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 8051–8060

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the proposed endeavor has substantial merit in business but not national importance. The client-level impact evidence does not show broader industry implications, the government reports cited focus on specific industries the Petitioner does not serve, and the expert opinion letter made unsupported projections inconsistent with the Petitioner's own described plans.

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AAO agreed the proposed endeavor has substantial merit in business but not national importance. The client-level impact evidence does not show broader industry implications, the government reports cited focus on specific industries the Petitioner does not serve, and the expert opinion letter made unsupported projections inconsistent with the Petitioner's own described plans.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_02_B5203; source_row=32536
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner holds only a foreign equivalent of a bachelor's degree and failed to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in his specialty (project management in mechanical engineering). The employment letters had overlapping timeframes, did not confirm full-time status, and one employer was absent from the Petitioner's own CV, undermining credibility.

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AAO found the Petitioner holds only a foreign equivalent of a bachelor's degree and failed to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in his specialty (project management in mechanical engineering). The employment letters had overlapping timeframes, did not confirm full-time status, and one employer was absent from the Petitioner's own CV, undermining credibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_02_B5203; source_row=32535
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The appeal letter referencing a €5,600 salary did not specify the frequency of payments or the duration, and provided no comparative context to establish exceptional ability. Moreover, the employer explicitly stated the above-average salary was for performing additional responsibilities, not for exceptional ability in performing core duties.

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The appeal letter referencing a €5,600 salary did not specify the frequency of payments or the duration, and provided no comparative context to establish exceptional ability. Moreover, the employer explicitly stated the above-average salary was for performing additional responsibilities, not for exceptional ability in performing core duties.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_03_B5203; source_row=32542
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent (degree plus 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The academic evaluation letter presented irreconcilably conflicting statements — one paragraph asserting bachelor's degree equivalence and the immediately following sentence asserting master's degree equivalence — making it of minimal probative value.…

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The academic evaluation letter presented irreconcilably conflicting statements — one paragraph asserting bachelor's degree equivalence and the immediately following sentence asserting master's degree equivalence — making it of minimal probative value. Even if a bachelor's degree equivalent were established, the employment letters do not demonstrate five years of progressive experience in the specialty of business management, as neither confirms full-time employment nor ties duties to business management.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_03_B5203; source_row=32539
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination – degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered

Why AAO was not persuaded

Reviewing the totality of the record, the Petitioner's educational credentials, work experience, association membership, and reference letters did not collectively demonstrate expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the field of education.…

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Reviewing the totality of the record, the Petitioner's educational credentials, work experience, association membership, and reference letters did not collectively demonstrate expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the field of education. Her post-graduate specialization was not shown to set her apart, salary comparisons were limited to colleagues within the same school, her professional association is broadly inclusive, and reference letters made conclusory claims without substantiation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_01_B5203; source_row=32530
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Possession of foreign equivalent of U.S. baccalaureate or advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO independently considered this alternative basis and found that the Petitioner's three-year licentiate degree is a teaching qualification, not a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, and thus she cannot qualify as an advanced degree professional.

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AAO independently considered this alternative basis and found that the Petitioner's three-year licentiate degree is a teaching qualification, not a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, and thus she cannot qualify as an advanced degree professional.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_01_B5203; source_row=32531
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 business plan's revenue and staffing projections lacked sufficient detail and basis, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate the company's staffing levels would provide substantial economic benefits to Virginia, Tennessee, or the nation. The relevant inquiry is the specific impact of the proposed endeavor, not the general importance of the industry or profession.

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AAO found that the business plan's revenue and staffing projections lacked sufficient detail and basis, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate the company's staffing levels would provide substantial economic benefits to Virginia, Tennessee, or the nation. The relevant inquiry is the specific impact of the proposed endeavor, not the general importance of the industry or profession.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_04_B5203; source_row=32548
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementEngineer

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record relating to area of exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The diploma specializes in metal-cutting machines and tools, not business management. Many courses on the academic record (military training, physical culture, philosophy, history) do not relate to business management, and none of the other training certificates relate to business management either.

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The diploma specializes in metal-cutting machines and tools, not business management. Many courses on the academic record (military training, physical culture, philosophy, history) do not relate to business management, and none of the other training certificates relate to business management either.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_03_B5203; source_row=32540
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementEngineer

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

at least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation sought

Why AAO was not persuaded

None of the employment letters confirmed full-time employment. Additionally, the Petitioner's own statement that he worked at one employer 'from February 2010 to present day' was directly contradicted by two letters showing he resigned in August 2020, further reducing credibility. The letters also did not establish that the Petitioner's duties correspond to managing a truck transportation services company.

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None of the employment letters confirmed full-time employment. Additionally, the Petitioner's own statement that he worked at one employer 'from February 2010 to present day' was directly contradicted by two letters showing he resigned in August 2020, further reducing credibility. The letters also did not establish that the Petitioner's duties correspond to managing a truck transportation services company.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_03_B5203; source_row=32541
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO acknowledged criterion E as satisfied; this finding was not in dispute on appeal.

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Both the Director and AAO acknowledged criterion E as satisfied; this finding was not in dispute on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_03_B5203; source_row=32543
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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