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 8511–8520

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

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

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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The AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the third 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=31818
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letter from the financial director employer confirmed employment duration but not duties. The assistant marketing manager letter described duties but covered just over three years. Together the record did not demonstrate a total of at least five years of qualifying experience in the specialty.

Why this is useful

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The letter from the financial director employer confirmed employment duration but not duties. The assistant marketing manager letter described duties but covered just over three years. Together the record did not demonstrate a total of at least five years of qualifying experience in the specialty.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-17_03_B5203; source_row=31811
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

While the AAO agreed the field of physical therapy has substantial merit, it found the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance because her evidence focused on the profession generally rather than on a specific endeavor of broad national impact. Her claimed innovations lacked sufficient independent and objective support, and her patient-care activities did not appear to extend beyond individual patients.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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While the AAO agreed the field of physical therapy has substantial merit, it found the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance because her evidence focused on the profession generally rather than on a specific endeavor of broad national impact. Her claimed innovations lacked sufficient independent and objective support, and her patient-care activities did not appear to extend beyond individual patients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_03_B5203; source_row=31794
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 disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding it established based on persuasive evidence of telepharmacy benefits, and withdrew the Director's finding on that sub-element.…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding it established based on persuasive evidence of telepharmacy benefits, and withdrew the Director's finding on that sub-element. However, AAO agreed that national importance was not established: the articles and studies addressed the telepharmacy field generally rather than the Petitioner's specific consulting endeavor; the impact analysis report lacked adequate projections; and the support letters did not describe a specific innovation or replicable methodology with national implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_05_B5203; source_row=31800
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO acknowledged merit arguments but found the record failed to establish national importance because there was no showing of potential prospective impact beyond the Petitioner's sole client. Without such broader impact, national importance could not be determined.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO acknowledged merit arguments but found the record failed to establish national importance because there was no showing of potential prospective impact beyond the Petitioner's sole client. Without such broader impact, national importance could not be determined.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_01_B5203; source_row=31786
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's attestations about education and experience were cast in significant doubt by the misrepresentations. Even taking attestations at face value, the record did not show how prior experience constituted a record of success in a similar effort, there was no plan or model for future activities, progress was limited to establishing a company used for construction trades work, and there was effectively no…

Why this is useful

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AAO found the Petitioner's attestations about education and experience were cast in significant doubt by the misrepresentations. Even taking attestations at face value, the record did not show how prior experience constituted a record of success in a similar effort, there was no plan or model for future activities, progress was limited to establishing a company used for construction trades work, and there was effectively no evidence of interest or support beyond one client letter.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_01_B5203; source_row=31787
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that given the failure to clearly establish the first two prongs, and combined with the Petitioner's repeated and unrebutted misrepresentations, the balance did not support waiving the job offer and labor certification requirements.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that given the failure to clearly establish the first two prongs, and combined with the Petitioner's repeated and unrebutted misrepresentations, the balance did not support waiving the job offer and labor certification requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_01_B5203; source_row=31788
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

required initial evidence (ETA 750B / ETA 9089 parts J, K, L)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner failed to submit the required NIW initial evidence both at filing and in response to the RFE; AAO raised this as an additional independent ground for denial.

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Petitioner failed to submit the required NIW initial evidence both at filing and in response to the RFE; AAO raised this as an additional independent ground for denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_02_B5203; source_row=31793
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding that this prong was not met; AAO deemed the issue waived.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding that this prong was not met; AAO deemed the issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_02_B5203; source_row=31789
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

willful misrepresentation of material fact

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Petitioner willfully misrepresented current professional activities but disagreed that past experience was misrepresented. AAO found that the rebuttal evidence was not credible, reliable, or probative: the sworn affidavit was self-serving and unsupported, the business confirmation letter failed to explain prior statements to USCIS about construction trades work, and the photos lacked context and appeared…

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner willfully misrepresented current professional activities but disagreed that past experience was misrepresented. AAO found that the rebuttal evidence was not credible, reliable, or probative: the sworn affidavit was self-serving and unsupported, the business confirmation letter failed to explain prior statements to USCIS about construction trades work, and the photos lacked context and appeared staged.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-14_01_B5203; source_row=31785
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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