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 11061–11070

NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

recognition for achievements/significant contributions (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(F))

Why AAO was not persuaded

Letters from two satisfied clients praise the Petitioner but do not identify achievements or significant contributions to the industry or field.

Why this is useful

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

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Letters from two satisfied clients praise the Petitioner but do not identify achievements or significant contributions to the industry or field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-05_02_B5203; source_row=28265
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E))

Why AAO was not persuaded

Alumni associations and a small-business advocacy/lobbying group are not professional associations as the term is commonly defined.

Why this is useful

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

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Alumni associations and a small-business advocacy/lobbying group are not professional associations as the term is commonly defined.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-05_02_B5203; source_row=28264
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

official academic record (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A))

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO finds the Petitioner satisfies this criterion through completion of two executive training courses at a business school.

Why this is useful

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AAO finds the Petitioner satisfies this criterion through completion of two executive training courses at a business school.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-05_02_B5203; source_row=28261
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

high salary or remuneration (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D))

Why AAO was not persuaded

Brazilian income figures do not align with the cited consultant-salary benchmark, and consultant remuneration is of questionable relevance to operating his own retail shops.

Why this is useful

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Brazilian income figures do not align with the cited consultant-salary benchmark, and consultant remuneration is of questionable relevance to operating his own retail shops.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-05_02_B5203; source_row=28263
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner was not qualified to practice dentistry in the United States at the time of filing, had no employer interest at filing, and improperly expanded his proposed endeavor post-filing to include lower-level positions such as dental assistant. Post-filing evidence and material amendments to the petition cannot cure the deficiencies at the time of filing.

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 found the Petitioner was not qualified to practice dentistry in the United States at the time of filing, had no employer interest at filing, and improperly expanded his proposed endeavor post-filing to include lower-level positions such as dental assistant. Post-filing evidence and material amendments to the petition cannot cure the deficiencies at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-05_01_B5203; source_row=28258
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the criterion was met, finding the 2009 ABS-CBN article was about the Petitioner, going into detail about his career and work as a writer, and that ABS-CBN is a leading media organization in the Philippines.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed the criterion was met, finding the 2009 ABS-CBN article was about the Petitioner, going into detail about his career and work as a writer, and that ABS-CBN is a leading media organization in the Philippines.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-04_01_B2203; source_row=28253
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

AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion based on receipt of writing competition awards, including evidence that his awards were noted as among 'the most prestigious' in broader media including ABS-CBN.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion based on receipt of writing competition awards, including evidence that his awards were noted as among 'the most prestigious' in broader media including ABS-CBN.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-04_01_B2203; source_row=28252
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew the Director's determination, holding that the plain language of the criterion only requires evidence of judging, and that final-merits-type standards (sustained acclaim, top of field) belong to step two, not the initial evidentiary criteria step.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO withdrew the Director's determination, holding that the plain language of the criterion only requires evidence of judging, and that final-merits-type standards (sustained acclaim, top of field) belong to step two, not the initial evidentiary criteria step.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-04_01_B2203; source_row=28254
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Official academic record showing advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The credential evaluator's conclusion was rejected because the specialization certificate reflected a lato-sensu program (leading to a professional certificate, not a graduate degree), the evaluator provided no comparative analysis of the coursework to a U.S. master's program, and the evaluation's credibility was undermined by lack of supporting analysis.

Why this is useful

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

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The credential evaluator's conclusion was rejected because the specialization certificate reflected a lato-sensu program (leading to a professional certificate, not a graduate degree), the evaluator provided no comparative analysis of the coursework to a U.S. master's program, and the evaluation's credibility was undermined by lack of supporting analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-03_02_B5203; source_row=28247
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty

Why AAO was not persuaded

The partner letter lacked specificity regarding job titles, duties, and dates of employment for positions held beyond 'partner,' making it insufficient to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience. The professional certificates were also insufficient, as one predated the bachelor's degree and the other documented only a 35-hour course.

Why this is useful

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

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The partner letter lacked specificity regarding job titles, duties, and dates of employment for positions held beyond 'partner,' making it insufficient to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience. The professional certificates were also insufficient, as one predated the bachelor's degree and the other documented only a 35-hour course.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-08-03_02_B5203; source_row=28248
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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