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 14311440

NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not address the second prong in this motion decision; the motion was dismissed on the basis that the first prong finding was not shown to be incorrect.

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AAO did not address the second prong in this motion decision; the motion was dismissed on the basis that the first prong finding was not shown to be incorrect.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-13_15_B5203; source_row=43085
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner did not demonstrate that his presentations were actually published, as he provided only synopses/announcements without transcripts or actual published material.

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AAO found the Petitioner did not demonstrate that his presentations were actually published, as he provided only synopses/announcements without transcripts or actual published material.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-13_05_B2203; source_row=43066
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final Merits Determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's media coverage consisted mostly of articles in which she contributed opinions rather than articles about her; her judging experience was limited to one competition without evidence of judging acclaimed individuals; her contributions lacked field-wide significance; her salary evidence was based on a proposed salary with incomparable benchmarks; expert letters either lacked sufficient detail or…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's media coverage consisted mostly of articles in which she contributed opinions rather than articles about her; her judging experience was limited to one competition without evidence of judging acclaimed individuals; her contributions lacked field-wide significance; her salary evidence was based on a proposed salary with incomparable benchmarks; expert letters either lacked sufficient detail or relied on post-filing evidence; and her published articles, while positive evidence of career progression, were insufficient in number and weight to establish extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-13_03_B2203; source_row=43053
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure to satisfy prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure to satisfy prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-13_04_B5203; source_row=43061
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure to satisfy prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

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 explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure to satisfy prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-13_04_B5203; source_row=43062
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director on substantial merit—finding oral health services do have merit—but agreed on national importance, concluding that the work of a single dentist or clinic does not demonstrate broader field-level implications.…

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AAO disagreed with the Director on substantial merit—finding oral health services do have merit—but agreed on national importance, concluding that the work of a single dentist or clinic does not demonstrate broader field-level implications. The business plan projections lacked supporting details, the expert letter made only general unsupported assertions, and a shortage of qualified professionals does not render an individual dentist's work nationally important.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-10_04_B5203; source_row=43036
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence focused on the general importance of the financial services industry rather than the specific prospective impact of her proposed endeavor. Revenue projections were unsupported, general statements lacked probative value, and no sufficient evidentiary tie was established between her proposed endeavor and claimed national economic benefits.

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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 found that the Petitioner's evidence focused on the general importance of the financial services industry rather than the specific prospective impact of her proposed endeavor. Revenue projections were unsupported, general statements lacked probative value, and no sufficient evidentiary tie was established between her proposed endeavor and claimed national economic benefits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-10_02_B5203; source_row=43033
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the new evidence did not demonstrate broader implications for a field or region beyond a small business with nine planned hires, and that the expert and support letters mainly addressed prong two.

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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 concluded the new evidence did not demonstrate broader implications for a field or region beyond a small business with nine planned hires, and that the expert and support letters mainly addressed prong two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-10_01_B5203; source_row=43030
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

Not at issue on motion; AAO noted the support and expert letters predominantly went to prong two but did not separately adjudicate prong two.

Why this is useful

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

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Not at issue on motion; AAO noted the support and expert letters predominantly went to prong two but did not separately adjudicate prong two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-10_01_B5203; source_row=43031
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounderPhD282 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that while substantial merit was shown, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance because the record lacked a cognizable plan for reaching an audience beyond those directly taught or mentored, did not show novel insights distinguishing the work from other researchers, and relied on the importance of the entrepreneurship field generally rather than the specific impact of his work.

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 agreed that while substantial merit was shown, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance because the record lacked a cognizable plan for reaching an audience beyond those directly taught or mentored, did not show novel insights distinguishing the work from other researchers, and relied on the importance of the entrepreneurship field generally rather than the specific impact of his work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-07_01_B5203; source_row=43024
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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