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 15411550

EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to reopen – new facts and documentary evidence

Why AAO was not persuaded

Several submitted documents were either not new (previously submitted letter), post-filing (and thus ineligible under 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(1), (12)), or failed to establish the national/international recognition of the petitioner's awards. The new letters were conclusory and photos showed participation but did not demonstrate the requisite recognition of the awards.

Why this is useful

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Several submitted documents were either not new (previously submitted letter), post-filing (and thus ineligible under 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(1), (12)), or failed to establish the national/international recognition of the petitioner's awards. The new letters were conclusory and photos showed participation but did not demonstrate the requisite recognition of the awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_05_B2203; source_row=42897
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Material misrepresentation regarding published material evidence

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner's response letter referred to a different publication than the one questioned by the Director and failed to address all five factors identified in the NOID. On appeal, the Petitioner again failed to contest the misrepresentation finding, waiving the issue. AAO held this independent ground for denial stood unrebutted and was dispositive.

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AAO found the Petitioner's response letter referred to a different publication than the one questioned by the Director and failed to address all five factors identified in the NOID. On appeal, the Petitioner again failed to contest the misrepresentation finding, waiving the issue. AAO held this independent ground for denial stood unrebutted and was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_02_B2203; source_row=42881
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organization

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner did not explain the documents' relevance or how the organizations were distinguished, and several documents failed the foreign-language translation requirements and were given no evidentiary weight.

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Petitioner did not explain the documents' relevance or how the organizations were distinguished, and several documents failed the foreign-language translation requirements and were given no evidentiary weight.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_04_B2203; source_row=42893
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The reference letters and Instagram evidence failed translation requirements; the remaining article and Facebook post do not mention the Petitioner or his methodology, so the criterion is not met.

Why this is useful

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

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The reference letters and Instagram evidence failed translation requirements; the remaining article and Facebook post do not mention the Petitioner or his methodology, so the criterion is not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_04_B2203; source_row=42892
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reopen Requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner provided no new evidence and stated no new facts, providing no basis to reopen the prior decision.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner provided no new evidence and stated no new facts, providing no basis to reopen the prior decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_03_B2203; source_row=42885
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reconsider Requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's arguments amounted to disagreement with AAO's conclusions rather than demonstrating legal or policy error. The prior citation to Krasniqi was correct, the high standard claim was unsupported, and the salary criterion argument ignored the plain language requiring comparison to others in the field.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's arguments amounted to disagreement with AAO's conclusions rather than demonstrating legal or policy error. The prior citation to Krasniqi was correct, the high standard claim was unsupported, and the salary criterion argument ignored the plain language requiring comparison to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_03_B2203; source_row=42886
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 the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong as it had in the prior appeal decision, because the first prong was dispositive and it was unnecessary to reach the third 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 reserved the third prong as it had in the prior appeal decision, because the first prong was dispositive and it was unnecessary to reach the third prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_02_B5203; source_row=42884
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 reserved the second prong as it had in the prior appeal decision, because the first prong was dispositive and it was unnecessary to reach the second prong.

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 reserved the second prong as it had in the prior appeal decision, because the first prong was dispositive and it was unnecessary to reach the second prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-30_02_B5203; source_row=42883
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 failed to establish national importance. While acknowledging substantial merit in the general intention to improve aviation efficiency, AAO found that the Petitioner only described broad ambitions and general goals without detailing a specific, concrete plan showing how his individual work would create a national-level prospective 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 agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. While acknowledging substantial merit in the general intention to improve aviation efficiency, AAO found that the Petitioner only described broad ambitions and general goals without detailing a specific, concrete plan showing how his individual work would create a national-level prospective impact. Industry-level documentation and support letters spoke to the field's importance rather than the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-29_02_B5203; source_row=42860
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed that the Petitioner's workshops and community presentations, while potentially valuable to participants, did not demonstrate impact beyond immediate students or community participants. There was no showing of a particular methodology affecting the environmental education field, significant employment potential for U.S. workers, or other indicia of national importance.…

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 affirmed that the Petitioner's workshops and community presentations, while potentially valuable to participants, did not demonstrate impact beyond immediate students or community participants. There was no showing of a particular methodology affecting the environmental education field, significant employment potential for U.S. workers, or other indicia of national importance. The additional evidence on appeal (e.g., work with a sustainability office) lacked sufficient explanation and nexus to the proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-29_01_B5203; source_row=42857
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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