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 10911100

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why the evidence was persuasive

Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner established membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement, including the national team and a Moscow team.

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Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner established membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement, including the national team and a Moscow team.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_01_B2203; source_row=43613
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner has established a lesser national or international prize, including a bronze medal at the 2006 and 2005 Championships and five-time champion of Tajikistan.

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Director found and AAO acknowledged the Petitioner has established a lesser national or international prize, including a bronze medal at the 2006 and 2005 Championships and five-time champion of Tajikistan.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_01_B2203; source_row=43612
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO reserved this criterion as the failure of the displays and leading/critical role criteria was dispositive.

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AAO reserved this criterion as the failure of the displays and leading/critical role criteria was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_03_B2203; source_row=43627
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO noted the Director concluded the Petitioner met the second prong without thorough analysis; AAO did not independently contest this finding and affirmed it only implicitly by noting letters relate more to the second prong than the first.

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AAO noted the Director concluded the Petitioner met the second prong without thorough analysis; AAO did not independently contest this finding and affirmed it only implicitly by noting letters relate more to the second prong than the first.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_07_B5203; source_row=43644
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's documentation failed to show how his specific services extend beyond prospective clients to impact the industry or U.S. economy more broadly. The business plan's revenue and employment projections were not shown to offer substantial positive economic effects, and support letters focused on specific client work rather than broader impact.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's documentation failed to show how his specific services extend beyond prospective clients to impact the industry or U.S. economy more broadly. The business plan's revenue and employment projections were not shown to offer substantial positive economic effects, and support letters focused on specific client work rather than broader impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-25_07_B5203; source_row=43643
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 agreed the Petitioner's evidence did not demonstrate that his proposed endeavor would have broader implications beyond his clients, noting that general assertions and uncorroborated projections about economic impact and job creation were insufficient to show national importance. Evidence about the importance of the business intelligence industry as a whole was not probative of the specific endeavor's national importance.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner's evidence did not demonstrate that his proposed endeavor would have broader implications beyond his clients, noting that general assertions and uncorroborated projections about economic impact and job creation were insufficient to show national importance. Evidence about the importance of the business intelligence industry as a whole was not probative of the specific endeavor's national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-24_02_B5203; source_row=43594
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

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has substantial merit as a business activity, but found that the record failed to establish national importance. The Petitioner's plans were vague and contradictory—simultaneously claiming to work as a full-time airline pilot while also providing national-level consulting and training—without providing specific evidence of how either role would have a national prospective i…

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has substantial merit as a business activity, but found that the record failed to establish national importance. The Petitioner's plans were vague and contradictory—simultaneously claiming to work as a full-time airline pilot while also providing national-level consulting and training—without providing specific evidence of how either role would have a national prospective impact beyond filling a single position. The expert opinion was similarly conclusory and unsupported.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-24_05_B5203; source_row=43603
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed substantial merit was shown but concluded that supporting articles addressed the field generally rather than the specific endeavor, support letters praised past work but did not discuss the three specified projects, and the publication/citation record showed past recognition rather than prospective impact.

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AAO agreed substantial merit was shown but concluded that supporting articles addressed the field generally rather than the specific endeavor, support letters praised past work but did not discuss the three specified projects, and the publication/citation record showed past recognition rather than prospective impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-24_01_B5203; source_row=43587
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

The AAO agreed the proposed endeavor lacked demonstrated national importance. The Petitioner's business plans were an inconsistent and generic array of services across many industries with little specificity, and neither the expert opinion nor the Petitioner's assertions sufficiently explained how the proposed endeavor would yield a prospective national impact distinct from any similar consulting business.…

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The AAO agreed the proposed endeavor lacked demonstrated national importance. The Petitioner's business plans were an inconsistent and generic array of services across many industries with little specificity, and neither the expert opinion nor the Petitioner's assertions sufficiently explained how the proposed endeavor would yield a prospective national impact distinct from any similar consulting business. The claim to hire seven employees over five years was inadequate to establish national-level economic impact in a claimed $329 billion industry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-24_03_B5203; source_row=43597
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director on the substantial merit sub-element, finding that the record supports substantial merit in the field of business. However, AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance — his evidence focused on the general importance of the manufacturing industry rather than the broader implications of his specific proposed work, and the endorsement letters, expert opinion, and prof…

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AAO disagreed with the Director on the substantial merit sub-element, finding that the record supports substantial merit in the field of business. However, AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance — his evidence focused on the general importance of the manufacturing industry rather than the broader implications of his specific proposed work, and the endorsement letters, expert opinion, and professional plan did not demonstrate how his endeavor would impact his field, the economy, or U.S. societal welfare at a nationally important level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-24_06_B5203; source_row=43606
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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