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 9611–9620

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 record supported a finding of substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner's proposed work would not extend sufficiently beyond her company and its future clients to impact the corporate intelligence field, the private security industry, U.S. law enforcement, or the U.S. economy broadly.…

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AAO found the record supported a finding of substantial merit but not national importance. The Petitioner's proposed work would not extend sufficiently beyond her company and its future clients to impact the corporate intelligence field, the private security industry, U.S. law enforcement, or the U.S. economy broadly. Her staffing projections and sales forecasts were inadequately supported and insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-14_01_B5203; source_row=30202
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

member of the professions holding an advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that a police sheriff and security consultant are neither listed in INA § 101(a)(32) nor occupations requiring a baccalaureate degree as the minimum entry requirement, so the Petitioner failed to qualify as a member of the professions.

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AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that a police sheriff and security consultant are neither listed in INA § 101(a)(32) nor occupations requiring a baccalaureate degree as the minimum entry requirement, so the Petitioner failed to qualify as a member of the professions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-14_01_B5203; source_row=30201
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent (bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the credential evaluation insufficiently analytical and inaccurate in key details. Employment letters lacked duty descriptions, full-time/part-time indication, and contained conflicting or impossible dates. Self-employment predated the bachelor's degree and was inadequately corroborated. Together, these deficiencies prevented establishing five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.

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AAO found the credential evaluation insufficiently analytical and inaccurate in key details. Employment letters lacked duty descriptions, full-time/part-time indication, and contained conflicting or impossible dates. Self-employment predated the bachelor's degree and was inadequately corroborated. Together, these deficiencies prevented establishing five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_02_B5203; source_row=30191
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the Petitioner had not identified a specific and consistent proposed endeavor, AAO could not assess whether he was well positioned to advance it.

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Because the Petitioner had not identified a specific and consistent proposed endeavor, AAO could not assess whether he was well positioned to advance it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_02_B5203; source_row=30199
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The council designations did not relate to accounting or financial management, lacked evidence of professional qualifications required for membership, and expired in 2008. The union associate membership did not establish what qualifications were required or what the membership entailed in terms of professional nature.

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The council designations did not relate to accounting or financial management, lacked evidence of professional qualifications required for membership, and expired in 2008. The union associate membership did not establish what qualifications were required or what the membership entailed in terms of professional nature.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_02_B5203; source_row=30196
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the proposed endeavor was not specific or consistent across the initial filing and RFE response, making it impossible to assess substantial merit and national importance. The RFE response materially changed the proposed endeavor in violation of 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(1).

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AAO found the proposed endeavor was not specific or consistent across the initial filing and RFE response, making it impossible to assess substantial merit and national importance. The RFE response materially changed the proposed endeavor in violation of 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(1).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_02_B5203; source_row=30198
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

Salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The income tax documentation was submitted to show personal finances for the proposed endeavor, not to demonstrate exceptional salary or remuneration for services.

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The income tax documentation was submitted to show personal finances for the proposed endeavor, not to demonstrate exceptional salary or remuneration for services.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_02_B5203; source_row=30195
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / StatisticsBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The regulatory standard requires a bachelor's degree plus at least five years of progressive experience in the specialty to equal a master's degree. The Director applied a lesser and incorrect standard.…

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The regulatory standard requires a bachelor's degree plus at least five years of progressive experience in the specialty to equal a master's degree. The Director applied a lesser and incorrect standard. Furthermore, the record shows overlapping employment, teaching of unrelated subjects, and employer letters that do not confirm full-time status, leaving unresolved whether the Petitioner actually accrued the required progressive experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_01_B5203; source_row=30187
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

academic record

Official academic record showing degree in area of exceptional ability

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner provided evidence of completing a 'titulo de bacharel' in accounting sciences in 1999, satisfying this criterion.

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The Petitioner provided evidence of completing a 'titulo de bacharel' in accounting sciences in 1999, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_02_B5203; source_row=30192
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

license or certification

License to practice the profession or certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The identity card merely identified the Petitioner as an accountant without conferring practice rights. The accounting organization license predated his degree. The registration and regularity certificates were obtained after the claimed experience period (suggesting they were not prerequisites to practice), expired before the filing date, and therefore could not serve as valid licenses at time of filing.

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The identity card merely identified the Petitioner as an accountant without conferring practice rights. The accounting organization license predated his degree. The registration and regularity certificates were obtained after the claimed experience period (suggesting they were not prerequisites to practice), expired before the filing date, and therefore could not serve as valid licenses at time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-13_02_B5203; source_row=30194
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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