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

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EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew SCOPS's favorable finding because the Petitioner did not provide independent corroborating information on his role at the State Attestation Commission or as a book reviewer to demonstrate those activities met the plain language of judging the work of others.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO withdrew SCOPS's favorable finding because the Petitioner did not provide independent corroborating information on his role at the State Attestation Commission or as a book reviewer to demonstrate those activities met the plain language of judging the work of others.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_02_B2203; source_row=45146
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards for excellence

Why AAO was not persuaded

The two commemorative badges were awarded to thousands of individuals across various fields for being 'active' and making a 'significant contribution,' not for excellence in a specific field of endeavor. The record did not establish the awards were for excellence in the field.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The two commemorative badges were awarded to thousands of individuals across various fields for being 'active' and making a 'significant contribution,' not for excellence in a specific field of endeavor. The record did not establish the awards were for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_02_B2203; source_row=45143
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew SCOPS' favorable finding. The Petitioner did not provide sufficient information on publishers to confirm the articles were published in professional or major trade publications, and the misrepresentation in the record cast doubt on the authenticity of the remaining documentation.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO withdrew SCOPS' favorable finding. The Petitioner did not provide sufficient information on publishers to confirm the articles were published in professional or major trade publications, and the misrepresentation in the record cast doubt on the authenticity of the remaining documentation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_01_B2203; source_row=45134
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Google Scholar profile was found to be fabricated and therefore not considered, along with the expert letter that relied on it. Remaining evidence lacked sufficient detail to corroborate major significance: the software co-inventor's email does not provide substantiated examples of major significance, and recommendation letters by co-researchers describe personal use without addressing broader field significance.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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The Google Scholar profile was found to be fabricated and therefore not considered, along with the expert letter that relied on it. Remaining evidence lacked sufficient detail to corroborate major significance: the software co-inventor's email does not provide substantiated examples of major significance, and recommendation letters by co-researchers describe personal use without addressing broader field significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_01_B2203; source_row=45133
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew SCOPS' favorable finding. The Petitioner provided no evidence of conference presentations and did not explain how her presentations or thesis submission meet the plain language of the criterion requiring display at artistic exhibitions or showcases.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO withdrew SCOPS' favorable finding. The Petitioner provided no evidence of conference presentations and did not explain how her presentations or thesis submission meet the plain language of the criterion requiring display at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_01_B2203; source_row=45135
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's expert and support letters do not discuss her work on the admissions committee, and the record does not corroborate her statements or describe her role in sufficient detail to establish that her work amounts to judging the work of others in the same or allied field.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner's expert and support letters do not discuss her work on the admissions committee, and the record does not corroborate her statements or describe her role in sufficient detail to establish that her work amounts to judging the work of others in the same or allied field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_01_B2203; source_row=45132
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prize or award

Why AAO was not persuaded

The email by the cited author does not address whether the Petitioner's doctoral degree amounts to a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award; it merely notes the degree was awarded in acknowledgement of her contributions. The appeal evidence does not cure the insufficiencies raised by SCOPS.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The email by the cited author does not address whether the Petitioner's doctoral degree amounts to a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award; it merely notes the degree was awarded in acknowledgement of her contributions. The appeal evidence does not cure the insufficiencies raised by SCOPS.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_01_B2203; source_row=45129
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew SCOPS' finding, concluding that the record lacked a sufficiently detailed description of the specific proposed endeavor and that the evidence spoke only to the general importance of the cybersecurity field, not to the Petitioner's particular endeavor. The Petitioner failed to provide copies of the reports he referenced, and his descriptions relied on generic terms unsupported by corroborating evidence.

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 withdrew SCOPS' finding, concluding that the record lacked a sufficiently detailed description of the specific proposed endeavor and that the evidence spoke only to the general importance of the cybersecurity field, not to the Petitioner's particular endeavor. The Petitioner failed to provide copies of the reports he referenced, and his descriptions relied on generic terms unsupported by corroborating evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_04_B5203; source_row=45160
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved this prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making a determination on prong three unnecessary.

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 explicitly reserved this prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making a determination on prong three unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_03_B5203; source_row=45159
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved this prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making a determination on prong two unnecessary.

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 explicitly reserved this prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making a determination on prong two unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-24_03_B5203; source_row=45158
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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