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 15711580

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to conduct the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in passing that the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly declined to conduct the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in passing that the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-28_01_B2203; source_row=42840
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner satisfied the criterion relating to a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner satisfied the criterion relating to a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-28_01_B2203; source_row=42838
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

While AAO accepted the endeavor had substantial merit in the area of business and entrepreneurialism, it found the Petitioner failed to show the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor.…

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 +
While AAO accepted the endeavor had substantial merit in the area of business and entrepreneurialism, it found the Petitioner failed to show the national importance of her specific proposed endeavor. The documentation addressed broad industry topics rather than the national importance of her particular company and services, the expert letter did not explain broader implications for the country, and the business plan's revenue and job creation projections were unsupported and insufficient to demonstrate substantial positive economic effects at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_02_B5203; source_row=42832
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

AAO found the Petitioner's appellate argument did not address the Director's finding that comparative average salary data was inadequate or that evidence related to other professions was irrelevant.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner's appellate argument did not address the Director's finding that comparative average salary data was inadequate or that evidence related to other professions was irrelevant.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_02_B2203; source_row=42829
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that substantial merit was shown but national importance was not. The Petitioner's reliance on the employer's market share and size, generalized assertions about broader applicability, and letters of recommendation that praised the Beneficiary's internal contributions without explaining field-wide impact were insufficient.…

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 agreed that substantial merit was shown but national importance was not. The Petitioner's reliance on the employer's market share and size, generalized assertions about broader applicability, and letters of recommendation that praised the Beneficiary's internal contributions without explaining field-wide impact were insufficient. Merely working in an important field or for a large employer is not enough to establish national importance of the specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_01_B5203; source_row=42823
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

adequacy of motion decision explanation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Director's decision failed to apply the distinct regulatory provisions for motions to reopen versus motions to reconsider, mischaracterized the RFE response by stating the petitioner submitted 'no evidence,' and did not address the motion evidence or supporting brief.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Director's decision failed to apply the distinct regulatory provisions for motions to reopen versus motions to reconsider, mischaracterized the RFE response by stating the petitioner submitted 'no evidence,' and did not address the motion evidence or supporting brief.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_01_B2203; source_row=42822
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

AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated the impact of his purported special technique on the field as a whole, analogizing to the Visinscaia decision. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to label or explain how the cited evidence supported his claims, leaving AAO unable to confidently locate the referenced evidence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated the impact of his purported special technique on the field as a whole, analogizing to the Visinscaia decision. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to label or explain how the cited evidence supported his claims, leaving AAO unable to confidently locate the referenced evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_02_B2203; source_row=42827
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

What the decision said

AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary because the Petitioner could not numerically meet three criteria regardless of the outcome on this prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary because the Petitioner could not numerically meet three criteria regardless of the outcome on this prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_02_B2203; source_row=42830
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner could not raise this criterion for the first time on appeal under Matter of Furtado. Even if he could, the appellate brief contained only bare assertions without corroborating evidence, and the Petitioner did not describe the approval process for acceptance in the organization.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner could not raise this criterion for the first time on appeal under Matter of Furtado. Even if he could, the appellate brief contained only bare assertions without corroborating evidence, and the Petitioner did not describe the approval process for acceptance in the organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_02_B2203; source_row=42826
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Petitioner satisfies the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed that the Petitioner satisfies the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-27_02_B2203; source_row=42828
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment