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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 13411350

NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

license to practice (k)(3)(ii)(C)

What the decision said

AAO treats the licensure criterion as waived because the Petitioner did not contest the Director's determination on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO treats the licensure criterion as waived because the Petitioner did not contest the Director's determination on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_05_B5203; source_row=43197
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

ten years of full-time experience (k)(3)(ii)(B)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds the employer letters do not list specific dates of employment or specify full-time status, and that even crediting them the claimed timeframe falls short of ten years.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO finds the employer letters do not list specific dates of employment or specify full-time status, and that even crediting them the claimed timeframe falls short of ten years.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_05_B5203; source_row=43196
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations (k)(3)(ii)(E)

What the decision said

AAO treats the membership criterion as waived because the Petitioner did not contest the Director's determination on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO treats the membership criterion as waived because the Petitioner did not contest the Director's determination on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_05_B5203; source_row=43199
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Petitioner's skills, expertise, and abilities relate to the second prong of Dhanasar rather than to national importance, but did not separately resolve this prong on the merits as the motion was dismissed on other grounds.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
AAO noted that the Petitioner's skills, expertise, and abilities relate to the second prong of Dhanasar rather than to national importance, but did not separately resolve this prong on the merits as the motion was dismissed on other grounds.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_07_B5203; source_row=43203
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national importance / substantial merit

Why AAO was not persuaded

The new documentation highlights the importance of hospice and palliative care generally but does not demonstrate the specific proposed endeavor's potential prospective national impact, which is the operative standard under Dhanasar.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
The new documentation highlights the importance of hospice and palliative care generally but does not demonstrate the specific proposed endeavor's potential prospective national impact, which is the operative standard under Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_06_B5203; source_row=43201
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination of sustained acclaim

What the decision said

AAO does not reach a final merits conclusion but withdraws the Director's decision because she failed to consider the Petitioner's bronze medal at the U.S. Open Swimming Championship, which the record characterizes as a major international competition.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO does not reach a final merits conclusion but withdraws the Director's decision because she failed to consider the Petitioner's bronze medal at the U.S. Open Swimming Championship, which the record characterizes as a major international competition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_02_B2203; source_row=43190
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 the United States to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's failure to analyze the third prong denied the Petitioner a meaningful opportunity to challenge the determination on appeal, and remanded for a full analysis.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Director's failure to analyze the third prong denied the Petitioner a meaningful opportunity to challenge the determination on appeal, and remanded for a full analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_09_B5203; source_row=43207
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 found the Director's failure to analyze the second prong denied the Petitioner a meaningful opportunity to challenge the determination on appeal, and remanded for a full analysis.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Director's failure to analyze the second prong denied the Petitioner a meaningful opportunity to challenge the determination on appeal, and remanded for a full analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_09_B5203; source_row=43206
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the merits of prong 1, remanding for the Director to reconsider the full record.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not reach the merits of prong 1, remanding for the Director to reconsider the full record.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-25_09_B5203; source_row=43205
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

one-time major internationally recognized award

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not claim or submit evidence of a major, internationally recognized award.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not claim or submit evidence of a major, internationally recognized award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-24_01_B2203; source_row=43161
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment