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 8441–8450

NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not claim this criterion and the record includes no evidence of professional association membership; AAO deemed the issue waived.

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The Petitioner did not claim this criterion and the record includes no evidence of professional association membership; AAO deemed the issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-27_04_B5203; source_row=31938
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanding a salary demonstrating exceptional ability

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not claim this criterion and submitted no salary documentation; AAO deemed the issue waived.

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The Petitioner did not claim this criterion and submitted no salary documentation; AAO deemed the issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-27_04_B5203; source_row=31937
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's evidence addressed the importance of STEM, labor shortages, and immigration generally rather than the national importance of her specific endeavor — owning and operating a tech-educational company. The business plan lacked specific information on prospective impact beyond her students, job creation potential, or substantial economic effects.

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AAO found the Petitioner's evidence addressed the importance of STEM, labor shortages, and immigration generally rather than the national importance of her specific endeavor — owning and operating a tech-educational company. The business plan lacked specific information on prospective impact beyond her students, job creation potential, or substantial economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-26_04_B5203; source_row=31921
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO independently determined the Petitioner's Título de Licenciado was a three-year (or possibly two-year) credential that is not the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, discounted the equivalency evaluation as unreliable, and further found that even if bachelor's equivalency were assumed, the Petitioner had not demonstrated five qualifying years of post-baccalaureate specialty experience.

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AAO independently determined the Petitioner's Título de Licenciado was a three-year (or possibly two-year) credential that is not the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, discounted the equivalency evaluation as unreliable, and further found that even if bachelor's equivalency were assumed, the Petitioner had not demonstrated five qualifying years of post-baccalaureate specialty experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-26_01_B5203; source_row=31911
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 agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. Although education and language learning are important fields, the relevant inquiry is the specific proposed endeavor, not the industry generally.…

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AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. Although education and language learning are important fields, the relevant inquiry is the specific proposed endeavor, not the industry generally. The Petitioner's teaching activities would not extend beyond individual students to impact the field broadly, the business plan projections were unsupported conjecture, and the support letters addressed only individual-level results.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-26_01_B5203; source_row=31912
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the evidence showed general government interest in healthy eating but not in the specific products the Petitioner sells. The business plan lacked financial projections, staffing plans, and marketing strategy, and the company's 2019 tax return showed no assets, income, or operating expenses.…

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AAO agreed with the Director that the evidence showed general government interest in healthy eating but not in the specific products the Petitioner sells. The business plan lacked financial projections, staffing plans, and marketing strategy, and the company's 2019 tax return showed no assets, income, or operating expenses. The Petitioner did not provide expert opinion evidence explaining how her endeavor impacts a matter that is the subject of national initiatives, and the record did not support claims of broader national implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-26_03_B5203; source_row=31918
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 Petitioner had not shown his IT services would impact the field or nation beyond his immediate clients and employer, that his business plan projections lacked corroboration and amounted to conjecture, that his reliance on industrywide importance was insufficient, and that his claims about benefits to economically depressed areas and job creation lacked evidentiary support.

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AAO found the Petitioner had not shown his IT services would impact the field or nation beyond his immediate clients and employer, that his business plan projections lacked corroboration and amounted to conjecture, that his reliance on industrywide importance was insufficient, and that his claims about benefits to economically depressed areas and job creation lacked evidentiary support.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-26_02_B5203; source_row=31915
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 found that general evidence about entrepreneurship and the economy did not establish national importance for the Petitioner's specific proposed supermarket endeavor. Projecting 80 jobs over five years was insufficient to demonstrate substantial positive economic effects, the business plan lacked a credible location and expense basis, and claimed investment funds remained undocumented.

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AAO found that general evidence about entrepreneurship and the economy did not establish national importance for the Petitioner's specific proposed supermarket endeavor. Projecting 80 jobs over five years was insufficient to demonstrate substantial positive economic effects, the business plan lacked a credible location and expense basis, and claimed investment funds remained undocumented.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-25_03_B5203; source_row=31908
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical50 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letters from the U.S. hospital did not establish that the Petitioner's role was critical to the greater organization rather than limited tasks or projects. The IPC evidence did not sufficiently demonstrate that the practice enjoys a distinguished reputation, as the INBRAP award was described as a 'marketing' award without further context.

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The letters from the U.S. hospital did not establish that the Petitioner's role was critical to the greater organization rather than limited tasks or projects. The IPC evidence did not sufficiently demonstrate that the practice enjoys a distinguished reputation, as the INBRAP award was described as a 'marketing' award without further context.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-25_01_B2203; source_row=31899
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical50 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services

Why AAO was not persuaded

The tax documents were not accompanied by full certified English translations as required by regulation, making it impossible to verify whether the income reflected earnings as a physician. Without sufficient evidence of compensation as a physician, no meaningful comparison to others in the field could be made.

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The tax documents were not accompanied by full certified English translations as required by regulation, making it impossible to verify whether the income reflected earnings as a physician. Without sufficient evidence of compensation as a physician, no meaningful comparison to others in the field could be made.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-25_01_B2203; source_row=31900
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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