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 16811690

NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification for the profession

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the English translation was not properly certified, contained incorrect transcriptions undermining credibility, did not show the financial-analyst occupation requires CPA-10 certification, and the resolution post-dated the petition's 2020 filing (effective April 1, 2022), so it could not establish eligibility at filing.

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AAO found the English translation was not properly certified, contained incorrect transcriptions undermining credibility, did not show the financial-analyst occupation requires CPA-10 certification, and the resolution post-dated the petition's 2020 filing (effective April 1, 2022), so it could not establish eligibility at filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-15_04_B5203; source_row=42691
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the recognition received was for the petitioner's contributions to his employer, not for significant contributions to the field of financial analysis.

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AAO found the recognition received was for the petitioner's contributions to his employer, not for significant contributions to the field of financial analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-15_04_B5203; source_row=42694
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 did not reach prong three because the petition failed on prong one.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not reach prong three because the petition failed on prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-15_02_B5203; source_row=42689
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 did not reach prong two because the petition failed on prong one.

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 did not reach prong two because the petition failed on prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-15_02_B5203; source_row=42688
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 the proposed endeavor too vague and internally inconsistent to evaluate national importance — it was unclear whether the Petitioner planned to rent or sell properties, who his clients would be, and what specific services he would provide.…

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 the proposed endeavor too vague and internally inconsistent to evaluate national importance — it was unclear whether the Petitioner planned to rent or sell properties, who his clients would be, and what specific services he would provide. Even looking past these definitional gaps, the record lacked corroborating evidence (e.g., identified land, financial documentation, accepted proposals) to substantiate claims of national impact. Expert opinion letters were accorded limited weight because they broadly speculated about national importance without adequately addressing the specifics of the Petitioner's endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-14_01_B5203; source_row=42656
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 Achievement (Major Internationally Recognized Award)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 'Master of Sport' award relates to the Petitioner's prior career as a judo athlete, not as a judo coach. Even if a coaching connection were demonstrated, the awards of coached athletes do not establish the Petitioner's own receipt of the awards, and none of the claimed awards enjoy the level of broad, international recognition comparable to Nobel Prizes, Olympic Medals, or Oscars.

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The 'Master of Sport' award relates to the Petitioner's prior career as a judo athlete, not as a judo coach. Even if a coaching connection were demonstrated, the awards of coached athletes do not establish the Petitioner's own receipt of the awards, and none of the claimed awards enjoy the level of broad, international recognition comparable to Nobel Prizes, Olympic Medals, or Oscars.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-14_02_B2203; source_row=42659
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

Awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The athletic awards relate to the Petitioner's prior career as an athlete, not as a coach. The National Coach title was obtained after filing and cannot be considered. Additional evidence of coached athletes' competitions was not timely submitted and in any event would not show the Petitioner's own receipt of awards.

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The athletic awards relate to the Petitioner's prior career as an athlete, not as a coach. The National Coach title was obtained after filing and cannot be considered. Additional evidence of coached athletes' competitions was not timely submitted and in any event would not show the Petitioner's own receipt of awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-14_02_B2203; source_row=42660
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Memberships

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letter discusses the Petitioner's employment as a coach rather than membership in an association. The letter does not establish that the organization requires outstanding achievements of its members as judged by recognized national or international experts, and no supporting documentation such as bylaws was provided.

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The letter discusses the Petitioner's employment as a coach rather than membership in an association. The letter does not establish that the organization requires outstanding achievements of its members as judged by recognized national or international experts, and no supporting documentation such as bylaws was provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-14_02_B2203; source_row=42661
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

Partial translations were accorded no weight; articles lacking author information fail to meet the criterion's requirements; one article postdated the filing; and the publications were not shown to be professional or major trade publications or major media. Articles also appeared to relate to athletic rather than coaching activities.

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Partial translations were accorded no weight; articles lacking author information fail to meet the criterion's requirements; one article postdated the filing; and the publications were not shown to be professional or major trade publications or major media. Articles also appeared to relate to athletic rather than coaching activities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-14_02_B2203; source_row=42662
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner received awards for excellence but found the record lacked evidence that any of the three honors garnered national or international recognition. AAO emphasized that recognition must focus on the award itself, not its issuer, and found the 2020 recommendation letter did not qualify as a prize or award at all.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed the Petitioner received awards for excellence but found the record lacked evidence that any of the three honors garnered national or international recognition. AAO emphasized that recognition must focus on the award itself, not its issuer, and found the 2020 recommendation letter did not qualify as a prize or award at all.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-14_01_B2203; source_row=42653
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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