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 9671–9680
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established
Case facts
Electrical / Electronic Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO concluded that training materials are confidential and proprietary to the employer, that trainees were employees of the same employer, that no causal link to job creation was shown, and that recommendation letters relate to the second prong rather than national importance.
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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 concluded that training materials are confidential and proprietary to the employer, that trainees were employees of the same employer, that no causal link to job creation was shown, and that recommendation letters relate to the second prong rather than national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-29_02_B5203; source_row=30111 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
labor certification supports advanced degree professional classification
Why AAO was not persuaded
The labor certification requires only a bachelor's and six months of experience, which does not meet the advanced degree requirement; AAO declined to allow a post-decision change to EB-3.
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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The labor certification requires only a bachelor's and six months of experience, which does not meet the advanced degree requirement; AAO declined to allow a post-decision change to EB-3.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-29_01_B5203; source_row=30108 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Petitioner's net income and net current assets were negative and below the $73,450 proffered wage, and no evidence of wages paid to the beneficiary was submitted.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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Petitioner's net income and net current assets were negative and below the $73,450 proffered wage, and no evidence of wages paid to the beneficiary was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-29_01_B5203; source_row=30109 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO agreed that neither the original endeavor (working as an industrial engineer for any hiring employer) nor the consulting firm endeavor (disqualified as post-filing new facts) established national importance. The Petitioner's industry-level arguments were misplaced because national importance requires focus on the specific proposed endeavor, not the importance of the industry or field.…
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
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AAO agreed that neither the original endeavor (working as an industrial engineer for any hiring employer) nor the consulting firm endeavor (disqualified as post-filing new facts) established national importance. The Petitioner's industry-level arguments were misplaced because national importance requires focus on the specific proposed endeavor, not the importance of the industry or field. Generalized industry reports do not demonstrate how the specific endeavor would have national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-28_01_B5203; source_row=30104 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
procedural or other
Timeliness of combined motion to reopen and reconsider
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the Petitioner provided no justification for the late filing at the time of filing, giving the Director no basis to exercise discretion to excuse the delay. On appeal, her explanation that confusing USCIS guidance led her to believe she had 90 days was unpersuasive because the January 28, 2021 announcement plainly stated 60 calendar days, and the record showed she had already gathered supporting documentation…
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found that the Petitioner provided no justification for the late filing at the time of filing, giving the Director no basis to exercise discretion to excuse the delay. On appeal, her explanation that confusing USCIS guidance led her to believe she had 90 days was unpersuasive because the January 28, 2021 announcement plainly stated 60 calendar days, and the record showed she had already gathered supporting documentation before the May 4 deadline.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-28_02_B2203; source_row=30107 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement
What the decision said
AAO expressly reserved its opinion on whether the record satisfies the third prong, citing Bagamasbad and Matter of L-A-C-, because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
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AAO expressly reserved its opinion on whether the record satisfies the third prong, citing Bagamasbad and Matter of L-A-C-, because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-28_01_B5203; source_row=30106 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
What the decision said
AAO expressly reserved its opinion on whether the record satisfies the second prong, citing Bagamasbad and Matter of L-A-C-, because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
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AAO expressly reserved its opinion on whether the record satisfies the second prong, citing Bagamasbad and Matter of L-A-C-, because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-28_01_B5203; source_row=30105 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
OtherBachelor’s
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Final merits
final merits determination
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the Petitioner's heavy citation metrics, while sufficient at step 1, did not establish sustained individual acclaim at step 2 because his individual contribution to high-citation collaborative work was unsubstantiated, peer review activity is routine rather than indicative of top-level acclaim, and publishing in high-impact journals does not presumptively confer extraordinary ability.
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found that the Petitioner's heavy citation metrics, while sufficient at step 1, did not establish sustained individual acclaim at step 2 because his individual contribution to high-citation collaborative work was unsubstantiated, peer review activity is routine rather than indicative of top-level acclaim, and publishing in high-impact journals does not presumptively confer extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-28_01_B2203; source_row=30103 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
OtherBachelor’s
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO found the Director conflated the initial evidentiary threshold with the final merits determination, improperly relied on outside-record information, and misapplied the criterion by focusing on rank rather than 'original contributions of major significance.' AAO concluded that the heavy citation data and explanations of the work's relevance were sufficient to establish contributions of major significance by a preponderan…
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found the Director conflated the initial evidentiary threshold with the final merits determination, improperly relied on outside-record information, and misapplied the criterion by focusing on rank rather than 'original contributions of major significance.' AAO concluded that the heavy citation data and explanations of the work's relevance were sufficient to establish contributions of major significance by a preponderance of the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-28_01_B2203; source_row=30101 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c