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 10811090

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Job creation requirement (10 full-time jobs per investor)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2020 business plan is silent on the amount of EB-5 funds needed and does not explain how funds will be used to create jobs; its revenue projections (escalating from $2.5M to $14.5M annually) are contradicted by actual revenues of ~$1.4–1.8M per year; actual job creation stagnated at 74.4 jobs from end of FY2021 through end of FY2023, far below the projected 800+ jobs; and over $3.2M paid to contractors who ceased operat…

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The 2020 business plan is silent on the amount of EB-5 funds needed and does not explain how funds will be used to create jobs; its revenue projections (escalating from $2.5M to $14.5M annually) are contradicted by actual revenues of ~$1.4–1.8M per year; actual job creation stagnated at 74.4 jobs from end of FY2021 through end of FY2023, far below the projected 800+ jobs; and over $3.2M paid to contractors who ceased operations remains unaccounted for.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_06_B5203; source_row=43640
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Remaining eligibility issues (commercial enterprise qualification, funds at risk, lawful source of funds)

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach remaining eligibility issues because the job creation deficiency was dispositive, expressly reserving those issues for future consideration if the need arises.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach remaining eligibility issues because the job creation deficiency was dispositive, expressly reserving those issues for future consideration if the need arises.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_06_B5203; source_row=43642
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Deference to prior favorable USCIS decisions on the project

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not specifically challenge the Chief's deference decision on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived and did not address it.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner did not specifically challenge the Chief's deference decision on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived and did not address it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_06_B5203; source_row=43641
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this prong because the dispositive material-change finding made further analysis 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 declined to reach this prong because the dispositive material-change finding made further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_09_B5203; source_row=43651
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree qualification

What the decision said

AAO found that the record lacked sufficient documentation to evaluate the equivalency of the foreign degree, but reserved the issue as unnecessary given the dispositive NIW finding.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that the record lacked sufficient documentation to evaluate the equivalency of the foreign degree, but reserved the issue as unnecessary given the dispositive NIW finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_08_B5203; source_row=43646
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

The AAO reserved analysis of the second prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure on the national importance sub-prong of prong one.

Why this is useful

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The AAO reserved analysis of the second prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure on the national importance sub-prong of prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_11_B5203; source_row=43657
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

The AAO reserved analysis of the third prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure on the national importance sub-prong of prong one.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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The AAO reserved analysis of the third prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure on the national importance sub-prong of prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_11_B5203; source_row=43658
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial successes in the performing arts

What the decision said

The Director found no evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts. On appeal, the Petitioner did not challenge this finding, effectively waiving review of this criterion.

Why this is useful

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The Director found no evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts. On appeal, the Petitioner did not challenge this finding, effectively waiving review of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_02_B2203; source_row=43623
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner has participated as a judge in his field, though the record indicates he last judged competitions in 2013.

Why this is useful

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Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner has participated as a judge in his field, though the record indicates he last judged competitions in 2013.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_01_B2203; source_row=43615
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

published material about the petitioner in professional or major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner is the subject of published material, specifically a 2005 interview with a circulation of over 7,000.

Why this is useful

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Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner is the subject of published material, specifically a 2005 interview with a circulation of over 7,000.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_01_B2203; source_row=43614
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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