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 17911800

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO did not reach a substantive conclusion; it found the Director's analysis inadequate and remanded for re-evaluation.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO did not reach a substantive conclusion; it found the Director's analysis inadequate and remanded for re-evaluation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-26_01_B2203; source_row=42497
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or other significantly high remuneration

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach a substantive conclusion; the Director's verbatim RFE copying failed to provide a meaningful explanation.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach a substantive conclusion; the Director's verbatim RFE copying failed to provide a meaningful explanation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-26_01_B2203; source_row=42502
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

intent to continue working in the area of extraordinary ability (INA § 203(b)(1)(A)(ii))

What the decision said

AAO did not resolve this issue; instead it remanded because the Director's verbatim copying of RFE language did not adequately explain the basis for the determination.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not resolve this issue; instead it remanded because the Director's verbatim copying of RFE language did not adequately explain the basis for the determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-26_01_B2203; source_row=42503
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach a substantive conclusion; the Director's verbatim copying from the RFE failed to adequately inform the Petitioner of the reasons for denial.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach a substantive conclusion; the Director's verbatim copying from the RFE failed to adequately inform the Petitioner of the reasons for denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-26_01_B2203; source_row=42498
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach a substantive conclusion and remanded; the Director's brief analysis did not adequately address the evidence.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to reach a substantive conclusion and remanded; the Director's brief analysis did not adequately address the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-26_01_B2203; source_row=42499
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIResearcher

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The support letters were primarily conclusory and did not specify the significance of the Petitioner's contributions or explain unusual influence on the field. Citation statistics did not demonstrate widespread reliance or major significance. Post-filing citations cannot retroactively establish eligibility.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The support letters were primarily conclusory and did not specify the significance of the Petitioner's contributions or explain unusual influence on the field. Citation statistics did not demonstrate widespread reliance or major significance. Post-filing citations cannot retroactively establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-23_01_B2203; source_row=42485
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIResearcher

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner provided no organizational chart or evidence showing his role was leading or critical to business outcomes. Letters from his current employer were too broad and conclusory. Neither organization was shown to have a distinguished reputation—merely obtaining government contracts is insufficient to establish eminence, distinction, or excellence.

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The Petitioner provided no organizational chart or evidence showing his role was leading or critical to business outcomes. Letters from his current employer were too broad and conclusory. Neither organization was shown to have a distinguished reputation—merely obtaining government contracts is insufficient to establish eminence, distinction, or excellence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-23_01_B2203; source_row=42487
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIResearcher

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAAI's application was still being processed at time of filing and its bylaws do not require outstanding achievements; IEEE Computer Society bylaws are silent on outstanding achievements; ISAC is open to all persons with relevant experience; IAENG membership requirements were not documented. None of the organizations were shown to require outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAAI's application was still being processed at time of filing and its bylaws do not require outstanding achievements; IEEE Computer Society bylaws are silent on outstanding achievements; ISAC is open to all persons with relevant experience; IAENG membership requirements were not documented. None of the organizations were shown to require outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-23_01_B2203; source_row=42483
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other31 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that merely winning the award and pointing to its corporate and governmental backing was insufficient; the Petitioner did not address the Director's concerns or provide sufficient evidence of the award's national or international recognition.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that merely winning the award and pointing to its corporate and governmental backing was insufficient; the Petitioner did not address the Director's concerns or provide sufficient evidence of the award's national or international recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-23_02_B2203; source_row=42489
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other31 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade journals or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner claimed contribution but did not provide evidence of authoring any articles, which alone precluded satisfying this criterion regardless of whether the publication qualified as major media.

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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AAO found that the Petitioner claimed contribution but did not provide evidence of authoring any articles, which alone precluded satisfying this criterion regardless of whether the publication qualified as major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-23_02_B2203; source_row=42493
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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