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 7841–7850

NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

academic record

academic record

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met the academic record criterion at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A).

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met the academic record criterion at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_04_B5203; source_row=32861
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record did not establish that the Petitioner was employed in the 'Dentist, General' occupation for at least ten years prior to the filing date. Post-filing employment cannot be used to establish eligibility at time of filing.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The record did not establish that the Petitioner was employed in the 'Dentist, General' occupation for at least ten years prior to the filing date. Post-filing employment cannot be used to establish eligibility at time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_04_B5203; source_row=32862
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification

What the decision said

The Petitioner acknowledged the Director's adverse finding but did not identify or discuss specific evidence on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner acknowledged the Director's adverse finding but did not identify or discuss specific evidence on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_04_B5203; source_row=32863
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Meeting at least three of six exceptional ability criteria

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner offered no evidence on appeal to establish additional criteria or comparable evidence. His inability to provide employer letters is not itself proof that the criterion does not apply to his occupation, and he identified no specific comparable evidence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner offered no evidence on appeal to establish additional criteria or comparable evidence. His inability to provide employer letters is not itself proof that the criterion does not apply to his occupation, and he identified no specific comparable evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_01_B5203; source_row=32851
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience (bachelor's + 5 years)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's appellate submission included no employer letters to overcome the Director's determination, so the record supports the Director's finding.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner's appellate submission included no employer letters to overcome the Director's determination, so the record supports the Director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-17_01_B5203; source_row=32849
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 disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding that the Petitioner's oil and gas endeavor falls within recognized areas of substantial merit and that the RFE response merely added detail without materially changing the character of the endeavor.…

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 disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding that the Petitioner's oil and gas endeavor falls within recognized areas of substantial merit and that the RFE response merely added detail without materially changing the character of the endeavor. However, AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to establish national importance, finding that the Petitioner's evidence focused on personal career achievements and execution rather than the prospective impact of the endeavor itself, and the advisory opinion offered only vague, generalized conclusions without identifying specific broader implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-14_04_B5203; source_row=32830
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

AAO agreed with the Director that substantial merit was present but that the Petitioner failed national importance. Geographic breadth of services alone does not establish national importance; the Petitioner did not demonstrate broader implications for the U.S. economy or accounting field, potential to employ U.S. workers significantly, or that her revenue/employment projections were well-supported.

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 with the Director that substantial merit was present but that the Petitioner failed national importance. Geographic breadth of services alone does not establish national importance; the Petitioner did not demonstrate broader implications for the U.S. economy or accounting field, potential to employ U.S. workers significantly, or that her revenue/employment projections were well-supported.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-14_06_B5203; source_row=32843
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent (five years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's degree is only the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree. The employment letter fails to confirm full-time status, and tax documents suggesting self-employment contradict her claim of 40 hours per week, leaving the record insufficient to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner's degree is only the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree. The employment letter fails to confirm full-time status, and tax documents suggesting self-employment contradict her claim of 40 hours per week, leaving the record insufficient to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-14_06_B5203; source_row=32836
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination (exceptional ability)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although AAO noted it need not conduct a final merits determination given the failure to meet three criteria, it reviewed all evidence and found it insufficient to show the Petitioner's expertise is recognized as significantly above that ordinarily encountered in accounting.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Although AAO noted it need not conduct a final merits determination given the failure to meet three criteria, it reviewed all evidence and found it insufficient to show the Petitioner's expertise is recognized as significantly above that ordinarily encountered in accounting.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-14_06_B5203; source_row=32842
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanding high salary or remuneration (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the salary evidence insufficient because the record did not reflect salaries expected for individuals performing duties comparable to those the Petitioner intends to undertake, and the O*NET description did not correspond to the Petitioner's described services.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the salary evidence insufficient because the record did not reflect salaries expected for individuals performing duties comparable to those the Petitioner intends to undertake, and the O*NET description did not correspond to the Petitioner's described services.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-07-14_02_B5203; source_row=32821
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment