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 8501–8510

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

The AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The Petitioner conflated the importance of aviation generally with the national importance of his specific services. His individual pilot and instructor work would not impact the industry or U.S.…

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The AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The Petitioner conflated the importance of aviation generally with the national importance of his specific services. His individual pilot and instructor work would not impact the industry or U.S. economy broadly enough to satisfy Dhanasar's national importance requirement, and the pilot shortage does not render his employment nationally important, as such shortages are addressed through the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_06_B5203; source_row=31822
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

EconomicsPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor was too vaguely articulated to assess merit or national importance. The Petitioner's consulting plans lacked specificity, did not demonstrate broad national impact beyond individual clients, and did not show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial positive economic effects.

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The AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor was too vaguely articulated to assess merit or national importance. The Petitioner's consulting plans lacked specificity, did not demonstrate broad national impact beyond individual clients, and did not show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_05_B5203; source_row=31819
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 agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor, while having substantial merit in promoting economic growth, did not establish national importance. The record lacked data or studies showing the location is economically depressed, evidence of comparable successful business models, or documentation demonstrating the endeavor's broader implications beyond the firm's own employees.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor, while having substantial merit in promoting economic growth, did not establish national importance. The record lacked data or studies showing the location is economically depressed, evidence of comparable successful business models, or documentation demonstrating the endeavor's broader implications beyond the firm's own employees.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_01_B5203; source_row=31803
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the letters submitted only documented two years of post-baccalaureate banking experience (2015–2017), which is insufficient to satisfy the five-year progressive experience requirement needed to be the equivalent of a master's degree.

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AAO found that the letters submitted only documented two years of post-baccalaureate banking experience (2015–2017), which is insufficient to satisfy the five-year progressive experience requirement needed to be the equivalent of a master's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_02_B5203; source_row=31806
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 agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but concluded it lacks national importance because the Petitioner did not show her consulting activities would impact the financial services industry or international business beyond her own clientele. AAO also found she failed to demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S.…

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but concluded it lacks national importance because the Petitioner did not show her consulting activities would impact the financial services industry or international business beyond her own clientele. AAO also found she failed to demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial positive economic effects, as her unsupported projections (40 jobs, $2.4M revenue) were insufficient evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_02_B5203; source_row=31807
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 AAO agreed that the endeavor has substantial merit but found it lacks national importance. The record does not show how teaching at one correctional facility will produce national or global implications, how the Petitioner's membership activities translate to broader impact, how her educational model will be adopted nationally, or how her research intentions—undefined in specifics—could satisfy the national importance r…

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The AAO agreed that the endeavor has substantial merit but found it lacks national importance. The record does not show how teaching at one correctional facility will produce national or global implications, how the Petitioner's membership activities translate to broader impact, how her educational model will be adopted nationally, or how her research intentions—undefined in specifics—could satisfy the national importance requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_04_B5203; source_row=31816
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign degree equivalency to U.S. baccalaureate

Why AAO was not persuaded

The expert opinion letter did not evaluate the Petitioner's education or provide a combined education-and-experience evaluation; it merely argued for a NIW. The Petitioner inconsistently described her degree's field of study as 'Regional Studies,' 'Economics,' and 'Marketing,' creating unresolved credibility issues about what U.S. degree her foreign credential equates to.

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The expert opinion letter did not evaluate the Petitioner's education or provide a combined education-and-experience evaluation; it merely argued for a NIW. The Petitioner inconsistently described her degree's field of study as 'Regional Studies,' 'Economics,' and 'Marketing,' creating unresolved credibility issues about what U.S. degree her foreign credential equates to.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_03_B5203; source_row=31810
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Intended occupation requires minimum baccalaureate degree for entry

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record lacked evidence that the Petitioner's intended occupation as owner of an e-commerce business selling apparel and accessories requires at minimum a baccalaureate degree for entry.

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AAO found the record lacked evidence that the Petitioner's intended occupation as owner of an e-commerce business selling apparel and accessories requires at minimum a baccalaureate degree for entry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_03_B5203; source_row=31812
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The business plan anticipated only eleven in-house employees, dropped the original framing of supporting other entrepreneurs, and did not demonstrate how the business would capitalize on the growing demand for modest fashion in a nationally impactful way.

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AAO agreed the endeavor lacked national importance. The business plan anticipated only eleven in-house employees, dropped the original framing of supporting other entrepreneurs, and did not demonstrate how the business would capitalize on the growing demand for modest fashion in a nationally impactful way.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_03_B5203; source_row=31813
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

The AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the finding on the first prong was dispositive.

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The AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the finding on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_04_B5203; source_row=31817
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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