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 10411050

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was dispositive.

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AAO reserved its opinion on the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_05_B5203; source_row=43729
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The recommendation letters commended the Petitioner's services but demonstrated only personal recognitions, not recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader sales industry. Both elements—achievements and significant contributions to the field—must be established under the plain language of the regulation.

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The recommendation letters commended the Petitioner's services but demonstrated only personal recognitions, not recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader sales industry. Both elements—achievements and significant contributions to the field—must be established under the plain language of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_04_B5203; source_row=43723
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification for a particular profession or occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner failed to establish the relationship between Technologist in Management Processes and administration technician, failed to show administration technician is a profession under the regulatory definition (since Law No.…

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AAO found the Petitioner failed to establish the relationship between Technologist in Management Processes and administration technician, failed to show administration technician is a profession under the regulatory definition (since Law No. 4769 permits entry without a bachelor's degree), and failed to establish the Professional Identity Card is a certification for his particular occupation, especially given the card's registration date of 2021 versus his practice since 1990.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_04_B5203; source_row=43720
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 reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold evidentiary criteria, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. AAO nonetheless noted in advisory fashion that the record does not establish the required sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold evidentiary criteria, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. AAO nonetheless noted in advisory fashion that the record does not establish the required sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_01_B2203; source_row=43696
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 declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold. In an advisory note, AAO observed that the record does not show the required sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold. In an advisory note, AAO observed that the record does not show the required sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_02_B2203; source_row=43704
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 the Director's finding on substantial merit, finding the Petitioner articulated a clear avenue of research with substantial merit, but agreed the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The proposed survey of past literature does not establish prospective impact beyond a nominal expansion of existing knowledge, comparable to Dhanasar's teaching activities that lacked national importance.

Why this is useful

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding on substantial merit, finding the Petitioner articulated a clear avenue of research with substantial merit, but agreed the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The proposed survey of past literature does not establish prospective impact beyond a nominal expansion of existing knowledge, comparable to Dhanasar's teaching activities that lacked national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_06_B5203; source_row=43688
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner has not shown her past research has contributed to organizational profitability or efficiency, nor generated substantial positive discourse. She has not shown interest from any U.S. organization for a position, secured funding, applied for grants, or engaged with the entities she wishes to study, failing to demonstrate progress toward the endeavor or interest from relevant parties.

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The Petitioner has not shown her past research has contributed to organizational profitability or efficiency, nor generated substantial positive discourse. She has not shown interest from any U.S. organization for a position, secured funding, applied for grants, or engaged with the entities she wishes to study, failing to demonstrate progress toward the endeavor or interest from relevant parties.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_06_B5203; source_row=43689
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent of U.S. bachelor's degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not address the Director's finding that the graduation certificate does not indicate he obtained a bachelor's degree, and therefore failed to establish he holds the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.

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The Petitioner did not address the Director's finding that the graduation certificate does not indicate he obtained a bachelor's degree, and therefore failed to establish he holds the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43674
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Salary or other remuneration (criterion D)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's prior work experience was in administrative positions unrelated to the proposed occupation, and he did not provide a salary survey or other comparative evidence to show his salary demonstrated exceptional ability relative to others.

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The petitioner's prior work experience was in administrative positions unrelated to the proposed occupation, and he did not provide a salary survey or other comparative evidence to show his salary demonstrated exceptional ability relative to others.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43679
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

The AAO found that the Petitioner relied predominantly on broad industry-level evidence rather than demonstrating the specific prospective impact of his individual endeavor. The evidence did not show that his work as a cost estimator would extend beyond his employer, generate original innovations, or otherwise produce broader national-level implications as contemplated by Dhanasar.

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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The AAO found that the Petitioner relied predominantly on broad industry-level evidence rather than demonstrating the specific prospective impact of his individual endeavor. The evidence did not show that his work as a cost estimator would extend beyond his employer, generate original innovations, or otherwise produce broader national-level implications as contemplated by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_04_B5203; source_row=43685
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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