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 12011210

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor was too vague, inconsistent, and broadly described across filings to permit evaluation of substantial merit or national importance. The initial filing, RFE response, and appellate brief each introduced new or unexplained activities, and even setting aside definitional problems, the record still lacked sufficient specificity about the food waste management consulting plan to…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor was too vague, inconsistent, and broadly described across filings to permit evaluation of substantial merit or national importance. The initial filing, RFE response, and appellate brief each introduced new or unexplained activities, and even setting aside definitional problems, the record still lacked sufficient specificity about the food waste management consulting plan to establish national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_02_B5203; source_row=43425
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

USCIS policy requires published material to include a substantial discussion of the person's work in the field. The submitted materials only show photos or briefly mention the Beneficiary and do not include a substantial discussion of him and his work.

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

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USCIS policy requires published material to include a substantial discussion of the person's work in the field. The submitted materials only show photos or briefly mention the Beneficiary and do not include a substantial discussion of him and his work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_02_B2203; source_row=43420
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacks evidence of the Beneficiary's foreign earnings and total income of other polo umpires, leaving it unclear whether he has commanded high remuneration compared to all others in the field. The record also contains an unresolved discrepancy between the 17-umpire memo and a reference to 166 registered umpires.

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The record lacks evidence of the Beneficiary's foreign earnings and total income of other polo umpires, leaving it unclear whether he has commanded high remuneration compared to all others in the field. The record also contains an unresolved discrepancy between the 17-umpire memo and a reference to 166 registered umpires.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_02_B2203; source_row=43424
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 although the Petitioner's endeavor had substantial merit, the record did not establish national importance. The Petitioner failed to provide probative evidence corroborating his business projections, failed to show how his specific endeavor would produce broader national implications beyond his businesses and prospective clients, and failed to demonstrate impact beyond the local area (e.g., only nine homes a…

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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO agreed that although the Petitioner's endeavor had substantial merit, the record did not establish national importance. The Petitioner failed to provide probative evidence corroborating his business projections, failed to show how his specific endeavor would produce broader national implications beyond his businesses and prospective clients, and failed to demonstrate impact beyond the local area (e.g., only nine homes acquired, no usage data for digital products).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_01_B5203; source_row=43416
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

The letters detail the Beneficiary's specific duties including leading officiating crews, assessing fellow umpires, and organizing training programs, and state that his contributions keep organizations interpreting and enforcing polo rules consistently, which is of significant importance to their activities and reputations.

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The letters detail the Beneficiary's specific duties including leading officiating crews, assessing fellow umpires, and organizing training programs, and state that his contributions keep organizations interpreting and enforcing polo rules consistently, which is of significant importance to their activities and reputations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_02_B2203; source_row=43423
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 awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

The organizations issuing the awards govern polo in the UK and host the country's top polo tournament; their reputations and British media attention demonstrate at least national recognition in the UK, and an award need not have significance outside of one country.

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

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The organizations issuing the awards govern polo in the UK and host the country's top polo tournament; their reputations and British media attention demonstrate at least national recognition in the UK, and an award need not have significance outside of one country.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_02_B2203; source_row=43419
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the third Dhanasar prong, as the petition failed on the first prong.

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 did not reach the third Dhanasar prong, as the petition failed on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_01_B5203; source_row=43418
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Petitioner's qualifications relate to the second Dhanasar prong rather than the first, but did not reach the second prong given the failure on the first.

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 noted that the Petitioner's qualifications relate to the second Dhanasar prong rather than the first, but did not reach the second prong given the failure on the first.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_01_B5203; source_row=43417
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 found that while energy efficiency and related fields are important, merely working in an important field is insufficient. The Petitioner's accomplishments were employer-specific, his future aspirations were vague, and the record did not demonstrate how innovations would be disseminated beyond the company or produce broader national or global impact.

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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AAO found that while energy efficiency and related fields are important, merely working in an important field is insufficient. The Petitioner's accomplishments were employer-specific, his future aspirations were vague, and the record did not demonstrate how innovations would be disseminated beyond the company or produce broader national or global impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_03_B5203; source_row=43428
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

The Petitioner claimed this criterion in the initial petition but did not address it on appeal, so AAO deemed it waived.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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The Petitioner claimed this criterion in the initial petition but did not address it on appeal, so AAO deemed it waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-13_01_B2203; source_row=43415
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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