend beyond the Petitioner's hospital and patients to impact the medical field broadly. The post-filing job offer adding endocrine surgery and a specific location was an impermissible material change, and articles about general physician shortages did not show the Petitioner's specific endeavor would address such issues at a national scale.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-18_04_B5203; source_row=32903
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 on prong 3 as unnecessary given the failure on prong 1.

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AAO reserved on prong 3 as unnecessary given the failure on prong 1.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-18_04_B5203; source_row=32905
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The expert letters and supporting documentation focused on the general importance of business administration rather than the specific broader implications of the Petitioner's particular services. The record did not show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects at the national level.

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AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The expert letters and supporting documentation focused on the general importance of business administration rather than the specific broader implications of the Petitioner's particular services. The record did not show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects at the national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_07_B5203; source_row=32882
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 national importance was not established. AAO further found that the Petitioner presented three materially inconsistent descriptions of his proposed endeavor across the initial filing, RFE response, and appeal brief, constituting impermissible post-filing material changes that prevented any meaningful NIW analysis.…

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AAO agreed that national importance was not established. AAO further found that the Petitioner presented three materially inconsistent descriptions of his proposed endeavor across the initial filing, RFE response, and appeal brief, constituting impermissible post-filing material changes that prevented any meaningful NIW analysis. Plans to establish a company were presented after the filing date and cannot retroactively establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_03_B5203; source_row=32858
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

The AAO found the Petitioner failed to show that his specific proposed endeavor—providing petroleum engineering services to unidentified employers—had national importance beyond the industry generally. The alleged shortage of an occupation does not render a proposed endeavor nationally important, and the Petitioner provided no evidence of prospective broader impact on the industry or economy.…

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The AAO found the Petitioner failed to show that his specific proposed endeavor—providing petroleum engineering services to unidentified employers—had national importance beyond the industry generally. The alleged shortage of an occupation does not render a proposed endeavor nationally important, and the Petitioner provided no evidence of prospective broader impact on the industry or economy. The AAO also refused to consider the materially changed endeavor (opening his own business) raised post-filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_05_B5203; source_row=32869
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the record shows the proposed work has substantial merit but found no documentation demonstrating how the clean energy investment consulting services would extend beyond prospective clients to impact the industry or the broader U.S. economy at the level of national importance.…

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AAO agreed the record shows the proposed work has substantial merit but found no documentation demonstrating how the clean energy investment consulting services would extend beyond prospective clients to impact the industry or the broader U.S. economy at the level of national importance. AAO also noted the Petitioner's experience is relevant to prong two rather than prong one, and that the record lacked evidence of significant potential to employ U.S. workers or generate substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_02_B5203; source_row=32855
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Official academic record showing U.S. advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The registrar's letter did not provide enrollment or graduation dates, no official academic record with coursework and graduation date was submitted, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency; a degree from an unaccredited institution does not qualify the holder as a professional.

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The registrar's letter did not provide enrollment or graduation dates, no official academic record with coursework and graduation date was submitted, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency; a degree from an unaccredited institution does not qualify the holder as a professional.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_01_B5203; source_row=32850
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

The AAO reserved the second prong, finding further analysis unnecessary because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong.

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The AAO reserved the second prong, finding further analysis unnecessary because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_05_B5203; source_row=32870
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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