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 17411750

NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions (criterion F)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The support letters and awards documented the Petitioner's personal achievements and skills but none sufficiently described significant contributions to the field of martial arts. The expert letter contradicted other evidence, and the award certificates did not demonstrate broader impact on the field.

Why this is useful

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The support letters and awards documented the Petitioner's personal achievements and skills but none sufficiently described significant contributions to the field of martial arts. The expert letter contradicted other evidence, and the award certificates did not demonstrate broader impact on the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_06_B5203; source_row=42614
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

Academic record (criterion A)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's degree in Combat Sports and Chinese Martial Arts relates to his claim of exceptional ability.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's degree in Combat Sports and Chinese Martial Arts relates to his claim of exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_06_B5203; source_row=42610
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 separately address prong two, finding the petition failed on prong one and EB-2 eligibility, making further prong analysis unnecessary.

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 separately address prong two, finding the petition failed on prong one and EB-2 eligibility, making further prong analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_06_B5203; source_row=42616
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

License or certification (criterion C)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the criterion was met based on the coaching license, archery certificate, and artistic dance license.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with the Director that the criterion was met based on the coaching license, archery certificate, and artistic dance license.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_06_B5203; source_row=42612
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not assert eligibility under the authorship criterion on appeal; AAO deemed this issue waived.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The Petitioner did not assert eligibility under the authorship criterion on appeal; AAO deemed this issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_03_B2203; source_row=42589
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not assert eligibility under the judging criterion on appeal; AAO deemed this issue waived.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not assert eligibility under the judging criterion on appeal; AAO deemed this issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_03_B2203; source_row=42587
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial success

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not assert eligibility under the commercial success criterion on appeal; AAO deemed this issue waived.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not assert eligibility under the commercial success criterion on appeal; AAO deemed this issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_03_B2203; source_row=42593
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner did not provide any comparative data showing her salaries were high relative to other actors in Kazakhstan with similar experience, merely asserting without objective support that her salaries were higher than her peers.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the Petitioner did not provide any comparative data showing her salaries were high relative to other actors in Kazakhstan with similar experience, merely asserting without objective support that her salaries were higher than her peers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_03_B2203; source_row=42592
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 the third prong and instructed the Director to reconsider it on remand based on the redetermination of national importance, taking into account potential prospective impact on science, technology, health, education, or critical and emerging STEM technologies.

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 did not reach the third prong and instructed the Director to reconsider it on remand based on the redetermination of national importance, taking into account potential prospective impact on science, technology, health, education, or critical and emerging STEM technologies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_02_B5203; source_row=42583
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record sufficiently demonstrated the Petitioner is well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor of developing an application related to the collection and exchange of health data between U.S. facilities, citing her prior co-development work and NIH-coordinated projects.

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 found the record sufficiently demonstrated the Petitioner is well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor of developing an application related to the collection and exchange of health data between U.S. facilities, citing her prior co-development work and NIH-coordinated projects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-08_02_B5203; source_row=42582
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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