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 8091–8100

NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Official academic record (degree/diploma/certificate)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the diploma relates to radiology and satisfies this criterion.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the diploma relates to radiology and satisfies this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-13_04_B5203; source_row=32479
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The business plan projected hiring only two employees and generating $373,000 in revenue by year five without explaining the methodology behind those projections, which was insufficient to show 'substantial positive economic effects.' Articles about small businesses in general did not address the Petitioner's specific endeavor. The Petitioner's own statements were unsupported assertions.…

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The business plan projected hiring only two employees and generating $373,000 in revenue by year five without explaining the methodology behind those projections, which was insufficient to show 'substantial positive economic effects.' Articles about small businesses in general did not address the Petitioner's specific endeavor. The Petitioner's own statements were unsupported assertions. Additionally, the record contained unresolved ambiguity about whether the actual proposed endeavor was an e-commerce business, a consulting firm, or a cleaning/construction business.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-13_03_B5203; source_row=32476
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's UK bachelor's degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per EDGE, not an advanced degree. He failed to demonstrate the required five years of progressive post-degree experience because the reference letters lack dates and are not supported by business or financial records.

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The Petitioner's UK bachelor's degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per EDGE, not an advanced degree. He failed to demonstrate the required five years of progressive post-degree experience because the reference letters lack dates and are not supported by business or financial records.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_05_B5203; source_row=32464
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

While AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit, it found no national importance: the business plan projected only six additional direct hires and limited indirect employment; the expert opinion letter discussed general industry statistics rather than the specific endeavor; client letters lacked documentary support for their economic impact claims; and the Petitioner's reliance on European imports undermined claims of U.S.…

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While AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit, it found no national importance: the business plan projected only six additional direct hires and limited indirect employment; the expert opinion letter discussed general industry statistics rather than the specific endeavor; client letters lacked documentary support for their economic impact claims; and the Petitioner's reliance on European imports undermined claims of U.S. manufacturing impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_05_B5203; source_row=32467
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's endeavor as established at filing—filling a vacant physical therapist position at one facility—benefits only potential employers and individual patients, and does not demonstrate national or global implications within a field or substantial positive economic effects.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's endeavor as established at filing—filling a vacant physical therapist position at one facility—benefits only potential employers and individual patients, and does not demonstrate national or global implications within a field or substantial positive economic effects. Reliance on industry-wide growth statistics and academic history was misplaced as those do not speak to the specific endeavor's national importance. The business plan and startup company assertions were disregarded as a material change in facts after the petition filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_04_B5203; source_row=32461
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 the national importance prong was not met. Industry-wide challenges do not establish the national importance of this specific private security business; job projections were internally inconsistent and unsubstantiated; the HUBZone claim was not reflected in the business plan; and the expert opinion letter focused on Brazil's security market rather than the specific proposed endeavor in the U.S.

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AAO agreed the national importance prong was not met. Industry-wide challenges do not establish the national importance of this specific private security business; job projections were internally inconsistent and unsubstantiated; the HUBZone claim was not reflected in the business plan; and the expert opinion letter focused on Brazil's security market rather than the specific proposed endeavor in the U.S.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_02_B5203; source_row=32458
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the credential evaluation unreliable because the military service certificate showed only seven months of service, contradicting the evaluator's claim of a four-year program. The technologist degree reflects only two and a half years of study and the specialist credential one year; EDGE confirmed these do not equate to a bachelor's or master's degree.…

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AAO found the credential evaluation unreliable because the military service certificate showed only seven months of service, contradicting the evaluator's claim of a four-year program. The technologist degree reflects only two and a half years of study and the specialist credential one year; EDGE confirmed these do not equate to a bachelor's or master's degree. No regulatory basis exists to combine sub-baccalaureate credentials.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_02_B5203; source_row=32457
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed merit was shown but found the proposed small consulting business did not demonstrate broader implications in the educational counseling field, no documented research impact, and no significant job-creation or economic-effect projections.

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AAO agreed merit was shown but found the proposed small consulting business did not demonstrate broader implications in the educational counseling field, no documented research impact, and no significant job-creation or economic-effect projections.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_01_B5203; source_row=32454
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved consideration of the third prong as unnecessary given the prong-one failure.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved consideration of the third prong as unnecessary given the prong-one failure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_01_B5203; source_row=32456
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved consideration of the second prong because the failure under prong one was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved consideration of the second prong because the failure under prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-06-12_01_B5203; source_row=32455
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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