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 921930

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 that the submitted articles and reports provided only general background on governmental initiatives without discussing the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. Support letters addressed the Petitioner's skills and prior work rather than explaining national importance of his specific U.S. endeavor. Purported employer correspondence was merely generic LinkedIn job alerts.…

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AAO agreed that the submitted articles and reports provided only general background on governmental initiatives without discussing the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. Support letters addressed the Petitioner's skills and prior work rather than explaining national importance of his specific U.S. endeavor. Purported employer correspondence was merely generic LinkedIn job alerts. Claims of economic impact and AI integration lacked specific, objective documentary evidence. Training activities were analogized to a classroom teacher whose work does not impact the field broadly enough to rise to national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_03_B5203; source_row=43872
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The accountant associations qualify members through exams, experience, ethics training, or CPA status in another country — none of which denote outstanding achievements. Passage of licensing exams to practice a profession is not outstanding achievement, and the admission standards document presented refers to companies, not individuals.

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The accountant associations qualify members through exams, experience, ethics training, or CPA status in another country — none of which denote outstanding achievements. Passage of licensing exams to practice a profession is not outstanding achievement, and the admission standards document presented refers to companies, not individuals.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_02_B2203; source_row=43864
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the firm has a distinguished reputation, the associate role described — participating in transactions as a team member and assisting senior bankers — is not leading or critical. The colleague letter the Petitioner relied on plainly states the writer never worked with the Petitioner.

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While the firm has a distinguished reputation, the associate role described — participating in transactions as a team member and assisting senior bankers — is not leading or critical. The colleague letter the Petitioner relied on plainly states the writer never worked with the Petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_02_B2203; source_row=43866
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the proposed endeavor lacks national importance: industry reports speak only to the field's importance, projections of jobs and revenue are unsupported, and the business does not show broader impact beyond its own clients.

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AAO agreed the proposed endeavor lacks national importance: industry reports speak only to the field's importance, projections of jobs and revenue are unsupported, and the business does not show broader impact beyond its own clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_02_B5203; source_row=43869
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although AAO faulted aspects of the Director's analysis (improperly discounting a 2017 interview that did name a journalist, and relying solely on Wikipedia for one news agency), the Petitioner's evidence still failed to establish the relevant outlets as major media at the relevant time.…

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Although AAO faulted aspects of the Director's analysis (improperly discounting a 2017 interview that did name a journalist, and relying solely on Wikipedia for one news agency), the Petitioner's evidence still failed to establish the relevant outlets as major media at the relevant time. The 2024 circulation/visibility data did not reflect 2017-2019 readership, the 2018 directorate ranking did not show reliance on relative circulation, and the sports newspaper did not qualify as a 'professional' publication because sports workers/enthusiasts are not a profession under § 101(a)(32) and include the population at large.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B2203; source_row=43857
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 concurred with the Director that the Petitioner's endeavor of working as a sales manager providing logistics consulting services did not meet the national importance requirement of the first Dhanasar prong. On motion, the Petitioner offered no new showing of legal or policy error.

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AAO concurred with the Director that the Petitioner's endeavor of working as a sales manager providing logistics consulting services did not meet the national importance requirement of the first Dhanasar prong. On motion, the Petitioner offered no new showing of legal or policy error.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_05_B5203; source_row=43884
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

Academic record / degree / diploma

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO recognized that criterion (A) was met.

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Both the Director and AAO recognized that criterion (A) was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_04_B5203; source_row=43875
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

License or certification

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO recognized that criterion (C) was met.

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Both the Director and AAO recognized that criterion (C) was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_04_B5203; source_row=43876
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

Ten years of full-time experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted a letter from a former neighbor and a CPA, but neither established full-time self-employment duties for at least ten years in the proposed occupation. The Petitioner did not sufficiently describe his job responsibilities or confirm full-time engagement.

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The Petitioner submitted a letter from a former neighbor and a CPA, but neither established full-time self-employment duties for at least ten years in the proposed occupation. The Petitioner did not sufficiently describe his job responsibilities or confirm full-time engagement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_04_B5203; source_row=43877
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner referenced previously submitted documents, but these did not establish that he made significant contributions to the broader motorcycle mechanic industry or field as required by the criterion.

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The Petitioner referenced previously submitted documents, but these did not establish that he made significant contributions to the broader motorcycle mechanic industry or field as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_04_B5203; source_row=43880
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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