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 8061–8070

NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Evidence of membership in professional associations

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner demonstrated membership in CPP, an association representing teaching professionals, satisfying this criterion under the Act's definition of 'profession' which includes teachers.

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The Petitioner demonstrated membership in CPP, an association representing teaching professionals, satisfying this criterion under the Act's definition of 'profession' which includes teachers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_01_B5203; source_row=32528
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Official academic record showing degree relating to area of exceptional ability

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner provided official academic records demonstrating a licentiate degree and a post-graduate specialization in early childhood education, which relate to her claimed area of exceptional ability.

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The Petitioner provided official academic records demonstrating a licentiate degree and a post-graduate specialization in early childhood education, which relate to her claimed area of exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_01_B5203; source_row=32526
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The submitted letters praised the Petitioner's teaching methods and personal qualities but did not show recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader industry or field. The letters addressed her impact on individual students and her employer, not contributions with broader implications for the education field.

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The submitted letters praised the Petitioner's teaching methods and personal qualities but did not show recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader industry or field. The letters addressed her impact on individual students and her employer, not contributions with broader implications for the education field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_01_B5203; source_row=32529
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

At least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why the evidence was persuasive

Letters from former employers confirmed continuous full-time employment as an early childhood and elementary school teacher from 2005 to 2019, satisfying the ten-year experience requirement.

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Letters from former employers confirmed continuous full-time employment as an early childhood and elementary school teacher from 2005 to 2019, satisfying the ten-year experience requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-20_01_B5203; source_row=32527
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 endeavor has substantial merit but found Petitioner did not show with specific, probative evidence that her endeavor would have broader implications on the linguistics-language industry beyond her employer or future clients.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found Petitioner did not show with specific, probative evidence that her endeavor would have broader implications on the linguistics-language industry beyond her employer or future clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-16_02_B5203; source_row=32523
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

The Petitioner's record showed only general articles about food safety importance and letters praising his contributions at his employer, without demonstrating that his specific endeavor would impact the field of food safety and production more broadly at a national level.…

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The Petitioner's record showed only general articles about food safety importance and letters praising his contributions at his employer, without demonstrating that his specific endeavor would impact the field of food safety and production more broadly at a national level. The business plan lacked corroborating evidence supporting its financial and staffing projections, and merely working in an important field is insufficient to establish national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-16_01_B5203; source_row=32520
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 found the business plan's projections unsupported by corroborating evidence, the recommendation letters addressed the Petitioner's personal qualifications rather than the prospective impact of the endeavor, the expert opinion focused on national IT worker shortages and the Petitioner's personal positioning rather than the specific endeavor's national importance, and the industry reports did not tie any projected economi…

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AAO found the business plan's projections unsupported by corroborating evidence, the recommendation letters addressed the Petitioner's personal qualifications rather than the prospective impact of the endeavor, the expert opinion focused on national IT worker shortages and the Petitioner's personal positioning rather than the specific endeavor's national importance, and the industry reports did not tie any projected economic impact specifically to the Petitioner's endeavor. The proposed endeavor does not extend beyond its future clients to impact the broader field or U.S. economy at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-15_03_B5203; source_row=32511
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 split the sub-parts: it found substantial merit was established based on the petitioner's plans and evidence of the impact of quality residential life services on student success, but agreed with the Director that national importance was not established.…

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AAO split the sub-parts: it found substantial merit was established based on the petitioner's plans and evidence of the impact of quality residential life services on student success, but agreed with the Director that national importance was not established. The petitioner's endeavor—establishing one office at one university serving approximately 900 residential students—did not show prospective impact extending beyond that institution to the economy or the field broadly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-15_04_B5203; source_row=32514
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination: expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although AAO found the final merits determination unnecessary given that the Petitioner failed to meet three evidentiary criteria, it briefly addressed the issue and agreed with the Director that the certifications are minimum entry-level credentials and the other evidence (brand ambassador roles, social media following) was minimal and insufficient to show expertise significantly above other fitness specialists.

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Although AAO found the final merits determination unnecessary given that the Petitioner failed to meet three evidentiary criteria, it briefly addressed the issue and agreed with the Director that the certifications are minimum entry-level credentials and the other evidence (brand ambassador roles, social media following) was minimal and insufficient to show expertise significantly above other fitness specialists.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-15_02_B5203; source_row=32507
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 agreed that while the proposed endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. His business projections were unexplained and unsupported, and neither his expert letter nor other evidence showed that his company's operations would extend beyond typical business activity to have broader implications for the industry or U.S. economy.

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AAO agreed that while the proposed endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. His business projections were unexplained and unsupported, and neither his expert letter nor other evidence showed that his company's operations would extend beyond typical business activity to have broader implications for the industry or U.S. economy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-15_05_B5203; source_row=32517
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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