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 18211830

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics5 papers

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner demonstrated both the substantial merit and national importance of his proposed endeavor, noting that his study of radioactive decay has applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner demonstrated both the substantial merit and national importance of his proposed endeavor, noting that his study of radioactive decay has applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_01_B5203; source_row=42452
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the second prong because the first prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.

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 judgment on the second prong because the first prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_07_B5203; source_row=42481
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the third prong because the first prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.

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 judgment on the third prong because the first prong failure was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_07_B5203; source_row=42482
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's evidence too general and lacking in specifics about how her proposed consulting and research work would produce broader impact on the laser dentistry field, healthcare industry, or U.S. economy at a national level. Her reliance on field-level importance, professional experience, and vague assertions was insufficient.

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AAO found the Petitioner's evidence too general and lacking in specifics about how her proposed consulting and research work would produce broader impact on the laser dentistry field, healthcare industry, or U.S. economy at a national level. Her reliance on field-level importance, professional experience, and vague assertions was insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_07_B5203; source_row=42480
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 review of the second and third Dhanasar prongs because the first prong was not met. Similarly, the underlying EB-2 classification was not adjudicated.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved review of the second and third Dhanasar prongs because the first prong was not met. Similarly, the underlying EB-2 classification was not adjudicated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_04_B5203; source_row=42475
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 review of the third prong because the first prong was not met.

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 review of the third prong because the first prong was not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_04_B5203; source_row=42476
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 for distinguished organizations

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this criterion because even if the Petitioner satisfied it, he could not numerically meet the requirement of at least three criteria given AAO's findings on criteria v and vi.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach this criterion because even if the Petitioner satisfied it, he could not numerically meet the requirement of at least three criteria given AAO's findings on criteria v and vi.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_01_B2203; source_row=42451
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice the profession or certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO withdrew the Director's finding, holding that the regulatory definition of 'profession' requires a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent as the minimum entry requirement, and the Petitioner had not shown that the occupation of physical therapy assistant meets that threshold.

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The AAO withdrew the Director's finding, holding that the regulatory definition of 'profession' requires a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent as the minimum entry requirement, and the Petitioner had not shown that the occupation of physical therapy assistant meets that threshold.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_02_B5203; source_row=42463
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions

What the decision said

The AAO reserved its opinion on criterion (F) because even if it found this criterion met, the Petitioner still could not satisfy at least three of the six criteria, making a ruling unnecessary. The AAO noted it would consider the evidence in the final merits determination.

Why this is useful

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The AAO reserved its opinion on criterion (F) because even if it found this criterion met, the Petitioner still could not satisfy at least three of the six criteria, making a ruling unnecessary. The AAO noted it would consider the evidence in the final merits determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_02_B5203; source_row=42466
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years full-time experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found numerous unresolved inconsistencies regarding the Petitioner's employment history, including contradictions between claimed full-time hours and actual earnings, conflicting start dates, and overlapping employment claims. Even setting aside those discrepancies, the letters confirming her employment did not demonstrate full-time hours, and some experience did not qualify as work in the occupation sought.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found numerous unresolved inconsistencies regarding the Petitioner's employment history, including contradictions between claimed full-time hours and actual earnings, conflicting start dates, and overlapping employment claims. Even setting aside those discrepancies, the letters confirming her employment did not demonstrate full-time hours, and some experience did not qualify as work in the occupation sought.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-20_02_B5203; source_row=42462
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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