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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 9531–9540
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
OtherMaster’s
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO withdrew the Director's substantial merit determination, finding the endeavor (training in radio journalism/entrepreneurship) has merit. However, AAO agreed the endeavor lacks national importance because the evidence (unrelated marketing printouts, untranslated articles, generic statistics) failed to show prospective impact beyond direct trainees or substantial positive economic effects.
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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
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AAO withdrew the Director's substantial merit determination, finding the endeavor (training in radio journalism/entrepreneurship) has merit. However, AAO agreed the endeavor lacks national importance because the evidence (unrelated marketing printouts, untranslated articles, generic statistics) failed to show prospective impact beyond direct trainees or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_03_B5203; source_row=30319 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO acknowledged petitioner's education and experience as a customs official but found the record lacked evidence of entrepreneurial experience, a business plan, progress toward startup, or interest from potential customers or investors. Evidence of awards and reviewer service was not submitted with the petition. The record as a whole did not show petitioner was well positioned to advance his proposed entrepreneurial endeavor.
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Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
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AAO acknowledged petitioner's education and experience as a customs official but found the record lacked evidence of entrepreneurial experience, a business plan, progress toward startup, or interest from potential customers or investors. Evidence of awards and reviewer service was not submitted with the petition. The record as a whole did not show petitioner was well positioned to advance his proposed entrepreneurial endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_04_B5203; source_row=30323 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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
Although AAO disagreed with the Director's reasoning (faulting reliance on petitioner's employment status and characterization of his statement), AAO independently found that the record contained no evidence to support the broad assertions made and no evidence of the potential prospective impact of the proposed endeavor, and the petitioner failed to show how operating a consulting firm would impact the import/export industr…
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
View full reasoning +
Although AAO disagreed with the Director's reasoning (faulting reliance on petitioner's employment status and characterization of his statement), AAO independently found that the record contained no evidence to support the broad assertions made and no evidence of the potential prospective impact of the proposed endeavor, and the petitioner failed to show how operating a consulting firm would impact the import/export industry or U.S. economy at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_04_B5203; source_row=30322 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
Original contributions of major significance in the field
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that originality and major significance are two separate elements; showing a work is original does not establish that it is of major significance. The evidence shows influence on individuals in the music industry but does not rise to a level of major significance in the field as a whole.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found that originality and major significance are two separate elements; showing a work is original does not establish that it is of major significance. The evidence shows influence on individuals in the music industry but does not rise to a level of major significance in the field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_02_B2203; source_row=30312 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Five years of progressive experience in the specialty following qualifying degree
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO identified multiple unresolved discrepancies: the evaluation shows concurrent employment from January 2012 to February 2014 raising full-time questions; employment prior to the July 2011 degree is inapplicable; and the employer letter conflicts with the evaluation regarding job titles and dates, and does not confirm full-time status.
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO identified multiple unresolved discrepancies: the evaluation shows concurrent employment from January 2012 to February 2014 raising full-time questions; employment prior to the July 2011 degree is inapplicable; and the employer letter conflicts with the evaluation regarding job titles and dates, and does not confirm full-time status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_02_B5203; source_row=30315 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO noted the evaluation addresses the Petitioner's degree in social communication, which appears dissimilar to business administration, the focus of the proposed endeavor. The transcript lists many courses unrelated to business administration, including art, language, philosophy, anthropology, and culture.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO noted the evaluation addresses the Petitioner's degree in social communication, which appears dissimilar to business administration, the focus of the proposed endeavor. The transcript lists many courses unrelated to business administration, including art, language, philosophy, anthropology, and culture.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_02_B5203; source_row=30314 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
beneficiary's 60 months of qualifying management-analyst experience
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO accepts that the FEIN discrepancy is resolved but finds the vendor-based explanation for the two divergent 2009 W-2s contradicted by the chandlery's own 2009 monthly pay statements (which bear no vendor name and total the higher amount), and finds that the post-move address appearing on early-2009 pay statements suggests they were not contemporaneous.
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO accepts that the FEIN discrepancy is resolved but finds the vendor-based explanation for the two divergent 2009 W-2s contradicted by the chandlery's own 2009 monthly pay statements (which bear no vendor name and total the higher amount), and finds that the post-move address appearing on early-2009 pay statements suggests they were not contemporaneous.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_05_B5203; source_row=30325 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
labor certification demonstrates job requires an advanced degree professional
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO finds H.14's plain language unambiguous and limited to combinations evaluated by a professional evaluation service, which can include sub-baccalaureate combinations not qualifying for EB-2; SnapNames is not binding and in any event applies only when language is ambiguous and to skilled-worker (not advanced-degree-professional) cases; Rosedale and Madany support, not undermine, plain-language interpretation; the H.9 indi…
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO finds H.14's plain language unambiguous and limited to combinations evaluated by a professional evaluation service, which can include sub-baccalaureate combinations not qualifying for EB-2; SnapNames is not binding and in any event applies only when language is ambiguous and to skilled-worker (not advanced-degree-professional) cases; Rosedale and Madany support, not undermine, plain-language interpretation; the H.9 indication already covers foreign bachelor's-equivalent degrees, rendering the petitioner's intent reading redundant; and Federal Insurance did not eliminate the Kellogg-language regulatory requirement, leaving petitioner's shifting rationales unresolved under Matter of Ho.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_05_B5203; source_row=30326 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO reaffirmed its prior finding. The Petitioner merely reasserted prior arguments without identifying a law or USCIS policy inconsistent with AAO's prior analysis.
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO reaffirmed its prior finding. The Petitioner merely reasserted prior arguments without identifying a law or USCIS policy inconsistent with AAO's prior analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-31_02_B2203; source_row=30313 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c