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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 10251–10260

EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reconsider — Legal/Policy Error Requirement

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not assert that the prior AAO decision incorrectly applied law or USCIS policy, which is required for a motion to reconsider. His attempt to reach back to the Director's underlying denial decision was outside the proper scope of a reconsideration motion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not assert that the prior AAO decision incorrectly applied law or USCIS policy, which is required for a motion to reconsider. His attempt to reach back to the Director's underlying denial decision was outside the proper scope of a reconsideration motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-05-06_01_B2203; source_row=29330
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in qualifying associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

For the China Fisheries Association, the Petitioner failed to submit bylaws or other official membership criteria documentation, so AAO could not evaluate whether membership is judged by recognized experts.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
For the China Fisheries Association, the Petitioner failed to submit bylaws or other official membership criteria documentation, so AAO could not evaluate whether membership is judged by recognized experts. For the Aquafarming Association, the bylaws require 'outstanding influence or outstanding talents,' which AAO found are not the same as 'outstanding achievements.' The president's letter addressed the Petitioner's personal accomplishments, which are irrelevant to whether the association's membership requirements meet the regulatory standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-29_01_B2203; source_row=29324
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in major trade publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the published material criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the published material criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-29_01_B2203; source_row=29325
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the leading or critical role criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the leading or critical role criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-29_01_B2203; source_row=29326
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the step-one threshold of three criteria. AAO added an advisory observation that the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the step-one threshold of three criteria. AAO added an advisory observation that the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-29_01_B2203; source_row=29328
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not pursue the high salary criterion on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived and did not address it.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not pursue the high salary criterion on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived and did not address it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-29_01_B2203; source_row=29327
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reopen – new facts establishing eligibility at time of filing

Why AAO was not persuaded

The new evidence does not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Foreign immigration benefits for 'highly skilled or talented persons' are not shown to be comparable to EB-1A classification. Additional UN internship documentation does not alter the already-decided conclusion that the internship was neither leading nor critical.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The new evidence does not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Foreign immigration benefits for 'highly skilled or talented persons' are not shown to be comparable to EB-1A classification. Additional UN internship documentation does not alter the already-decided conclusion that the internship was neither leading nor critical. Late-submitted evidence the Petitioner could have presented years ago does not establish proper cause for reopening.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-26_01_B2203; source_row=29323
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reconsider – error in prior decision

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found no error in the June 2020 decision. The Petitioner's claims about UN/bar association roles were already addressed in prior decisions and were not raised in the November 2019 motion that was before AAO in June 2020. The discretionary waiver argument was already rebutted in prior decisions and is unsupported by any statute, regulation, or policy.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found no error in the June 2020 decision. The Petitioner's claims about UN/bar association roles were already addressed in prior decisions and were not raised in the November 2019 motion that was before AAO in June 2020. The discretionary waiver argument was already rebutted in prior decisions and is unsupported by any statute, regulation, or policy. The due process claim was already rejected, and the Petitioner's restatement of it does not establish legal error.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-26_01_B2203; source_row=29322
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found no error in its prior analysis that the first Dhanasar prong requires the proposed endeavor to have broader implications rising to the level of a substantial positive economic effect.…

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 +
AAO found no error in its prior analysis that the first Dhanasar prong requires the proposed endeavor to have broader implications rising to the level of a substantial positive economic effect. The record's evidence of potential employment of 4–8 direct workers and indirect contribution to up to 44 jobs, and general statements about U.S.-Brazil trade, lacked sufficient detail and probative value to establish national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-19_01_B5203; source_row=29319
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met, making resolution of the second prong unnecessary to the outcome.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met, making resolution of the second prong unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-04-19_01_B5203; source_row=29320
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment