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 8841–8850

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

AAO found that the Petitioner's HR manager role would not impact the industry more broadly beyond her employer(s), the shortage argument failed because she had not shown her endeavor would significantly reduce any national shortage, and there was no evidence of substantial positive economic effects or job creation attributable to her future work.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's HR manager role would not impact the industry more broadly beyond her employer(s), the shortage argument failed because she had not shown her endeavor would significantly reduce any national shortage, and there was no evidence of substantial positive economic effects or job creation attributable to her future work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-13_04_B5203; source_row=31361
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree equivalency (bachelor's + 5 years progressive post-baccalaureate experience in specialty)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's pre-degree experience did not count as post-baccalaureate, her work as a traffic psychologist was not in the specialty of HR management, and she documented only about three years of post-baccalaureate experience in HR, which falls short of the five-year requirement.

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AAO found the Petitioner's pre-degree experience did not count as post-baccalaureate, her work as a traffic psychologist was not in the specialty of HR management, and she documented only about three years of post-baccalaureate experience in HR, which falls short of the five-year requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-10_02_B5203; source_row=31321
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 industry statistics and the aggregate impact of 300,000 HR managers nationwide do not establish the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor.…

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AAO found that general industry statistics and the aggregate impact of 300,000 HR managers nationwide do not establish the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner's individually tailored services for a limited number of clients lack the broad implications and substantial positive economic effects required by Dhanasar, and the job projection figures were unsupported and internally inconsistent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-10_02_B5203; source_row=31322
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social SciencesBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the advisory opinion letters primarily addressed the importance of the profession rather than the specific proposed endeavor. The business plan's projections of eight jobs and modest tax revenue in a sector where Florida already has nearly 130,000 firms and 900,000 employees did not rise to the level of national importance. General statements about industry value do not satisfy the first prong.

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The AAO agreed that the advisory opinion letters primarily addressed the importance of the profession rather than the specific proposed endeavor. The business plan's projections of eight jobs and modest tax revenue in a sector where Florida already has nearly 130,000 firms and 900,000 employees did not rise to the level of national importance. General statements about industry value do not satisfy the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-10_01_B5203; source_row=31318
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 proposal has substantial merit (affirming the merit sub-component) but found it lacked national importance. Seventh-year projections of six employees and $425,000 in revenues were insufficient to show substantial economic impact; the professor's letter addressed general industry goals rather than the specific impact of the Petitioner's endeavor; and the teaching proposal did not show broader…

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's proposal has substantial merit (affirming the merit sub-component) but found it lacked national importance. Seventh-year projections of six employees and $425,000 in revenues were insufficient to show substantial economic impact; the professor's letter addressed general industry goals rather than the specific impact of the Petitioner's endeavor; and the teaching proposal did not show broader impact on the field of food innovation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-10_03_B5203; source_row=31325
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the third Dhanasar prong as unnecessary to reach given the dispositive findings against the Petitioner on the EB-2 qualification and the first Dhanasar prong.

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AAO explicitly reserved the third Dhanasar prong as unnecessary to reach given the dispositive findings against the Petitioner on the EB-2 qualification and the first Dhanasar prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-10_02_B5203; source_row=31324
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved this prong as unnecessary to the outcome given that the Petitioner failed on the first prong and the EB-2 qualification issue.

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AAO explicitly reserved this prong as unnecessary to the outcome given that the Petitioner failed on the first prong and the EB-2 qualification issue.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-10_02_B5203; source_row=31323
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 the proposed endeavors had substantial merit but not national importance. The frozen-food business projections were too small, the HUBZone claim was unsubstantiated, the consulting plan lacked sufficient detail, and the Petitioner's unresolved competing business activities cast doubt on her time commitment.

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AAO found the proposed endeavors had substantial merit but not national importance. The frozen-food business projections were too small, the HUBZone claim was unsubstantiated, the consulting plan lacked sufficient detail, and the Petitioner's unresolved competing business activities cast doubt on her time commitment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-09_01_B5203; source_row=31302
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the record did not demonstrate that membership in the Petitioner's LIDOM team or MLB team requires outstanding achievements of its members as judged by recognized national or international experts; the evidence showed selection based on skills and discipline rather than outstanding achievements.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the record did not demonstrate that membership in the Petitioner's LIDOM team or MLB team requires outstanding achievements of its members as judged by recognized national or international experts; the evidence showed selection based on skills and discipline rather than outstanding achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-09_01_B2203; source_row=31299
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 endeavor is in a field of substantial merit (business/marketing) but the Petitioner conflated his current employment with a prospective endeavor and failed to show broader national economic impact beyond his employer. Broad statements about the marketing profession do not demonstrate national importance of the specific proposed endeavor, and expert letters relied on unsubstantiated projections.

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AAO found the endeavor is in a field of substantial merit (business/marketing) but the Petitioner conflated his current employment with a prospective endeavor and failed to show broader national economic impact beyond his employer. Broad statements about the marketing profession do not demonstrate national importance of the specific proposed endeavor, and expert letters relied on unsubstantiated projections.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-03-09_05_B5203; source_row=31315
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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