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 8591–8600

NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Membership in professional associations (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E))

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner relied on his COPNIA professional registration, but the documentation did not establish that COPNIA registration includes a membership component. A professional registration issued by a public entity to authorize practice does not qualify as membership in a professional association.

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The Petitioner relied on his COPNIA professional registration, but the documentation did not establish that COPNIA registration includes a membership component. A professional registration issued by a public entity to authorize practice does not qualify as membership in a professional association.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-07_01_B5203; source_row=31689
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Licensed to practice profession (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(C))

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion on this criterion because the Petitioner provided evidence of a valid professional registration (license) as a civil engineer from COPNIA in Colombia.

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AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion on this criterion because the Petitioner provided evidence of a valid professional registration (license) as a civil engineer from COPNIA in Colombia.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-07_01_B5203; source_row=31687
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong three; remanded for further analysis.

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AAO did not reach prong three; remanded for further analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-06_01_B5203; source_row=31678
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong one substantively; it remanded for the Director to first determine the actual proposed endeavor before conducting Dhanasar analysis.

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AAO did not reach prong one substantively; it remanded for the Director to first determine the actual proposed endeavor before conducting Dhanasar analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-06_01_B5203; source_row=31676
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong two; remanded for the Director to first determine the proposed endeavor.

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AAO did not reach prong two; remanded for the Director to first determine the proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-06_01_B5203; source_row=31677
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the original proposed endeavor—working as a software developer for a U.S. company—lacked sufficient evidence of substantial merit and failed to show national importance, as the Petitioner did not explain how his employment would have broader implications beyond his employer and their clients.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the original proposed endeavor—working as a software developer for a U.S. company—lacked sufficient evidence of substantial merit and failed to show national importance, as the Petitioner did not explain how his employment would have broader implications beyond his employer and their clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-05_05_B5203; source_row=31670
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner relied on her 1986 identity card but did not explain how it evidences membership in a professional association. The council issued the card to a fourteen-year-old with no nursing degree, so AAO could not conclude it evidenced qualifying professional association membership.

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The Petitioner relied on her 1986 identity card but did not explain how it evidences membership in a professional association. The council issued the card to a fourteen-year-old with no nursing degree, so AAO could not conclude it evidenced qualifying professional association membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-05_03_B5203; source_row=31665
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 agreed that the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The general importance of the nursing field and the national shortage do not establish that the Petitioner's specific activities would broadly impact the field. The advisory opinion letter provided industry statistics but did not analyze the specific impact of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor.…

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The general importance of the nursing field and the national shortage do not establish that the Petitioner's specific activities would broadly impact the field. The advisory opinion letter provided industry statistics but did not analyze the specific impact of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor. Claims of unique methods, strategies, and specialization were unsupported by evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-05_03_B5203; source_row=31667
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 found that the appellate evidence postdated both the petition's September 2020 filing and its April 2022 denial, violating the requirement to demonstrate eligibility at time of filing. Additionally, the evidence lacked sufficient detail regarding the potential prospective impact of the proposed work.

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AAO found that the appellate evidence postdated both the petition's September 2020 filing and its April 2022 denial, violating the requirement to demonstrate eligibility at time of filing. Additionally, the evidence lacked sufficient detail regarding the potential prospective impact of the proposed work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-05_06_B5203; source_row=31673
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 found the proposed endeavor had substantial merit but not national importance. The prior evidence was dated between 2013 and 2018 and the Petitioner did not supplement the record with new or current evidence on appeal or in the motions.

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AAO found the proposed endeavor had substantial merit but not national importance. The prior evidence was dated between 2013 and 2018 and the Petitioner did not supplement the record with new or current evidence on appeal or in the motions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-04-05_02_B5203; source_row=31657
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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