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 10511060

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner had not established the second prong, making further discussion of the balancing factors 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 declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner had not established the second prong, making further discussion of the balancing factors unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_06_B5203; source_row=43690
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment letters described administrative positions unrelated to the specialty of management analyst, and therefore did not establish the required five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty.

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The employment letters described administrative positions unrelated to the specialty of management analyst, and therefore did not establish the required five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43675
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Membership in professional associations (criterion E)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not establish that the association requires its members to possess the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, and therefore failed to show it is a professional association within the meaning of the regulations.

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The petitioner did not establish that the association requires its members to possess the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, and therefore failed to show it is a professional association within the meaning of the regulations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43680
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Ten years of full-time experience (criterion B)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment letters showed the petitioner worked in administrative positions unrelated to the proposed occupation of management analyst, and therefore did not establish ten years of full-time experience in the proposed occupation.

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The employment letters showed the petitioner worked in administrative positions unrelated to the proposed occupation of management analyst, and therefore did not establish ten years of full-time experience in the proposed occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43677
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Official academic record (criterion A)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with the Director that the petitioner met the official academic record criterion based on the submitted evidence.

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AAO concurred with the Director that the petitioner met the official academic record criterion based on the submitted evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43676
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Sixth exceptional ability criterion (criterion F)

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on criterion F because, even if met, the petitioner would still not satisfy at least three of the six required criteria, making the finding unnecessary to the outcome.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved judgment on criterion F because, even if met, the petitioner would still not satisfy at least three of the six required criteria, making the finding unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43681
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

License or certification (criterion C)

Why AAO was not persuaded

There was no information regarding the requirements for issuance of the card, no evidence the title is a recognized profession under the regulations, and no evidence it constitutes a license or certification as required by the plain language of the regulation.

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There was no information regarding the requirements for issuance of the card, no evidence the title is a recognized profession under the regulations, and no evidence it constitutes a license or certification as required by the plain language of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=43678
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Lawful source of invested funds

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the additional bank statements submitted on appeal showed frequent large deposits from unidentified sources and that abbreviated deposit descriptions were insufficient to distinguish income from the three companies. The record lacked required foreign business documents for the two other companies, and incomplete English translations of one account's statements could not be considered.…

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AAO found that the additional bank statements submitted on appeal showed frequent large deposits from unidentified sources and that abbreviated deposit descriptions were insufficient to distinguish income from the three companies. The record lacked required foreign business documents for the two other companies, and incomplete English translations of one account's statements could not be considered. Together, these deficiencies prevented tracing the invested funds back to a lawful source.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-26_02_B5203; source_row=43673
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 that the Petitioner's evidence—his qualifications, industry reports, and business plan—did not establish national importance. The documents about his skills relate to prong two rather than prong one. Industry reports merely show the field is important, not the specific endeavor.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence—his qualifications, industry reports, and business plan—did not establish national importance. The documents about his skills relate to prong two rather than prong one. Industry reports merely show the field is important, not the specific endeavor. The business plan lacked identification of specific methods and improvements, and economic projections lacked evidentiary basis sufficient to show national-level impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_03_B5203; source_row=43631
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's membership card was printed in May 2023 and shows '2023 Member' without indicating an initial membership date, whereas the petition was filed in October 2022. Because a petitioner must establish eligibility from the time of filing, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate professional association membership at the time of filing.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner's membership card was printed in May 2023 and shows '2023 Member' without indicating an initial membership date, whereas the petition was filed in October 2022. Because a petitioner must establish eligibility from the time of filing, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate professional association membership at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_14_B5203; source_row=43667
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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